Is there a particular reason for this…?

[Elusive1]

So I recently installed a Hipshot Xtender on one of my CIJ Fenders, and since the old ones were too heavily corroded to be cleaned up, I decided I might as well replace the other three along the way, and I went with Gotoh for those ones because they had the exact model I needed, looking practically identical to the stock ones, and that’s when I noticed this:

As you can see, the Gotoh machine heads have the peg tapering down to the stem, which looks real neat (marked in blue), while the Hipshot Xtender has those edges sticking out (marked in yellow).

I’ve observed that most vintage basses (as well as vintage-style ones as in the reissue models like mine) tend to have the tapered tuners while most modern basses and modern replacement tuning machines tend to have those edgy ones - I work as a sales associate in a guitar store and I’ve noticed that most of the newer Fenders, regardless of make and origin, have the ones that look like the Hipshot, even though they’re just regular tuners.

I know it doesn’t affect functionality (the Xtender works awesome), and it’s purely an aesthetic thing, but I’m simply curious to know if there’s any particular reason why they’re making machine heads like this today?

 

[john m]

In general, lower mechanical precision is easier (cheaper) to manufacture than tight tolerances.

An engineer friend of mine said- “ If you can’t make it accurate, make it adjustable.”

 

[96tbird]

Easy. Hipshot makes their tuners to look like the millions of vintage Fender tuners in the world, not to look like Gotoh.

 

[tb-player]

From a metallurgical standpoint, the extra metal extending beyond the sides of the post creates a sonic stability that allows the string to vibrate at a significantly more transparent frequency, resulting in an effectively truer tone. This, combined with a proper break angle across the nut allows the instrument to… play like butter.

 

[Spectre Gunner]

I have a few Fender basses with their original Fender tuners and they all have the excess metal on the paddles like the Hipshot with one exception, I have a MIJ Fender precision with tapered paddles.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Easy. Hipshot makes their tuners to look like the millions of vintage Fender tuners in the world, not to look like Gotoh.

This is the most likely answer.

 

[mcnach]

In general, lower mechanical precision is easier (cheaper) to manufacture than tight tolerances.

An engineer friend of mine said- “ If you can’t make it accurate, make it adjustable.”

oh, was your friend Leo Fender?

 

[logdrum]

Awesome Japanese steel on the Gotoh?

 

[Queue]

I have a few Fender basses with their original Fender tuners and they all have the excess metal on the paddles like the Hipshot with one exception, I have a MIJ Fender precision with tapered paddles.

I think the MIJs are either Gotoh, or Gotoh-licensed tuners. My MIJ had Gotoh-licensed, but I know some of the Aerodynes actually had Gotoh branded tuners.

 

[CompleteHack]

Huh, now I'll have to take a closer look at my 1990's Fender P-bass keys.

OP answered a question for me. One of the used, fretless basses I tried recently was equipped with a Hipshot Xtender. It was a Carvin AC40F. I was wondering if that was a factory option, but it was probably added by a previous owner.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Here’s a 66 j I used to own. The Gotohs are more “vintage accurate”

 

[wardak]

You could cut the Xtender some slack—it’s doing *2* jobs at one time, while those more refined other tuners are doing less work. Also, you could potentially blame any playing mistakes on the (highly distracting) differences in appearance. Just kidding.

PS there are more differences to find… the post is set further from the headstock to make room for the mechanism, other part shape differences too, but not noteworthy from the front if the main shapes match.

On my oldest/go-to bass, some available parts in the moment years ago led to three 3/8” lightweight tuners and a 1/2” Xtender, still installed, which with its other quirks simply adds character. Flaunting the difference!

 

[logdrum]

To further trigger people's OCD, I have put a chrome clover extender tuner with black Y tuners. No one noticed. I was waiting for Chrome tuners and it took me 4 months to replace the black Y tuners

 

[Topkat13]

The manufacturers are better suited to address your inquiry.

 

[Elusive1]

I think the MIJs are either Gotoh, or Gotoh-licensed tuners. My MIJ had Gotoh-licensed, but I know some of the Aerodynes actually had Gotoh branded tuners.

I think you might be right, the original tuners on all my Japanese Fenders look like unbranded Gotohs; practically the same design, just with no logo.

I have a few Fender basses with their original Fender tuners and they all have the excess metal on the paddles like the Hipshot with one exception, I have a MIJ Fender precision with tapered paddles.

I'm guessing your MIJ is a vintage reissue of some sort while your other ones are more modern/contemporary models?

Easy. Hipshot makes their tuners to look like the millions of vintage Fender tuners in the world, not to look like Gotoh.

From what I've noticed, Gotoh's tuners are the ones that look more like vintage Fenders while Hipshot's are the more modern-looking ones.

To further trigger people's OCD, I have put a chrome clover extender tuner with black Y tuners. No one noticed. I was waiting for Chrome tuners and it took me 4 months to replace the black Y tuners

I'll join you in triggering people's OCD; here's one of my Japanese JBVs with one tuner replaced, which is mentioned somewhere towards the end.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/official-fender-japan-bass-thread.1520064/post-25380582

Sadly my bass mentor, who was the inspiration behind that odd tuner, passed away a couple months back. RIP.

 

[96tbird]

My 1962 Jazz. My 50s Classic P are the same. Maybe lollipops are different…..

 

[Elusive1]

My 1962 Jazz. My 50s Classic P are the same. Maybe lollipops are different…..
View attachment 7066995

Yeah I have replacement tuners of the exact same design on mine too. Both the vintage-style tuners and the gold one on the other side are from Gotoh

 

[zombywoof5050]

How good are you with a file?

 

[fhm555]

There are so many reasons why they would be different. Just off the top of my head…
The stamping die with the “wings” on the lollipop were made for a larger shaft, or were made from an incorrect drawing, or made to be ground down to the shaft after attaching to the shaft so they could be used for multiple applications. My guess is they get a good deal from whomever owns the die.