Saved 2 Guitars Tonight

[West R Lee]

A couple of years ago, in an attempt to revitalize my old D25, I had Don build a saddle, nut and pins for her. As soon as I received them, I installed them and was shocked at what the guitar had lost. I couldn't even keep her tuned and for all practical purposes, gave up on her and stuck her in the case, she's been there ever since.

Flash forward to several months after that. I bought a D55 that sounded incredible, but had what I thought was a problem with the bridgeplate. Pins popping out and the strings were really having a tough time seating against the bridgeplate. I figured that was the reason she was sold so cheaply.

Tonight, I got a brainstorm. I had an new set of plastic pins I've held on to forever and thought what the heck. I snatched the bone pins I got from Don out of the D25 and stuck them in the D55, with a bit of fine reaming, they fit like a glove, and for the first time the pins actually seated against the bridgeplate. Leaving the bone saddle Don had made, I put the plastic pins in the D25. I think the old plastic pins were so bent, they wouldn't seat the string.

Incredible, the both sound better...in fact, I'd say fantastic. The D25 is back sounding fabulous again, and I'd swear the D55 sounds even better. Don made he actually did an antique dye job on the bone pins to make them sort of an amber color, they match the burst on the D55 to a tee...I love 'em. Funny what you'll resort to around the house when you get bored.

West

 

[taabru45]

You got bored, you're guitars got reamed..... :shock: Is that what typically goes on in you're neighborhood. Some households the husband gets reamed and the guitars get bored. :lol: Steffan

 

[West R Lee]

Apparently, Mrs. West is a special lady. Sometimes she actually likes it when I play. In fact, she's been hounding me for a couple of months now to start playing again......so tonight I did after I got the 25 and the 55 fixed up, and she actually stayed around for a few songs.

West

 

[taabru45]

You're blessed West....gotta love a lady like that.

 

[Default]

Flash forward to several months after that. I bought a D55 that sounded incredible, but had what I thought was a problem with the bridgeplate. Pins popping out and the strings were really having a tough time seating against the bridgeplate. I figured that was the reason she was sold so cheaply.

Hey Jim! Glad to hear that you got them straightened out! As far as the D55 bridgeplate, maybe one of these would help. It's a brass plate that self-adheres to the bridgeplate.

I've been curious as to how well it would work and the price is cheap enough to experiment with.

 

[chazmo]

Hey, default... Any idea why these PlateMate products get so much grief (at least in some of the other forums I've visited)? Do they radically subdue volume or something?

Just curious... I've never used one.

 

[Default]

No idea. Here a quote from the Gibbie forum.

Most people say that if anything the platemate adds some treble and note separating from somewhat "muddy" sounding guitars but those who had brighter guitars liked them less.

Another guy's take on it.

More opinions.

 

[12stringer]

Incredible, the both sound better...in fact, I'd say fantastic. The D25 is back sounding fabulous again, and I'd swear the D55 sounds even better. Don made he actually did an antique dye job on the bone pins to make them sort of an amber color, they match the burst on the D55 to a tee...I love 'em. Funny what you'll resort to around the house when you get bored.

West

Hey that's great West! I love it when those brainstorms hit and are applied...It's a good feeling when a guitar gets a fix like that and all of a sudden it is sounding like a dream!
Play on!

 

[West R Lee]

I think the old plastic pins on the D55 were so badly bent, they just wouldn't hold the strings if there's such a thing. I put a set od new plastic in the D25, and took the bone Don made and stuck them in the D55. Leaving the bone saddle in the D25 seems to have helped it too, enormously. I also think the nut was cut just a tad thin for the D25....just a sliver (I did that by sanding), and it wasn't seating properly either....and evidently, that sure can effect tone (transfer of vibration).

Anyway, they're both good now and the antique bone pins look beautiful in the D55.

Thanks for the input guys, we sure can learn a lot here. A few of our LTGer's will be here soon for a visit, so I thought I'd set them all up....do a bit of tweaking. Great post Steve, I've got that tucked back in my favorites for future reference.

West

 

[Graham]

Tonight, I got a brainstorm. I had an new set of plastic pins I've held on to forever and thought what the heck. I snatched the bone pins I got from Don out of the D25 and stuck them in the D55, with a bit of fine reaming, they fit like a glove, and for the first time the pins actually seated against the bridgeplate. Leaving the bone saddle Don had made, I put the plastic pins in the D25. I think the old plastic pins were so bent, they wouldn't seat the string.

West

I know it's been talked about before, but just what is the best way to help seat some new pins? I have bone pins for my F-47RCE and they do not seat to the bridge, none of them. In fact they sit up about 3/16" from the bridge. Do I ream the pin hole? With what?, Do I sand the pin? How?

 

[West R Lee]

Tonight, I got a brainstorm. I had an new set of plastic pins I've held on to forever and thought what the heck. I snatched the bone pins I got from Don out of the D25 and stuck them in the D55, with a bit of fine reaming, they fit like a glove, and for the first time the pins actually seated against the bridgeplate. Leaving the bone saddle Don had made, I put the plastic pins in the D25. I think the old plastic pins were so bent, they wouldn't seat the string.

West

I know it's been talked about before, but just what is the best way to help seat some new pins? I have bone pins for my F-47RCE and they do not seat to the bridge, none of them. In fact they sit up about 3/16" from the bridge. Do I ream the pin hole? With what?, Do I sand the pin? How?

These didn't lack much to fit perfectly in the D55 Graham.....maybe 1/8" of going all the way down. You can take a thin piece of sandpaper and wrap your pins working them back and forth until you get the proper fit, I've done that (per Jeff), or you can do like I did last night. I've got a set of small round rat tail files and very carefully fit each pin by reaming the holes. Sometimes there are just loose wood bits in the hole and they just need cleaned out, and occasionally you need to take just a tad out of the hole.....just don't get carried away.

West

 

[Scratch]

Ross the Magic Luthier has done some work like that on a couple of mine and what a difference. I guess I could try to do it myself, but then I remind myself what a clutz I can be.

 

[West R Lee]

Ross the Magic Luthier has done some work like that on a couple of mine and what a difference. I guess I could try to do it myself, but then I remind myself what a clutz I can be.

Ya just gotta take your time and trim a bit, then check the fit. I took the pins and checked them in all the holes individually. If they'd fit, I'd stick them there, and if they were close to fitting, I didn't have to ream so much. None of the holes required too much.

West

 

[Scratch]

Apparently, Mrs. West is a special lady. Sometimes she actually likes it when I play. In fact, she's been hounding me for a couple of months now to start playing again......so tonight I did after I got the 25 and the 55 fixed up, and she actually stayed around for a few songs.

West

Picked up the JF30-12 for the first time in a while last night and picked a couple... Pam came to the study door; smiled nicely, and closed it. I was OK with that until she locked me in. With the cat... :roll:

 

[Walter Broes]

Good for you West, and fascinating how little things can completely turn a guitar around. Only helps to convince me even more that plenty of guitars that get written off as "just a bad guitar" just need a little work and a good setup.

 

[West R Lee]

Good for you West, and fascinating how little things can completely turn a guitar around. Only helps to convince me even more that plenty of guitars that get written off as "just a bad guitar" just need a little work and a good setup.

And I HAD written the D25 off Walter. Just a tiny tweak can make a huge difference. Makes me wonder if I went over the others with a fine tooth comb, what I might be able to improve. On an acoustic, little things like contact area of nuts and saddles, pin fit, and obviously the materials used seem to translate into big sound.

West

 

[cjd-player]

I was OK with that until she locked me in. With the cat... :roll:

Maybe she just wanted you to learn Graham's mew songs. :mrgreen:

 

[Graham]

I was OK with that until she locked me in. With the cat... :roll:

Maybe she just wanted you to learn Graham's mew songs. :mrgreen:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

I was OK with that until she locked me in. With the cat... :roll:

Maybe she just wanted you to learn Graham's mew songs. :mrgreen:

:lol: It sure pays to read the other threads.

West

 

[Scratch]

I was OK with that until she locked me in. With the cat... :roll:

Maybe she just wanted you to learn Graham's mew songs. :mrgreen:

I dunno, Carl. Toby is pretty danged scared of Grammy. Something about being a meal or sumthin...