Ive been playing guitar for over 20 years. Ive owned MANY different guitars, the majority of them under the thousand dollar mark, and consistently have had this issue. I could never figure out why. I always figured it was a combination of me doing something wrong and the fact they were "cheap" guitars. Those things may or may not still hold true but at least i now know how to fix it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I'm a little bit late to the party, but I was wondering, if the popping out can be also caused by the pins being a little bit shorter. I bought a pack of ebony pins from Taylor on my Taylor guitar, which had a little bit longer stock pins. Few of them were a bit loose and popped out twice, but when I got it in tune and pushed them a little bit down it stayed there. I'm little bit worried, if it's fine, or I should maybe get a longer ones. Any thoughts? Thanks
The length won't matter nearly as much as the taper - which is probably fine if they're OEM. Other than that, I think in your case the bridge holes may be slightly enlarged due to the wood shrinking. Not a huge problem as long as the pins hold. Just make sure the guitar is reasonably humidified.
You can double check if the string is properly anchored to the bridge plate putting an inspection mirror with a flashlight in the soundhole and see if its properly anchored. To bevel the pin, just hold it on an angle and drag it across a piece of sandpaper grit 100/120.
This is exactly how I do it.....bend the ball forward before installation. If it still pops out file the slot deeper. Signed: Repairman in the Boston area for 35 years.
@@guitar-niche I would wager that probably a fraction of a percent of guitarists do it this way.....and surprisingly many guitar repair people don't even know this.....or are too lazy.
Thanks. I'm actually looking for how to REMOVE a pin that just seems to be embedded too deeply in the bridge. I've tried using steel blades (how I've usually done it since the late 60's) but ... this time, I've got a stubborn pin that's starting to disintegrate with pliers, so I need to find a way of pushing the pin from inside the guitar body. Steel collar, like an inverted thumb thimble?
Thanks for the comment! My usual remedy involves using a small steel block about 1" square by 2" long, weighing roughly 10 ounces to tap the pin out from the inside. I would think any small block of similar mass would work just as well. Good luck!
Assuming the pins are ok and the strings are kinked at the ball end before installation, it could be the size of the hole or the condition of the bridge plate. If the low E (the thickest string) is drawing up the pin, it's probably wedged in the pin slot - which would then need widening. Either that or the forward faces of the bridge pin holes can be slotted with a file.
Had a problem with my B string. Great tips, appreciate you!!
Ive been playing guitar for over 20 years. Ive owned MANY different guitars, the majority of them under the thousand dollar mark, and consistently have had this issue. I could never figure out why. I always figured it was a combination of me doing something wrong and the fact they were "cheap" guitars. Those things may or may not still hold true but at least i now know how to fix it.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
You're welcome!
I did this and now it's firmly in there
Glad it worked for you!
I'm a little bit late to the party, but I was wondering, if the popping out can be also caused by the pins being a little bit shorter. I bought a pack of ebony pins from Taylor on my Taylor guitar, which had a little bit longer stock pins. Few of them were a bit loose and popped out twice, but when I got it in tune and pushed them a little bit down it stayed there. I'm little bit worried, if it's fine, or I should maybe get a longer ones. Any thoughts? Thanks
The length won't matter nearly as much as the taper - which is probably fine if they're OEM. Other than that, I think in your case the bridge holes may be slightly enlarged due to the wood shrinking. Not a huge problem as long as the pins hold. Just make sure the guitar is reasonably humidified.
You can double check if the string is properly anchored to the bridge plate putting an inspection mirror with a flashlight in the soundhole and see if its properly anchored. To bevel the pin, just hold it on an angle and drag it across a piece of sandpaper grit 100/120.
This is exactly how I do it.....bend the ball forward before installation. If it still pops out file the slot deeper.
Signed: Repairman in the Boston area for 35 years.
Excellent!
@@guitar-niche I would wager that probably a fraction of a percent of guitarists do it this way.....and surprisingly many guitar repair people don't even know this.....or are too lazy.
Thanks. I'm actually looking for how to REMOVE a pin that just seems to be embedded too deeply in the bridge. I've tried using steel blades (how I've usually done it since the late 60's) but ... this time, I've got a stubborn pin that's starting to disintegrate with pliers, so I need to find a way of pushing the pin from inside the guitar body. Steel collar, like an inverted thumb thimble?
Thanks for the comment! My usual remedy involves using a small steel block about 1" square by 2" long, weighing roughly 10 ounces to tap the pin out from the inside. I would think any small block of similar mass would work just as well.
Good luck!
Wait it worked thanks I just had to bend it more toward the ball and it worked
Thanks for the tips. Helped immensely. Cheers from Japan!
you're welcome! Cheers from Canada!
It's amazing how the three comments were positive, when the problem remained the same.
Sorry, maybe I missed something. How did the problem remain the same?
Great idea!!!!!
You're welcome!
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge it's been very useful....
Welcome!
Tried this and my e string still pops out, is it a bridge or pin problem when this doesn’t work
Assuming the pins are ok and the strings are kinked at the ball end before installation, it could be the size of the hole or the condition of the bridge plate. If the low E (the thickest string) is drawing up the pin, it's probably wedged in the pin slot - which would then need widening. Either that or the forward faces of the bridge pin holes can be slotted with a file.
It still looks poppet up
You can see that the pin is not properly seated even after that.
Based on a two dimensional image.