Hipshot B Bender changing the pitch of other strings slightly

[strat56]

Hi,

I'm pretty sure this has been discussed on here before and I searched but I can't find the thread.

I installed a Hipshot B-Bender last night and I notice when I activate the hip lever to bend the B it also makes a very slight change to the G and low E strings, the other strings attached to the bender mechanism.

It seems like when I activate the b bender using the hip lever it's pushing the plate of Hipshot down. The felt on the bottom of it is allowing the plate to move closer to the top of the guitar or that the angle of the bend in the plate is not the same as the angle of the edge and top of my guitar that the plate is able to push down slightly and that's causing the pitch on the other two strings to change.

What would you Hipshot gurus recommend?

I guess I could drill a hole or holes thru the plate and screw it down to the top of the guitar but that would defeat the main reason I bought the Hipshot, no permanent modifications to the guitar. I could clamp the Hipshot in a vise and try to increase the angle of the bend but what would happen if I increase it too much or didn't increase it evenly and it became crooked? I'm also thinking it might start moving around on the strap pin screw. I know that's what the star washer is for, to prevent that, but I'm thinking changeing the angle of the bend might start putting too much pressure on that if I over bend the plate might make it start to move.

Or am I over thinking this?

Thanks for your help in advance,
Jack

[tomtheguitarguy]

It sounds like it isn't screwed into the guitar securely enough, so it's moving ever so slightly around the strap screw. I have a few Hipshots and I only installed the two set screws on one - one that for whatever reason, I couldn't get the screw to tighten - and yes, you should be using the star washer.

Also remember that it doesn't take a lot of pressure to activate the lever, something that I had to get used to as when I first started using them, I was used to the P/G B Bender w/ the strap pull.

Hope this helps.

Tom

[asatfan]

When I moved my hipshot to another guitar, I could not get it to lay "flat" against the top of the guitar (which is what you're describing, I think). I did just what you mentioned, and put it in a vise and bent the whole thing, ever so slightly. Put it back in place and it was snug against the guitar face. Problem was solved, in my case.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by asatfan

When I moved my hipshot to another guitar, I could not get it to lay "flat" against the top of the guitar (which is what you're describing, I think). I did just what you mentioned, and put it in a vise and bent the whole thing, ever so slightly. Put it back in place and it was snug against the guitar face. Problem was solved, in my case.

Thanks I'll try that and see how it goes.

[strat56]

Originally Posted by tomtheguitarguy

It sounds like it isn't screwed into the guitar securely enough, so it's moving ever so slightly around the strap screw. I have a few Hipshots and I only installed the two set screws on one - one that for whatever reason, I couldn't get the screw to tighten - and yes, you should be using the star washer.

Also remember that it doesn't take a lot of pressure to activate the lever, something that I had to get used to as when I first started using them, I was used to the P/G B Bender w/ the strap pull.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I noticed that if I used the hip lever with less pressure that it didn't happen, but I don't think I'm putting a great deal of pressure against it when it does.

I'm afraid in the heat of the moment I might get carried away and apply too much pressure and have it go sour on me if I try to control it that way.

[tomtheguitarguy]

Yeah, keep it mind it only needs less than One (1) Pound of pressure to activate. And that's not a lot. Maybe just a slight change in your playin' "style" will fix it. As you can see from my Signature, I'm a bender guy, and even owning McVays, P/G, & Evans, I still like the Hipshots just as well.

[mantis]

Hey bud - check out my vid on "throw". Heh. Probably got the term wrong.

Anyways - there's a little bit in there where I show how to prevent cranking on the neck to avoid pitching out.

But I gotta agree with the others who posted; this sounds like the bender rig isn't properly attached.

[jmiles]

I have mine on a "dedicated" guitar. A newer Dano Guitarlin. I ditched the felt, and added screws on top. Problem still there, but to a much lesser degree. "Cabinet Drop." Go over to the Steel Guitar Forum and enter "cabinet drop" into the search window. Probably a week's worth of reading on that subject alone!
JB

[strat56]

Originally Posted by mantis

Hey bud - check out my vid on "throw". Heh. Probably got the term wrong.

Anyways - there's a little bit in there where I show how to prevent cranking on the neck to avoid pitching out.

But I gotta agree with the others who posted; this sounds like the bender rig isn't properly attached.

Where can I find that video? Is the one that describes using a little hip action and guitar movement at the same time? If so I've seen it and the hip thing isn't working for me.

Thanks,
Jack

[strat56]

Originally Posted by jmiles

I have mine on a "dedicated" guitar. A newer Dano Guitarlin. I ditched the felt, and added screws on top. Problem still there, but to a much lesser degree. "Cabinet Drop." Go over to the Steel Guitar Forum and enter "cabinet drop" into the search window. Probably a week's worth of reading on that subject alone!
JB

I'll do that, thanks.

Thanks,
Jack

[telex76]

I never had any problem like you describe. Used one for a long time.

[bender-freak]

only time i've ever experienced that problem is when installing an used unit from Evil-Bay...didn't notice till i got it installed and was fine tuning the stops that the stabilizing screw that comes up thru the bottom plate to the center of the "fulcrum" bar was missing...easy fix, just annoying that i had to take it back off and replace that screw ...worked fine after that.....

you might check to be sure that screw is there...all the star washers and longer strap pin screws and screws down thru the top of the unit will do absolutely no good if that stabilizing screw is missing....

worth checking before drilling un-needed holes...

[strat56]

Originally Posted by bender-freak

only time i've ever experienced that problem is when installing an used unit from Evil-Bay...didn't notice till i got it installed and was fine tuning the stops that the stabilizing screw that comes up thru the bottom plate to the center of the "fulcrum" bar was missing...easy fix, just annoying that i had to take it back off and replace that screw ...worked fine after that.....

you might check to be sure that screw is there...all the star washers and longer strap pin screws and screws down thru the top of the unit will do absolutely no good if that stabilizing screw is missing....

worth checking before drilling un-needed holes...

I bought this one new but I checked and that screw is there. Good to know though anyway. Thanks.

[bender-freak]

Originally Posted by strat56

I bought this one new but I checked and that screw is there. Good to know though anyway. Thanks.

well, strat56...i for sure don't have a clue as to what could be going on with your unit...??!...honestly, i've used Hipshots for years and even tho i have other types of benders rigs in my arsenal, the Hipshot is hands down my favorite..the only other suggestion i can make would be to ad the two stabilizing screws to either side of the strap pin screw...the holes should already be in the plate



in my poor example here, call the O, " O " your strap pin, the two stabilizing
screw-holes should be on both sides of the strap pin......i really cannot for the life of me understand why this is happening for you, if the fulcrum screw is there and you say it is, and you add the two side screws, assuming you haven't already done so, and the Hipshot plate is ABsoLUtely completely flat against the top of your guitar, i don't see any way it can cause the other strings to de-tune, as all the "pressure" to the bar is pushing the base-plate against the top of your guitar..good luck with it all....later...

[varakeef]

Originally Posted by strat56

I installed a Hipshot B-Bender last night and I notice when I activate the hip lever to bend the B it also makes a very slight change to the G and low E strings, the other strings attached to the bender mechanism.

And to some extent it's normal. It's a bit like what happens when you're bending a string in a guitar with a tremolo arm - other strings go slightly flat since the tremolo mechanism can't completely resist the force of the bended string.

Here's the trick from the master, Wil Ray:

I fine-tune my Hipshot to bend the B sting slightly flat, so that it matches the other strings. Don't sweat it. It's normal.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/1417174-post27.html

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/b-bender-...t-problem.html

[jmiles]

You can compress felt. So I removed it. I added screws into the top of the guitar to firmly affix the plate to the body, and a deck screw in the button hole. Still have some minor detuning. There has to be some play in the mechanism, or it wouldn't work. And things do flex a bit. Even a small amount of flex plus play can cause slight detuning. I notice it the most up the neck, and it's worse if I have the G lever engaged, and then activate the B lever.
Plug in your tuner, and play the G string at the 12th fret. Letting the G ring, activate the B bender. See how many cents the G string goes flat. If it's just a couple of cents, don't worry too much about it.