Recently splashed out and bought a Stew Mac Guitar Tech Screwdriver Set.
Nice little set that sits on my desk. Probably expensive for what it is, but It’s got everything I need and not much that I don’t.
Currently 15% off normal price.
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ooooh, I like the hex heads, nice.
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@barney Like a Boy Scout, “always prepared.” Part of the bass case.
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If I didn’t already have a ton of screwdrivers and wrenches I would consider that. I love the small format case for it.
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Hey @Barney , you seem to know your way around Fender necks.
Do you know if a fender string retainer would fit the A string tuner on a MIM Fender P-bass (my Steve Harris P)?
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I don’t think it will work because the MIM tuners use a press fit bushing. It’s pressed in from the front. The tuner peg slides through and it’s got 4 screws to hold it on the back.
The string retainer works with the more expensive deluxe tuners. These work by using a internal threaded bolt which then threads onto the tuner behind the headstock. You use a (3/4" I think) socket to cinch the tuner together. It’s the same system for the Hipshot lightweight tuners.
So the action of pinching the 2 parts together is what keeps the retainer in place. You could try enlarging the hole of the retainer and slipping it under the bushing but it wouldn’t leave much for it to bite onto.
Here’s a pic of the deluxe tuner with retainer to clarify.
You could add an additional retainer but it will affect the look (If you care)
Hipshot make a nice small one.
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I’ve got a Fender string retainer on my old jazz bass which is push fit and so far no problems @MC-Canadastan
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Did you have to enlarge it to make it fit @Mac ? Because I emailed Fender and they said a little bit of work may be required to make it fit. Maybe they were wrong.
Would you mind posting a picture of it when you’ve got time. Cheers
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I just reread my email from Fender and they say the retainer was ‘designed’ to be used on the deluxe tuner.
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Thanks for the extensive answer @Barney and for the glimmer of hope, @Mac .
I do indeed have the press-fit MIM tuners. However, I’ll give the retainer a try, if only to avoid putting holes in a brand new $1700 dollar instrument. Call me not-LowEnd Lobster 
However, I also bought a replacement pickguard. The bass has the truss adjustment in the heel, and you need to take off the pickguard to adjust the truss rod (fecking vintage and bloody authentic, 
). So, thinking sideways, I will save the original pickguard in some safe space where it won’t have to listen to anything it finds offensive and route out a slot in the new one, so that I can adjust it without removing the guard.
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If there’s A string buzz, I’ve had good luck with a fret wrap fixing it
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Considering how many screws we have on the average bass, it’s a good deal. I’m always looking for the right size screwdriver from my cabinet.
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Did some more digging around for you @MC-Canadastan according to the specs on this website the inner diameter of the retainer is 17mm.
And according to the Fender site the bushing outside diameter is 18.7mm. So if my math is right, that won’t work. Just trying to save you some heartache 
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I did now you mention it @Barney but only very slightly.
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And to be fair , if I wasn’t going through my “oh my god I must keep this as original as possible “ phase I would definitely look at the 3 string versions as a more viable option
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Yeah I would go right to “better string tree”
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Enjoy them.
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excellent work for sure !
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