Bridge Pins

[sampost51]

Hi - New to the forum. I just purchased an SE Angelus Custom. What a great guitar for the price! I changed the strings today and had a devil of a time removing the bridge pins ( I had to go into the sound hole and push them up and out!) Anyone else having that problem? I intend on buying new pins to alleviate the problem - but thought I would check. Thanks!

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I intend on buying new pins to alleviate the problem - but thought I would check.

I wouldn't. Tight pins are a good thing.

Do you have a proper tool to remove them - without damaging the guitar?

 

[alantig]

But Hans probably means one of these:

 

[sampost51]

Thanks! I almost pulled out a crow bar! - I used several different pin pullers with no luck. The pins sit really low in the bridge and are very difficult to grab. I'm buying a new tool and will try that -

 

[JMintzer]

Could be that a Gorilla was installing them the day yours was made...

Try them again, using gentle pressure...


Jamie

 

[aPeRSon]

I had exactly the same experience - until the penny dropped that if I detuned all the strings and unwrapped them from the tuning heads first, I could reach through the sound hole and push the pins up from inside. Prior to that, I used the appropriate groove on my string winder to pull the first peg and nearly marked the ebony bridge plate. When I restrung, I also put my hand through the sound hole, to feel the ball ends of the strings locate properly in the pin groove and against the underside of the body.

 

[László]

You definitely want the pins tight for tone and tuning stability.

Sometimes the pins get tight simply because the wood has swelled a little with summer weather/humidity changes. I was told that it doesn't hurt anything to reach in and push them out.

 

[sampost51]

Glad to hear from someone else with the same problem. Did you replace the pins? I'm going to try another set and see. I plan on using the guitar on my gigs and can't see detuning and pushing pins up during a set. By the way what strings are you using? I tired a set of Martin Lifespan lights - not sure I'll keep them on. I normally use John Pearse new mediums on my other guitars. Thanks!