Acoustic bridge pins...........

[Blewbyou]

Ever notice, when you are changing strings on your acoustic how hard it is to get the bridge pins out sometimes?

Next time you are changing strings rub the pins over an old candle to coat them with the wax. It acts as a lube when going in seats them when in and acts as a lube pulling them out. It's helped me out a lot!

Give it a try, you'll be glad you did.

Blew

[ez-one]

another thing I learned about accoustic guitar pins is that you don't have to drive them in, just pushing them in gentley until they seat is all that is necessary, they are not holding the string down in the hole, they only fill the hole so that the ball on the end of the string cannot come out, so its a side to side pressure that they are porducing and pushing them in hard does not do anything, but make them harder to get out (it took me years to figure that out) I always rub my pins againest my hair before putting them back in, I guess the oils that are in your hair helps them from sticking. (I don't really know if it helps are why I started doing it, but it must have made since at the time) :)

[wavelog]

Isnt there like a thing that they sell at guitar stores which you just slide on the pins and they just pop out ? i thought i saw one of those on my last trip

[Blewbyou]

Yes there is. I have two of them . A while Back we had a member post that his bridge pins were in so tight he couldn't get them out tried pliers, scissors, tapping then from underneath every thing we could think of. The pins don't need to be so tight this is where the wax comes into play it acts as a lube. The pullers do make it easier to pull the pins for sure.

Ez I'm in the building contracting business and I rub finishing nails in my hair to lube them before I drive them in. Although with an air nailer you don't really drive many nails anymore.

[Paul]

I have always had problems with the pins sticking in and had to gently use pliers to get them out. But I gotta say Blew, the pins in that Cumberland are SWEET !!! They come out very easy and sit really nice. They have a nice lip to grab and it makes it so simple. Thank God, because I have no damn hair to rub them in. :)

[Blewbyou]

Paul did you find some strings that suited you for the Cumberland? I had to do a lot of hand sanding to make those bone pins fit! I didn't realize how hard bone was till then. Gave me some blisters on my fingers doing it. I put candle wax on those pins it really seems to help. I always had problems with the pins sticking till I started using wax.

As far as the no hair part, well although I don't have that problem...... yet I'm sure you're not alone.

[ez-one]

Ez I'm in the building contracting business and I rub finishing nails in my hair to lube them before I drive them in. Although with an air nailer you don't really drive many nails anymore.[/QUOTE]

I am also in the building trades and trying to do that with an air nailer could be real painful:)

[Paul]

Blew, I did find some strings. I put on some D'adario lights. Over the past couple of days I think my action got higher, but it could be me ??

Also, while I am on the subject.......I had the chance to plug her into a great system and WOW !!!! My brother's band was playing a huge show and during his sound check I asked him to play the jumbo. Man, not only did it sound great ( he is a GREAT player ), but he kept it for the entire show. :)

[Ink]

I had to do a lot of hand sanding to make those bone pins fit! I didn't realize how hard bone was till then.. snip.

Blew - I'm considering a bone saddle and pins for one of my practice acoustics (Sigma DR-41). Can you offer some words on your experiences with bone pins? Did you drop in a bone saddle and set of pins or pins only? How did the pins affect the guitar's sustain? Did it deepen or mellow the guitars voice etc.....?

I'd like to get your thoughts.

Thanks

Ink.