We hear a lot of great things from our customers about Hipshot Xtenders. They make switching to Drop D tuning as easy as a flick of your thumb and they perfectly return your bass to standard tuning just as easily.You can even use one to tune down to a low C!
While normally reserved for the E string there are players that use these on all four strings of their bass (Michael Manring being the most notable example) The Xtenders are very simple to install with absolutely no drilling, letting you easily upgrade your bass with the ability to return it back to its stock condition at any time.
I have used an Xtender on a 4 string for years, but my main bass lately has been a Warwick Corvette 6-string. This led me to wonder what it would be like to install an Xtender on my low B string. If this bass had a longer scale length I would have been able to use this Xtender to tune down to a B flat or even an A, however, my Warwick has a 34” scale length which I knew would not be conducive to such a low tuning. This did not dissuade me from trying out the Xtender, but I had the idea of using it as an “up-tuner” instead of a “de-tuner”.
I now tune my lowest string to a B with the lever on the Xtender in the lowest position. I can then play in standard tuning and with a simple flick of my thumb I can tune my low B string all the way up to a D!
So I have a bass that offers a lot more flexibility. I can play in standard tuning, or flip the lever and use the lowest string as if I had a standard bass in Drop D, or I can play in the key of D and use my lowest string as a drone, or I can adjust the Xtender to tune my B to a C or C# based on what kind of arrangement I am playing.
The best part is that I have all of this without sacrificing the range of a Low B since the standard tuning is always a flick of my thumb away! I would love to see more 5 and 6 string players using these Xtenders. You could put one on your B and your E string for even more flexibility. Now I just need a bass with a long scale length so I can detune down to that low A!
Here is a video showing how quickly you can switch back and forth between a standard tuning with a low B and an altered tuning with the B string tuned to a D.
I’ve been using a Hipshot detuner on my Sadowsky 4 string for years but I usually have issues when I bring it back to normal. Any tips on accurate return to original pitch would be appreciated.
is this a joke ?
Agreed
If you haven’t already, you should definitely check out this video from HIpshot, Pat. They talk about the best way to tune with a detuner – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCJeQ0WzNSo&feature=player_detailpage#t=164s
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Nice use of the xTender key! For the record, 34″ scale basses have been built that handle a low F#. To be able to utlize a Low A, you’d probably want a .140 or so for your lowest string, and then use the xTender to raise it to a B (or higher), no problem.
i have one on one of my basses. love it. btw, my father in law works at hipshot and has his own line of these