Thread: Guitar Repair

This post is in the wrong place. Put it in the musical instrument section to get replies from members who know guitars rather than metalwork.

couple of things you could possibly do
1) buy a replacement part. I have seen guitars where the strings are retained with metal parts and the whole lot is mounted on a metal plate that is screwed to the guitar body. Would probably be the fast option but not the cheapest.

2) use a good quality epoxy to fill the hole, using a release agent on the pin, and using
the pin to get the shape required in the hole.

3) machine a brass or alloy insert with a tapererd hole, (would need a tapered reamer for this I would think) and epoxy in place in the guitar. Machine matching pin. You often see tapered pin reamers for sale on ebay and you would be able to buy them from most good engineering supply places.

regards

bollie7

I think the pins a tapered to allow the strings to come up through the hole.

I should add that replacement pins are not available. The pins also have a groove in the side for the string. This can be seen in the pic if you look closely.

Nev

FIrstly, the holes for the pins should be tapered. They are made with a reamer to match the taper on the pins. They come in 2 different angles to match the pins - you can get 3 and 5 degree. Once that is done, then the top of the hole is usually coutersunk a little. There are heaps of different replacement pins available. I don't recall ever seeing brass, but they may exist. If not, and if brass is what is needed, then you will need to turn them to the precise angle, with a head, and then slot them. The pins have a slot in the side that the string travels through. They are a friction fit and so the angle of the pin and the hole needs to match pretty well. If they are really too loose, then I have no idea. It may even mean replacing the bridge - although I have to think there's a better way. To be honest I wouldn't try doing this without t least some experience in guitar repair.

There is an article here http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luth...himendpin.html on a repair for a loose end pin. It may work for a bridge pin as well. If it were me I'd still taje it to a professional.

Peter

Originally Posted by SurfinNev

I should add that replacement pins are not available.

Well, that's not true. I don't think the owner was looking in the right place.

I will consider all options, let the owner know and let him decide on what he wants me to do.

Nev

I saw where you asked this on another forum and one reply was to ream the holes to the appropriate taper and use oversized pins. That sounds like a good solution to me. You can get the reamers at a few different places. Probably some of the luthier supplies places in Oz would carry them - and a selection of pins.

Peter