Hipshot Freerange Bass Xtender – Double Bass String Drop Tuner Lever

Description

The Hipshot Freerange Bass Xtender – quick drop tuning on your double bass. From Hipshot, the originator of these detuning devices, now a thriving guitar hardware builder – still all machined in their Interlaken, New York shop! If you want to drop a string’s pitch but don’t require an extension, this high-quality tailpiece-mounted lever device may work well for you. We’ve participated in stunt shows with this device trying to drop Low Bs to the center of the earth, but find it works best dropping a full step or a tritone and leaving it for the duration of a tune or piece.

Keep in mind the travel of the string over the bridge, especially on the E string – the best application for this is probably in roots music where you need drop-D on command, but trying to actually drop a fifth (like it’s physically capable of) is a tall order with all that pressure moving on the bridge. Add a little pencil graphite under the string you’re thinking of and pay extra attention to your bridge so you don’t hurt your bass. It has a high quality threaded stop, so you can fine tune your target pitch. Use wisely – but it does work well! If you need a couple extra pitches for that score without thousands of dollars for an extension – this is a cool option.

From Hipshot: Instantly Drop tune your upright bass with a quick flip of a lever!  The FreeRange Xtender (pat. pend) attaches between the tailpiece and bridge of your steel string upright bass.  With its impressive range, drop as low as A.  Use multiple FreeRange Xtenders to instantly flip from bass to cello tuning!