Members StratoSlacker Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 Hi all, Epiphone Hummingbird acoustic, nice little guitar. Decided to change the strings today while watching football. Pulled out the high E pin, and when I tried putting it and the new string back in, it won't hold. The pin shows no sign of damage, no bits of wood fell out when I pulled the pin. The entire guitar is stock, including the pins which appear to be plastic. Is this a common issue with acoustic bridges? Is the solution simply to buy a fatter pin or do I need to replace the bridge now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members totamus Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 Did you use bridge pin adhesive? Its esecially important on the treble strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members totamus Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 or, you might check out this thread bridge pin thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhythmguitar28 Posted October 4, 2009 Members Share Posted October 4, 2009 Usually you can hold the pin in place as you bring the string up to tension. Once the string ball locks into the bridge pin slot it should stay. It's not uncommon for bridge pins to want to pull out at first as your tightening up the new strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frets99 Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Fittin bridge pins is like sex..... Just keep putting her back in as you increase the tension. It'll stay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MePeel Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 I usually will hold the pin in place while I bring the string up to pitch when it'sacting like that. I usually have to push the pins in a couple of times before thetension takes over. It's no big deal. Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AndrewGG Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 The ball-end didn't lock under the bridge plate. The function of the pin is basically to guide the ball and not secure it. The bridge plate might also be worn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratoSlacker Posted October 5, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'll take another look at it tomorrow. Had too much fun today (and beer) to be tangling with an acoustic right now! Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seagullplayer77 Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 Pulled out the high E pin, and when I tried putting it and the new string back in, it won't hold. The pin shows no sign of damage, no bits of wood fell out when I pulled the pin. The entire guitar is stock, including the pins which appear to be plastic. Is this a common issue with acoustic bridges? Is the solution simply to buy a fatter pin or do I need to replace the bridge now? Maybe the bridge pin popped out because you're wrong and a liar . Sorry...couldn't resist the opportunity. One of our AG inside jokes, you see Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it. If there's not enough tension on the string, the bridge pins will pop/fall out sometimes. I generally hold the pin in place with my thumb until there's enough tension on the string to keep it from moving around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhythmguitar28 Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 Maybe the bridge pin popped out because you're wrong and a liar . Sorry...couldn't resist the opportunity. One of our AG inside jokes, you see I think the real culprit might be that he's StratoSlacking . Sorry, couldn't resist that 1 either..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhancox Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 I've had the problem a few times before and I just use one of the other pins. It [another bridgepin] may not have been any different and it may have had everything to do with how the ball end was seating, but it got me through the hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sangemon Posted October 5, 2009 Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 Did you make sure that the ball end of the the string was seated against the bridge plate and not seated on the end of the pin before bringing the string up to tension? I've had ball ends that stubbornly wanted to seat themselves up on the end of the endpin. It helps to put a little bend on the winding near the ball end to help it into position when you insert the endpin. I like to put all the strings in first so that I can reach in and feel that the ball end of all the strings are seated properly before moving down the neck to wind the strings onto the tuners. Or you can check with a little mirror. And doesn't all of that just sound so perverse?:poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratoSlacker Posted October 5, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 5, 2009 i never realized that string tension will hold a pin in place. not sure i understand the physics of that one. and yes, i'm lying and slacking at the same time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Hack Posted October 6, 2009 Members Share Posted October 6, 2009 My guess is the ball end is caught on the end of the pin rather than near the hole so when you tighten it up it want's to pull the pin out. I used to use Martin Marquis strings which have silk on the bottom and it was often too thick and would wedge in the bridgepin groove and pull it partly out. I have since switched to SP's and I no longer have that problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratoSlacker Posted October 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2009 Everything seems to have worked like a charm. I had never experienced this issue with a bridge pin before. Thanks everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.