Acoustic bass round bridge pins

[MNBassman]

Hey everyone. I'm installing some new Galli tape wounds on my acoustic bass. This is the first string change I've done on the bass so I was a bit surprised to find the bridge pins are round (no notches).

E and A string went in just fine but the pesky D string keeps popping the bridge pin out. I tried putting a bend at the ball end of the string with no luck. Any suggestions?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Buy a pack of bridge pins and get a pen knife.

 

[HeavyDuty]

ABG bridge pins are usually just guitar end pins, so you may need to either add the groove or enlarge the slot in the bridge.

 

[bholder]

ABG bridge pins are usually just guitar end pins, so you may need to either add the groove or enlarge the slot in the bridge.

In my experience, they're much larger (for all the ones i have that use them), and harder to find. Still have problems with the grooves not being large enough though.

 

[Turnaround]

I took some ebony violin end pins and used some carving chisels to run a groove along the shaft. I think I recall shaving the pins down slightly (it helps to have a violin peg shaver). Very pleased with the result.

 

[Qlanq]

I changed the strings on mine and just could not get the damn pins to stay in. All the strings kept popping the pins out.
Had to take it back to the shop I bought it from. The shame.
Sorry, no help here.

 

[202dy]

Two choices:

1. Notch the pin.
2. Notch the bridge.

Notching the bridge is an elegant, albeit, irreversible solution.

By hand:

1. Jig saw blade (wrap with tape or make a handle from a thin dowel) to cut slot parallel to the string at 12:00 on (saddle side of) the hole.
2. Nut files, micro files, rifflers are used to smooth rough cut and ramp the slot on the saddle side.
3. 400-600 grit sandpaper wrapped around files to finish.

Or you can use a Dremel. If using a rotary tool it is highly recommended that the tool is installed in a router base. Once the slot is cut with the appropriate size bit the ramp can be created with a round burr. Finish with abrasives.

Don't want to cut into your guitar top? Notching the pins by hand requires mini gouges, files, and sandpaper. The pin should be held in a vise so that it and it alone is the only thing that the edge tools come into contact. Alternatively, Dremel or similar can be employed. Again, chuck the work piece in a vise for safety's, and your fretting hand's, sake.

 

[MNBassman]

Thanks everyone. I ended up notching the pins with a knife and file. Turned out pretty good, and these strings sound amazing!

 

[HeavyDuty]

In my experience, they're much larger (for all the ones i have that use them), and harder to find. Still have problems with the grooves not being large enough though.

I took some ebony violin end pins and used some carving chisels to run a groove along the shaft. I think I recall shaving the pins down slightly (it helps to have a violin peg shaver). Very pleased with the result.

You know, I think you guys are right - I bought a bag of twelve ebony pins from an old fashioned music store that was going out of business years ago, and while the drawer was marked guitar end pins they may have been misfiled.