Bridge pins on an acoustic bass.

gonzorob · #1 07-05-2008, 10:22 AM

I am trying to change my acoustic bass strings today as I want to go to a little bit heavier string.

This is my first string change on an acoustic and these effing bridge pins are about to bring me to tears. I can't get them to stay in the friggin hole. When i put tension on the strings it pops them out.

Now I have pushed them in as hard as I am willing to, as I am afraid of breaking something by putting all of my 220 lbs in the bridge pin trying to keep it in place.

Any advice before I go crazy?

ulrich · #2 07-05-2008, 10:49 AM

I have the same problem with my Carlo Robeli AGB. Eventually, with careful tweaking, I get them to stay in place. IIRC hold them in place, while tightening the string slowly.

gonzorob · #3 07-05-2008, 11:13 AM

Yep. I ended up having to hold them in with my foot while I was tightening the strings up. What a pain.

**HeavyDuty** · #4 07-05-2008, 12:25 PM

In my experience the usual cause of the problem is the ball is catching on the bottom of the pin.

Try putting a little (approx. 10 degree) bend with your fingers in the ball end of the string about an inch from the ball. This will help keep the ball to one side.