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HB3 Bass Tuning Machine (Sold Individually)

$43.56
$43.56
SKU: 20310N-FWD
UPC: N/A

HB3 Dimensions
Treble Side
HB3 Lollipop Dimensions

HB3 Lollipop Treble Side Dimensions
HB3 Parts List
Comparison Chart

HB3 Bass Tuning Machine (Sold Individually)

Are you tired of spending half your gig tuning—and the other half playing "jazz" notes you didn't actually intend to? Don’t keep wasting your time searching in the dark for the string that slipped, ditch those sloppy tuners! The HB3 Bass Tuning Machine is the ultimate solution for players who love the look of vintage Fender® tuners, but demand the reliability and precision of modern engineering.

Part of the Hipshot American Classics Series, the HB3 is a premium upgrade and direct replacement for the original Kluson® 546 tuners found on pre-CBS era Fender Jazz and P-Basses manufactured from 1951 until 1967. Not just for original vintage basses, it's also an upgrade for the Fender Artist series basses like the Flea Bass, USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, Jaco Pastorius Jazz bass and countless Fender Custom Shop models.

More Than a Fender Upgrade

The HB3 is also a drop-in solution for many Gibson Thunderbird Basses as well as 1950’s Rickenbacker basses. From iconic classics to modern boutique masterpieces like the handcrafted Olinto by La Bella series, the HB3 remains the preferred upgrade for any build utilizing the Kluson-style footprint.

Timeless Design, Modern Performance

We’ve taken the classic clover leaf key tuner and supercharged it with a 27:1 gear ratio. This allows you to dial in the pitch with extreme accuracy. Whether you’re jamming at home or tracking in the studio, the HB3 ensures your tuning stays tight and accurate.

  • Drop-in replacement:Uses the original 4-screw mounting pattern for a seamless upgrade without drilling
  • Crafted to Last: precision laser cut and machined stainless steel construction with no cheap casting or stamping
  • Precision Performance: 27:1 gear ratio for incredibly fine tuning adjustments and superior stability.
  • Customizable Feel: Adjustable tension nylon bearing system allows you to dial in the perfect feel while tuning up or down.
  • Quality Materials: The stainless steel key prevents tarnishing and rust where you touch the tuner, keeping your hardware looking and performing at its peak
  • Universal Compatibility: The ambidextrous design allows you to convert a tuning machine to treble or bass side headstocks.
  • Premium Finishes: Available in black, gold, and nickel to match your instrument's hardware.
  • Sold Individually: To easily accommodate 5-string (or more) players, each tuner is sold individually.
  • Mounting hardware included.

True Vintage Design

Just like the original Kluson design—these have a vintage reverse wind, meaning as you turn the key clockwise, the pitch/tension of the string goes up. Want a more modern feel? These are also available with a forward wind as used on modern tuners (turning the key clockwise will lower the pitch/string tension).

Will It Fit My Bass?

Designed to replace the vintage clover Kluson and its reissues, if your bass has 11/16" (17.5mm) peghead holes and the same mounting hole pattern, the HB3 will fit. Still not sure? Check out our full scale comparison chart above with your bass to ensure a seamless fit.

Why the Reverse Wind?

The legend of the "reverse-wind" tuner is a classic piece of guitar nerd lore. As the story goes, Kluson originally manufactured these tuners for upright basses; when Leo Fender began ordering them for his early electric basses, the gears remained unchanged, causing the tuners to turn in the opposite direction of a standard guitar.

Always pragmatic, Leo simply rolled with the quirk until the late 1960s, when he decided to bring production in-house. After allegedly placing a massive order from Kluson only to cancel it—which purportedly contributed to Kluson's eventual bankruptcy—Leo found himself unable to master the engineering required to change the wind direction at scale. He farmed the production out to Schaller (then an electronics supplier, NOT a hardware supplier), leading to the development of the modern bass tuner used on CBS-era Fenders and nearly every bass since.

Kluson® is registered trademarks of WD Music Products, Inc. Hipshot Products, Inc. is not associated with WD Music Products, Inc.
Fender® and Squier® are registered trademarks of FMIC. Hipshot is not affilicated with FMIC.

Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals including nickel compounds, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

To hear our side of the story, visit www.hipshot.com/prop-65