Hipshot Multi benders

[CEB]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/CEB2/BlackTeleBenders_zps42c524d4.jpg

 

I put a Hipshot on my main Tele. The guitar isn't anything to write home about. A 90's Made in Mexico toploader, but it's a player. PAF in the neck, Dimarzio Virtual T in the Bridge. new saddles, jack, switch and wiring. I've had the thing since the 90's.

 

How it works is the B bender is control by a big hex pin you can see sitting in the case. You push it with your hip. Either by pulling the neck or pushing the neck down or bumping it with your butt. The G bender is a palm lever. This bridge also has a drop D lever. The install is fairly non-invasive. I could remove it pretty easily.

 

Also picked a a new guitar. I went traditional on this one. Butterscotch with a black pickguard. The neck is chunky like an old C neck but it has a V-profile. I find it really comfortable so far. The pickups are a custom shop Broadcaster in the bridge and a Twisted Tele in the neck. It is voiced like a Strat pickup. Traditional 3 brass saddle bridge. 4 way switching. The 4th the position ( all the way towards the neck) puts the pickups in series like a one big humbucker. The volume pot has a S1 switch that throws the pickups out. When in position 2 and 4. I didn't need it. It was an impulse buy.

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/CEB2/NewBaja_zps458f1ca9.jpg

 

 

[Winston Psmith]

I'd love to see some more shots of the benders, that seems pretty cool.

 

That other Tele is sweet. I got a flyer from the Evil Empire recently, with a $500 butterscotch Tele, and I've been tempted. Hope you enjoy it.

[CEB]

Here is a YouTube vid that gives a better view.

 

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTmKfc-OxS0

 

[video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tHnOM30piY

 

I am using it a lot for slide work. Benders when playing slide can get you close to a to pedal steel feel. It isn't as slick or as easy to use as the Glasser bender system but I got the Hipshot benders for $144 from HD Custom Guitars and paid my Luthier $45 to install and set it up. That is way less than a Glasser or a Parsons system. Those would be 4-5x that.

 

I thought I would have hit the ground a running with this thing but it is more awkward than I expected. Tuesday night was a little rough but I am starting to get a better feel for the travel on it. It holds tune well. Lithium grease works wonders.

[Caevan O’Shite]

I love benders in general, and I'm acquainted with Dave Borisoff and I've been in the Hipshot. Great guy, great folks, great company, great products!

 

I used to have three benders on a Les Paul that I had set-up and strung for Open-D tuning.

[Larryz]

That's a lot of hardware on those Teles, but very cool steel guitar like sounds twanging out of them! I liked the old B bender with the action on the front strap holder too, for that cleaner look...