Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anybody use a Hipshot D-Tuner with a V63? I use Hipshot M4 D-tuners on my 4001's and I had an old M4 (West Germany) in the drawer and tried it on my V63, but the shaft on the V63 was too small. I don't want to take off one of my newer M4's to test to see if that is different. Are the shafts different on a 70's 4001 vs. a V63?

I called Hipshot and they suggested HE6C 3/8". I never heard anybody using that on a Rick.

Ideas?

My comment has no real relavance here because I never even seen a D tuner or how they work. I looked at the Hipshot **** and viewed what you are talking about. How and what exactly do they do?

excuse the ignorance, thanks

Rickresourse is a good place to LEARN about gear too.

A D-Tuner is a replacement tuning gear (machine head) that has a spring adjusted gear so you tune your E string to E, and then hit the lever and it drops to D tuning. When you need to go back to E, just put the lever back and you are at E. It works that fast. I play in a band where I use drop D tuning often. My old 4001's have the D-tuner, but my new (to me) V63 does not and I really need it, because we move from song to song quickly from standard to drop D tuning.

sounds very cool, never tried one or even new the system existed. I can/could drop it quickly by ear when playing songs that required it. That system sounds very interesting. For me though I don't do it all that much anymore. Yet!?!?! might get one for my Jazz bass just for kicks. thanks for explaining it to me man.

much appreciated

Since The KARMA Kings do several songs that I need to drop the E to D and even one song that, for now, I drop to E♭, I might need to get one for this:

I will just manually drop the tuning on the Ricks, no D-Tuner for those.

BTW, you can't tell from that photo but I am wearing a Rickenbacker t-shirt!

Hipshot makes a D-tuner for Rics, but you have to call and ask. I got one recently for my 4003FL and it works perfectly.

Apparently Rics with narrow headstocks aren't very accommodating to the Hipshot Xtender for Rics but wider headstocks like vintage and modern both do fine.

I've used one on my V63 for about 5 years. This is all they had at the time. My band plays about 10 songs a night dropped to E♭with little to no time in between. So having the quick lever really helps.

What model? They have so many. Is 3/8" correct?

I'll try to check when I get home. I just went with whatever Hipshot suggested at the time.

I don't see a model number anywhere, but here is what it looks like.

Actually, that's a different model than the BT5 that is made for Rics. That is what they suggest you use if you aren't sure the aesthetically-matching BT5 will fit. The BT5 looks pretty much identical to the other tuners, besides having the Xtender function. Rikk, to get the exact aesthetic match you need to call Bill at Hipshot and order a BT5. They don't sell them on the website. If you're not sure if your headstock will fit one, what Kevin has with an elephant ear would probably be the next best thing.

Ah, I wish mine looked like that. They didn't have anything like it when I ordered this one years ago.

teeder wrote:Ah, I wish mine looked like that. They didn't have anything like it when I ordered this one years ago.

If you explain that to Bill (via phone) maybe he can cut you a deal.

Works great--doesn't require any compensation at all. I guess that's a testament to the smoothness of the Bakelite nut.

I have the M4 (Shaller) on my 4001's. I called Hipshot and they said HE6C- 3/8 which is what they call an ultra-lite. I purchased one and hopefully it fits and looks OK as well. My main concern is it fits. My old M4 did not fit for some reason, but did fit the 4001. On one of my 4001's I have a gold M4 along with 3 stock machines. Nobody can tell from the stage.