Re-Stringing SE Akesson Tone Pros AVT II Bridge

[CantankerousCarl]

I thought it was me...the first time...maybe it still is.

Broke a high E on the Akesson today (second string I have broken since I got it) and I can never thread the damn strings through the holes in the bridge they are supposed to go through.

They end up going under the bridge instead of through the hole on the other side.

There is not alot of room between the bridge pickup and the bridge - which compounds the problem.

Every time, I end up taking the whole bridge off and doing a complete restring just to get everything right. Would be nice to just be able to change one string. Especially since I use EB Cobalts on this one (only this one) and they's 'spensive.

Am I missing something? Is there an easy way to get the string through? Maybe some way to fish it through?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

It's funny, the TonePros bridge was a huge turn-on for me when I bought what would become my GucciTop.... until I got it. It WAS hard to string up and I almost ditched the whole project because of other issues with the bridge, I ended up giving it away after receiving a USA compensated bridge and will probably never get another.

 

[andy474x]

I had the same problem with mine at first, definitely a pain til you get the hang of it! I bend the strings at a 45 degree angle, about 1-1 1/2" inches from the end, then when I start to insert the string, the bend will drop in between the pickup and bridge, so that the last little bit is parallel with the top, going straight into the bridge, and the rest is at a 45 deg angle, and you can push it through to the back much the easily. I need to restring mine soon, I'll get some pics to clarify. The high e string is still a bit tricky, but that technique really makes it easier.

 

[CantankerousCarl]

OK, so almost two months have gone by, and I am just about ready to get rid of Mr. Akesson. I hate this AVT-II bridge. I'll take the stock, non-locking, non-adjustable PRS SE bridge any day of the week, and twice on any day of the week.

Change of season, a little buzzing, a quarter turn on the truss rod and I want to tweak the bridge height, too, but it's a big Hall and Oates No Can Do...

Apparently I am missing the special TonePros 12mm adjustment wrench, and none of my local HW shops have a flat-enough 12mm wrench for me to be able to adjust the height. I have emailed per TonePros web site without reply yet on getting a replacement wrench. I have tried without success to MacGuyver a special equivalent part.

SO - anyone know if I can slap the standard PRS SE wraparound bridge on this thing? Can I leave the studs in the wood, and just get new posts and the PRS standard SE bridge?