Official Luthiers Forum!

im trying to get strings on my number one and i have some questions. what kind of fit should the bridge pins have in their respective holes? im using slotted pins, should i also slot the bridge pin holes? should i turn the pins around backwards (slots toward the end block, thus making them unslotted pins) and slot the pin holes in the bridge? i really only know one guitar and thats my taylor W10. it has both slotted pins and bridge pin holes. the pins seem to fit a bit sloppy as well. also, if i am to slot the bridge pin holes, can i use my nut slotting files? bad idea? help please.

_________________
sweat the small stuff.

If this is your first and you already have slotted pins, I would not slot the bridge pin holes.
That's odd that you Taylor has both slotted bridge pins and holes. Maybe someone with familar with Taylor's can comment.

Richard

Heath: Bridge pins usually have a 3 degree or 5degree taper and you can get a tapered reamer specifically for this purpose. Counter sink your holes,ream to fit pins and then slot holes.I use a small fine saber saw blade with a small handle attached to start the slots and finish with needle file. Solid pins would be preferred but you can turn your slotted one's around. When reaming the holes be careful not to go too far or your holes will be over size. I also fit each pin to a specific hole and mark them from 1 to 6 with small file marks

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

i have a reamer that fits my pins, altough i cant remember if they are 3 or 5 degree at the moment. i counter sunk the holes and now im trying to figure out how tight the fit of the pins should be. ream just until the head of the pin bottoms out in the counter sunk portion? like i said, my taylor pins have a pretty sloppy fit.

after the pin fits the hole (im assuming this should be a relatively tight fit), do i just slot until there is just enough room for the pin and the string to make its way through?

_________________
sweat the small stuff.

Heath: If the pins and reamer match the pins should be tight in the reamed hole without any wiggle. I set the pins until there is about 1/16" to go before bottoming out of the pin head.Some folks may like them higher or lower. I like to put the slots in the holes so that the strings will remain under tension even if the pins are removed. In other words the pins are not actually holding the strings in,the strings stay in because the ball ends are pulling up on the bridge plate. Again,others may vary in their opinion.

_________________
A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

thank you gentlemen. i think i have enough info to get it right.

_________________
sweat the small stuff.