How I Upgraded My Electric Bass Tuners/Machine Heads | AvianQuests

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How I Upgraded My Electric Bass Tuners/Machine Heads

Saturday, February 26, 2022

 

I am quite amazed at how technology keeps up with the constant dynamics of our changing Earth time.
 
I nearly missed the newness train however, I never missed the great cool ride.
 
Enter 2022, as I have a three-month-old new active electric bass guitar,  humbly
 
 
I also just finished upgrading the stock vintage saddles of my above-mentioned bass guitar.
 
Do check out my blog post,
link below.
 
 
Now, it's the turn of my CORT Action DLX Plus active bass with a/or stock/unnamed machine head/tuners' turn to be upgraded/replaced.

This is of course done with lots of preparatory due diligence, 
which helps a whole lot in getting 
to the best-whittled option/choice.
I finally ended up with GraphTech.
RATIO Synchronized Tuning Technology For Bass
We'll Change The Way You Play. GraphTech Guitar Labs
Specifically, GraphTech's Ratio Machine Heads!

GraphTech's Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads
GraphTech Ratio Machine Heads

Furthermore, I discovered  that Nicole Row 
of  
uses/endorses 
GraphTech
Ratio® 
Synchronized Machine Heads 

 Nicole Row Panic at the Disco with Graphtech Ratio

Way cool!

 GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Head Iron Clad 45-day Guarantee

Wow! A 45-day ironclad love it or return it guarantee.


Regular Bass Tuner versus GraphTech Ratio Bass Tuners

No rocket science here. 


GraphTech's Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads genius design
is tuned to the gear ratios to each string position so that every string responds the same to any tuning adjustment.

 Close Up GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Head

 
GraphTech's Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads genius design
is tuned to the gear ratios to each string position so that every string responds the same to any tuning adjustment.

This results in obtaining more finer and ease of tuning on the thicker core strings, and also for coarser tuning on the thinner core; with anywhere from 12:1 to 39:1 gear ratios.

With Ratio®, one turn is about 
one tone change on all strings, 
making tuning, re-tuning, and 
open string tuning easier, 
quicker, and more intuitive.

Compared with an outdated 
regular bass tuner's gear i.e., with 18:1 is the same with the rest E, A, D, G, which is cumbersome and has higher string wear and tear.

 Stunning Tuning Precision On Every String! GraphTech RATIO

Below, the freshly unboxed
GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads.

Lightweight too!

GraphTech Ratio® for modern electric bass





Just right after Valentines' Day 2022, I straightaway ordered a set of GraphTech Ratio® 4 string 2+2 Y-style bass machine heads with 
 
 
 
 GuitarPusher Official Site
  I outsourced the 
 
via 
 
through
 

 
Ratio® is now a standard
equipment of
   my
CORT


Here's an unboxing video.
(Do subscribe to support my humble channel. Thanks!)

Unboxed!
Out of the box GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads.
  
PRE-INSTALLATION

Things you will need.

> Masking tape.

> Ballpoint pen.

> Screw driver PH one tip (for the very small screws of the bass machine head tuners

> Small adjustable wrench

 
This is the phase wherein you will temporarily attach masking tape, and make markings on the position of the original bass machine heads.

Most importantly, determine where your E-A-D-G strings are.

Mark it accordingly with a ballpoint pen.

Mine looked like a partially wrapped mummy depicted below.



Use the screw driver PH one tip to carefully unscrew the old machine heads.


After removing the small screws, I used a small adjustable wrench to loosen the machine head front screws.

Again, I started with E-A-D- then lastly G. (personal preference)

INSTALLATION


Take-away: The old screw positions of the old bass machine heads of my CORT Action DLX bass precisely matches the
GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads.

Again, using candle wax on the screw threads and screw hole will facilitate a buttery smooth installation.

I started with the machine heads E-A-D- then lastly G.

Recycle and re-use the GraphTech Ratio box and plastic by storing the old machine head parts.

POST-INSTALLATION
 

After I successfully installed all 
of the 2+2 GraphTech Ratio® 
Synchronized Machine Heads, 
I carefully peeled off the masking tapes.
 
GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads + CORT Action DLX Plus active bass guitar
Front View
This is how my CORT Action DLX Plus active bass guitar looked like after installing
GraphTech Ratio® Synchronized Machine Heads (naked without bass strings).
GraphTech Ratio®  Synchronized Machine Heads
Back View


The new black machine heads contrasts well with the CORT bass wood.
 
CONCLUSION:
 
In a nutshell, it's an easy-peasy installation workflow with the GraphTech Ratio Synchronized machine heads.

I highly recommend this product especially to CORT Action DLX plus bass owners, since the 2+2
GraphTech Ratio Synchronized machine heads are like, "plug and play" with all the screw locations so identical with the actual pre-shipped/pre-installed head stock tuners.

Don't rush, and you can follow my workflow installation process, and do it at your convenient pace, right the first time.


Two thumbs up! GraphTech Ratio Synchronized machine heads. 
Ultra-cool bass tuners!

'Til next blog post.

My upcoming blog is hereby dubbed,

My Grooving Experience with RotoSound Signature Bass Strings


All products mentioned in this blog post are definitely NOT paid  product feature/endorsement.
 
I personally bought the product/s using my personal out -of-pocket monies.
 

 
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  Till next blog post. 

Keep safe, and keep blogging.

Do check me out/follow me at the social media channels below:
 
Instagram: avianquest
 
Twitter: avianquest
 
Facebook:  avianquest



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