Hipshot: general question from 1st time bender guy

[Ray G]

Hey Folks,

Long time Tele player and TDPRI guy here (haven't posted much in a few years) with a bender question.

I just got a gig with a country band and I'm interested in having a bender installed on one of my Tele's. Been poking around the net doing some research and there are more than a few bender systems out there... Parsons, Bigsby Palm, B&W, and Hipshot are the bender systems I've seen the most of.

Out of them all Hipshot seems to be the most affordable and easy to install. And just for those two reasons the Hipshot is the system I'd likely go with. I have a few questions and was hoping to hear from some Hipshot users or anyone with string bender experience. Here goes:

1) I'm interested in the model that has a B and G bender. I'm thinking it could be cool for double stops. Also, I'm thinking you can engage the G bender only and bring the G string up to A and do some cool cross picking stuff over a B chord that you normally couldn't do. How pratical is the crosspicking idea while depressing the palm lever?

2) Double Stops and Crosspicking aside... is there much redundancy having a bender on B & G, is one more useful or practical than the other?

3) Is the Hipshot (hip lever on B and/or palm lever on G) fairly easy to use. I guess I'm wondering if this all feels ackward and how much getting used to did it take for anyone using the Hipshot system?

4) It looks like the Will Ray video is the "Go To" learning tool for 1st time bender users... any other recomendations for learning tools... ie: videos, websites, or other stuff.

Thanks VERY MUCH in advance! I'd REALLY APPRECIATE any advice/tips/wisdom before I pull the trigger.

[brookdalebill]

I'm a long time Hipshot user, and they are indeed comparatively inexpensive and highly
functional.
I have had many "standard" models and have tried the B/G model.
I personally found the G bender "unweildy" and less useful.
Other guys, a la Brad Paisley and Jimmy Olander use a G bender often, with great success.
I am pretty sure those guys use Glaser benders.
I find I can do lots of G string bends with just my paws.
The G arm or lever gets in my way.
That being said, the 'shots are easy to install and use.
Years ago, Hipshot offered a instruction course by Charles(?) Crews.
It was in cassette format, but very impressive.
Mr. Crews played a few non-country things.
Maybe it's available on CD or other format.

[J. Hayes]

myself and a couple of others cut them off to where they're "behind" the bridge and don't get in the way. Some just push 'em up or down and out of the way, but I still prefer cutting mine off and tightening the screw so it stays in place. Here's a shot of my Schecter Mercury Strat with a HipShot. It's really a great playing and decent looking guitar...IMHO....JH in Va.

[jmiles]

Not to argue with bdbill, but;

"I find I can do lots of G string bends with just my paws."

Yes you can, but those bends DO NOT sound the same as bending with a bender! There's a great quote on that subject, from Gene Parsons, on page 113 of the book Desperados. I'm a fingerpicker. I angle the G bender to be under my wrist. It is very easy to play with your wrist, and doesn't get in the way of palm blocking. I definitely use the G bender more that the B bender.

[Larry Mal]

I like the G bender lever more than the B bender hip unit, actually, and will probably have a G and B bending lever on my next guitar rather than the hip unit.

Of course, I'm still learning mine, and it's really hard for me to tell you how this will feel in your hands, you know?

But my goal was to have a G and B bender, and I also put on three drop tuning levers, which enable me to get into open G and back very quickly. It's a lot of fun...

[Ray G]

Hey Guys,

Many thanks for the replies. I'll go with the Hipshot B/G that also has the dropped D lever and then... PRACTICE!

[bender-freak]

i will agree with J. Hayes about cutting the G lever down. i did that on all my B/G Hipshot installs and it no longer (the G lever) impedes palm muting at all, and since it's tightened down to run the same direction as the neck, my hand just naturally "finds" it after close to 30 years of "Hipping". and the lever being "cut off" short does NOT mean that it requires more force to "engage" it.

yes, some "G" bends can be made by hand, but there are quite a few bends/licks in my arsenal for the G string that i promise you canNOT be done by hand. i also do some acsending bends on one while at the same time do a descending (pre-bend the string before picking it and let it "descend") bend on the other string.

it's all in what a person is "looking" for in his bending.

and, Larry....that looks great!!!! good job there.

[jmiles]

" i promise you canNOT be done by hand."

Abdo-lutely! I was showing a "Nashville Cat" my Hipshot, and he said "JB, I can do that with just my fingers." I played a lick and said, "Steve, can you play that?" His response was, "Well,,, no,,, I can't play THAT!"

As I mentioned, I angle the G lever up at about a 45 degree angle towards my wrist, and play it with my wrist. It's out of the way for palm-blocking. But then,,,, I only fingerpick. Even the Gatton stuff.