Hipshot Palm Bender non-standard setup

[EsquireOK]

Hi,

Just three quick questions:

1. With the Hipshot Palm Bender, is it possible to use palm pedals for both the B and the G, or is there not enough room to get another palm bender in there to replace the hip bender?

2. Is there enough room to install additional string detuners, and if so, what strings can they be used on?

3. What is the best place to get one of these with the parts I want already installed? Or would I have to just get a standard one, and then get accessory parts?

My guesses are that I can get two palm levers in there for the B and G, but that it would not allow me to install a high E detuner, just detuners for the low E and A.

My ideal setup is detuners on the high E and the low A, and palm pedals on the G and B. Maybe possible by cheating the whole unit a bit to the right?

Thanks.

 

[Chet Johnson]

You can custom order from hipshot with whatever combination of the palm pedals etc. That youre after. But i cant tell you if two of their pedals will fit.

I would personally rather play a strap activated bender that is hands free like my prized Mcvay bender. I dont like sacraficing how my picking hand has to work to use palm pedals

 

[thumbpick]

..there is room..it will all fit..you can do it yourself...

 

[EsquireOK]

..there is room..it will all fit..you can do it yourself...

Thanks.

I found "official" Hipshot orientation diagrams, and you can use two palm pedals (different parts) for B and G, however the high E detuner won't fit if you do that. But I am thinking that since I don't need the low E detuner, I can shift the whole unit over a bit by shimming the butt end with a curved wedge to keep the unit square. Then the high E detuner could fit because the palm pedals could slide further in on the shaft. I am assuming that if I do this, the high E string would need to come in behind the saddle at a slight angle, but there shouldn't be any problems with that. The saddles are adjustable brass rollers pinched from a Kahler vibrato, so they should handle that fine.

Ordering directly from Hipshot seems quite expensive. Any suggested dealers that could put this together for me?

I've thought about the hip thing, but I don't think I'd like it. I don't like the strap-actuated B benders either, because I don't like pushing and pulling on the guitar to get the bends. I am used to using vibratos for bends, so I think the dual palm pedals would work better for me. It also seems that the hip lever would work better standing, and in most of the cases I'll use this guitar, I will be sitting.

The way I want to set it up is for the G bender to go up to A, and the B bender to go up to C.

 

[bender-freak]

Thanks.

I found "official" Hipshot orientation diagrams, and you can use two palm pedals (different parts) for B and G, however the high E detuner won't fit if you do that. But I am thinking that since I don't need the low E detuner, I can shift the whole unit over a bit by shimming the butt end with a curved wedge to keep the unit square. Then the high E detuner could fit because the palm pedals could slide further in on the shaft. I am assuming that if I do this, the high E string would need to come in behind the saddle at a slight angle, but there shouldn't be any problems with that. The saddles are adjustable brass rollers pinched from a Kahler vibrato, so they should handle that fine.

Ordering directly from Hipshot seems quite expensive. Any suggested dealers that could put this together for me?

I've thought about the hip thing, but I don't think I'd like it. I don't like the strap-actuated B benders either, because I don't like pushing and pulling on the guitar to get the bends. I am used to using vibratos for bends, so I think the dual palm pedals would work better for me. It also seems that the hip lever would work better standing, and in most of the cases I'll use this guitar, I will be sitting.

The way I want to set it up is for the G bender to go up to A, and the B bender to go up to C.

Sounds to me from your description of not wanting to use a "hip" lever OR a strap actuated bender, that you might be interested in checking out the Duesenberg multi-bender system.

Another option for you might be the Mackenzie floor pedal system. I have one and it works great; just don't have it on anything right now.

My preference is a stock HipShot B/G bender with D-tuner on the 6th string. I will add, tho, that I shorten the G lever down considerably and run it the same direction as the neck. I also tighten it doqwn to where it can't move unless it's a nuclear explosion taking place. I've set myHipShots up this way for years.

Blurry pic, but here is one on my HiWay 1 tele. I have the same "set-up" on several other teles. You should be able to get an idea of how I "shortened" the G lever down. It works with absolutely no effort or compromise in picking technique...for me, anyway. I'm a thumbpick and fingers player, so my right hand is back "there" anyway and not moving around.

 

[EsquireOK]

Thanks for all the info guys (and gals, if applicable).

I'm gonna start with the stock Hipshot Palm Bender and see how I like it, then go from there with mods if I think they would help.

One more question, though. Would someone please tell me how far in towards the bridge the Hipshot baseplate extends? Inches or cm are fine. I'd really appreciate that.

Thanks.

 

[Larry Mal]

I can tell you that they will fit, and show you. Also, you will be able to have drop tuners on both E strings, but that's about it, I think. I don't think there is room for another drop tuner on the A string. There may be- you see I have the spring where the A drop tuner would go, it might be able to be re-positioned, I can't say, but I don't think it would be easy.

image removed

And yes, you can do it yourself, but make sure you have a good set of snap ring pliers! Hipshot claims you can do it with a screwdriver, but you can't. Even then it's neither fun nor easy.

And yes, Hipshot is insanely expensive. I put this together and will be sending it back to Hipshot in order to get two of the same levers, not to mention having the extra screws drilled in. They say you don't want to drill it into the top of the guitar, but you do. It won't return back to tune unless you do.

You'll be fiddling with the tuning of it a lot, actually. Make sure you have the bridge worked out in advance! You need either a vintage style bridge or an American Standard with holes drilled into it for the strings to pass through. You absolutely need the plastic sheaths for those strings, also.

Be aware of the need to increase the break angle, also. Your Tele is probably a through body string guitar, and you will be converting some of those strings to being top loaded. This means there is not much downward force on the bridge, so you will have to get some of it back by either a shim or by using Micro-Tilt (more than likely). You may not have to, but be aware of it. It took me a long time to figure out what the problem was and how to treat it. I ended up ordering a Callaham bridge (that you'll see on the black Tele) and while it's the best bridge I've ever had on any guitar, it wasn't necessary for the problem I was treating.

 

[J. Hayes]

I'm with bender freak on this one.........

I also cut off my G lever and stick it straight out toward the neck and tighten it down........ I don't like anything that has to be "moved" in order to play it.........Here's a couple of shots of my HipShot(s).....JH in Va.

 

[EsquireOK]

Thanks for all the responses.

This is what I ended up custom ordering:

image removed

I'm gonna go ahead and give the "Hip" thingy a "Shot" (hyuk hyuk), but it gives me the option to go to a dual lever setup in the future.

Oh, and yes; I've already pulled the felt and drilled it out on the top and back for six black Strat vintage vibrato screws to help hold it down firmly.