Help Needed: Hipshot Xtender for a '76 Gibson G3

[Barbaric.Eric]

Hello TB,
Does anyone have experience installing a Hipshot Xtender on a Gibson Grabber or G3? I recently bought a '76 G3 (pre-1980 so it has the larger post) which has Gibson-branded Schaller BM tuning machines.

The Hipshot website states that the BT1 Bass Xtender has two versions; long key and short key... one which fits US made G&L/MusicMan and the other is a direct replacement for Schaller BML tuning machines (perhaps the "L" is for Long Key?). Going by the look of the G3 tuners, I assume I will need the short key BT1, but the website doesn't specifically say.

Having to ship this into Canada with the conversion rate means I need to get this right the first time or else sell my car, so any advice is appreciated.

Cheers,
Eric

 

[96tbird]

Cheers back at you. BT1 is the same dimensions as HB1. 79.24 mm from the top of the clover to the far side of the plate. My G3 tuners are 72mm over that distance.

Better email Hipshot. They’ll let you know if they make 72 mm extenders.

 

[Barbaric.Eric]

Thanks for the input @96tbird! I emailed Hipshot on Friday but have yet to hear back, hopefully they will get back to me soon to clarify.

I saw an older thread suggesting the HB1 for Grabbers and G3's... I'm starting to think the short key option would be the 72mm measurement (where there's no real gap between the top of the plate and the bottom of the clover), and the long key option would be closer to the original 79.24mm of the HB1

Hmmm... the more I think about this, the more it's making sense. If I don't hear back from Hipshot I might have to risk the BT1 short key. All clues point to it as most likely to fit.

 

[Barbaric.Eric]

For example, here's the back of a US-made Musicman with a BT1 short key and the back of a '76 G3. The shortkey looks to be a correct fit for both.


I think we have a match