Changing the Pegs on Your Bass Really Changes How It Looks

For those of you who want to customize the look of your bass, have you considered replacing the pegs? Although it may seem less effective than replacing the pickguard, replacing the pegs can change the look of the bass quite a bit. Take a look at these photos below for proof.

Here are some pictures of the pegs I replaced (or am in the process of replacing) on my Gibson Thunderbird. The black Y type pegs that originally came with the Thunderbird were made by Grover, and I replaced them with chrome clover type pegs. I'm sure there are many opinions on this...). At the very least, the look is very different.

The pegs before replacement were not defective, but I had a longing for clover-shaped pegs (like vintage Thunderbirds), so I replaced them. I am quite pleased with it, although it is completely for my own satisfaction.

When choosing replacement pegs, I noticed once again that there are many variations in color and shape. The HIP SHOT bass pegs alone that I chose this time come in four different colors: nickel, chrome, black, and gold. The lineup includes Y-shaped, clover-shaped, and lollipop-shaped pegs. In addition, the clover type comes in large and small variations.

Since HIP SHOT alone has such a wide variety, if you add other manufacturers, the variety of colors and shapes will expand even further. This is quite a fun situation for those who want to make their favorite instruments look different from others. There is no reason not to consider it.

It would be fun to have both the pegs and bridge in gold. It would look great on stage.

There are other benefits to changing pegs besides looks. One of them is improved tuning stability.

Many entry-level guitars and basses are equipped with pegs that are just good enough to use for the time being. By replacing them with slightly better pegs, tuning stability can be greatly improved. Good pegs will also move smoothly. This will greatly improve the comfort of tuning.

Depending on the pegs, you can also expect an improvement in the head drop. The Ultralite series from HIP SHOT, which I chose as replacement pegs for Thunderbird, is, as the name suggests, lightweight. I checked the weight with my home scale and it came out to be 47.9g.

The GROVER pegs that came with the bass originally weighed 66.0 g. Replacing the four pegs will lighten the head by about 72 g. It's only 72 g, but it's still a big number when considering the balance of the bass. This is a big number when considering the balance of the bass. The head drop is not completely eliminated, but the balance is much better.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to changing pegs. One of them is that it potentially changes the sound. Pegs are important parts that connect the strings to the neck. Since the physical conditions are changed by replacing the pegs, the sound is affected to a greater or lesser degree. Some people may feel uncomfortable with the sound after the replacement. Note that a subtle change in sound doesn’t necessarily mean that the sound will get worse. There may be cases where you do not mind at all, or you may prefer the sound after the replacement. How severely you should be concerned about the sound change depends on how satisfied you are with the current sound.

Another disadvantage is that in some cases, drilling is required for installation. In my case, the screw holes were already well aligned, so I was able to just pop them in, but you may not always get a perfect fit. The hurdle rises significantly when drilling is involved. If you do not have a drill or other tools, it’s safer to ask a professional. If you want to replace the pegs easily, the position of the screw holes is an important point.

Finally, here are some things to consider when choosing replacement pegs for your bass. As I mentioned earlier, check the position of the screw holes, but there is an even more important point to check: the diameter of the post. The diameter of the peg mounting holes on a Gibson Thunderbird is about 14mm, and items labeled “3/8” will fit HIP SHOT products. On the other hand, Fender type basses have larger post diameter pegs, which are labeled “1/2” in HIP SHOT's product line.

Purchasing the wrong post diameter can lead to tragedies such as the pegs being too loose or they won’t fit through the holes. To avoid such a situation, be sure to check how straight the post is.

If you want to choose clover-shaped pegs, you should also check the spacing between pegs. Clover-type pegs have large buttons, which in some cases interfere with the adjacent buttons. For the Gibson Thunderbird, I chose the small type because the buttons on the regular size clover type pegs were likely to knock into each other. I prefer the larger size, but I can't help it.

The above is the story of how I replaced the pegs on my bass. The appearance came closer to my liking and I became even more attached to the bass. If you want to change the image of your bass, I recommend replacing the pegs.

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