Flats on an acoustic with bridge pins

MrTrashcanBass · #1 07-12-2011, 12:33 PM

I have an acoustic bass with bridge pins.

When I try to put flat wounds (or half rounds) on it the bridge pin pulls out on the E string when I try to tighten it up.

I guess the round wound grooves dig in to the wood of the hole a bit.

Does anyone have any tricks to hold the pin in with flats? Or is this going to be a round wound only bass?

stflbn · #2 07-12-2011, 12:46 PM

I'd be concerned about the bridge potentially pull out due to the extra tension.

Have you tried pre-bending the strings to match where they'll bend over the saddle and bridge areas?

MrTrashcanBass · #3 07-12-2011, 01:20 PM

I had 'pre-bent' the string where it comes over the bridge (on the top). Didn't seem to help.

Just saw somewhere online that mentioned bending the ball end so the ball doesn't rest under the bottom of the pin, but rather the pin pushes the ball out of the way (towards the neck).

Gonna give that a try.

Thanks for the input! Pre-bending does sound like it will help.

I'm using the same gauge strings so I'm hoping there won't be a big difference in tension.

BackToTheGroove · #4 07-12-2011, 01:24 PM

Use light gauge flats.
I put D'Add's med-light flats on my Fender Kingman, and they sounded good and thumpy acoustically, and seemed to have less tension than the D'Add long scale flats used on another bass. Back to D'Add's light half-wounds on the Kingman now and they suit well as an all around sound. Didn't have bridge-pull/tension problems, but to be safe the lower tension the better, IMHO anyway.

Slowgypsy · #5 07-12-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTrashcanBass

Just saw somewhere online that mentioned bending the ball end so the ball doesn't rest under the bottom of the pin, but rather the pin pushes the ball out of the way (towards the neck).

That is exactly right... this is the same procedure that would be used to string up a 6-string acoustic guitar. Also, there is a groove in the pin... that groove should "slip" over the string when inserted.

MrTrashcanBass · #6 07-16-2011, 10:42 AM

Even armed with this knowledge I had a tough time gettin'er done.

But finally got the half rounds on there.

Thank you everyone for your help.

For anyone else struggling with this, here's a photo (from the inside under the bridge) that better illustrates how the ball should be on the side of the pin not under the bottom.