PULL
ine pull-string machine. Although it is often
thought of as the gateway drug to more
expensive and integrated systems, the
Hipshot is an extremely viable end-all/be-all solution. With high-profile pickers like
Will Ray and Dave Edmunds putting them
to good use, it would be wrong to assume
the Hipshot is a toy. Additionally, the
Hipshot may be the only solution for guitarists who suffer from commitment-phobia
yet want to cop some pedal steel licks.
A Hipshot and P/G equipped Tele
the rear strap button. The Hipshot is
unique in that it provides full pull-string
functionality with no permanent modification to your guitar and is available with an
assortment of palm levers and toggle tuners in a modular configuration. This design
gives the user the final say in which strings
go where, ultimately allowing “Honky
Tonk Woman,” “Cinnamon Girl,” and
“Mama Tried” to co-exist peacefully on
a set list without any undue stress or the
need to constantly re-tune or swap axes.
While it doesn’t feel as integrated as the
other more invasive systems, the Hipshot
delivers impressive string-bending capabilities. The “hip lever” is operated via a
bar mounted at a right angle to a lever,
to which the bended string is mounted; a
thumbscrew is provided for tuning chores.
The device is engaged by either pushing
the neck away or swaying your hip, hence
the “Hipshot” moniker.
less invasive installation, proving less fussy
for guitar duties.
Although the Hipshot can initially seem
a little awkward, the process quickly
becomes second nature. Ease of use,
low-cost and simple installation counter
a notchy feel and added difficulty when
trying to hit half-step, in-between bends
(compared to other systems), although
both the hip lever and palm levers can
be specifically set for half-step bends if
desired. But there is no mistaking that the
Hipshot is a highly functional, fun and easy
solution for turning your guitar into a genu-
For the consummate string bender, the
option of using both Hipshot and P/G
systems in one guitar is intriguing. In this
setup, the Hipshot actuates the G string
while the Parsons/Green handles the B
bending chores, delivering the familiar
push-down-for-B, push-away-for-G set up.
With toggle tuners installed on both E
strings and the A, open G tuning is achievable in a grand total of three seconds.
The combination of both systems on one
guitar is less schizophrenic than one would
think, offering up surprising flexibility, with
the Parsons/Green and Hipshot systems
working relatively seamlessly in tandem.
Glaser’s Bender
No overview on pull-string systems would
be complete without mentioning Glaser
benders. Developed by Joe Glaser in the
late-seventies, his benders use an ingenious installation method requiring several
The toggle-tuner’s ability to effortlessly
shift from standard to open G to drop D
tunings cannot be overstated. In addition
to changing tuning from one song to the
next is the ability to switch to drop D for
the bridge of a tune and back to standard
for the chorus. Although much of the
same capability is available by installing
Scruggs pegs – banjo tuners with two
stops adjusted by set screws to provide
two tunings on the same string – the
toggle tuners require a much simpler and
54 PREMIER GUITAR MAY 2008
