Don't you hate when...

[Victory Pete]

I use these from StewMac:http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools...in_Puller.html

I learned a long time ago how to do drop fills and touch up my guitars finish. Although I am still very careful about any dings, when I do get one I will touch it up soon after. Doing a drop fill repair is a lengthy process, once there is enough lacquer in the dent or ding, which can take multiple applications, you have to wait a couple weeks or longer to start to level and buff. I just came up with a technique to put a very tight bend on my ball ends which takes virtually no effort to pull the pins to remove old strings.
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=486845

[StevenL]

Or... you could just ream the pin holes so the pins fit snugly but not so that they have to be pulled with pliers. But then you may just drop the reamer on the top.

[Epiphone100]

I always, and have for years, popped bridge pins out from inside the soundhole, just be gentle and watch for wiring etc.........if a tight one, wrap a bit of electrical tape around your finger and push a bit harder, never fails, and no chance of any marks on the bridge !!!!

[KevWind]

They make plastic string winders with pin pulling slots super simple and cheap

As far as scars on the guitar ? it is part of life., and at that point you can stop obsessing , Life in a bubble is well ?, not much of a life .

Here is a more general thought on it. The cover I do always gets a good audience response.

[islandguitar]

Originally Posted by Epiphone100

I always, and have for years, popped bridge pins out from inside the soundhole, just be gentle and watch for wiring etc.........if a tight one, wrap a bit of electrical tape around your finger and push a bit harder, never fails, and no chance of any marks on the bridge !!!!

Good one! I also use a coin.....often a quarter to push the pin up from inside if I get one stuck. As Barry indicated, using the same pin in the same hole each time has merits!

[Pitar]

New guitars come with new hammers, or should, to get it over with. The warranty on the hammer needn't be transferable to a new owner, though.

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by StevenL

Or... you could just ream the pin holes so the pins fit snugly but not so that they have to be pulled with pliers. But then you may just drop the reamer on the top.

The irony is that holes that are too big and nontapered are the reason they get stuck. The ball pulls up into the gap and gets wedged in place.

[Victory Pete]

Originally Posted by KevWind

They make plastic string winders with pin pulling slots super simple and cheap

As far as scars on the guitar ? it is part of life., and at that point you can stop obsessing , Life in a bubble is well ?, not much of a life .

Here is a more general thought on it. The cover I do always gets a good audience response.

]

Scars on guitars are not part of my life. Maybe on me, but not on my guitars.

[jljohn]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

All string winders should be dumped in the ocean.
Or buried in the desert.
Silly and unnecessary invention.

Not these: http://www.frankscranks.com

I'm not sure how one could actually scratch a headstock with these.

[L20A]

I have guitars to enjoy, not to obsess over.
I use a string winder and have used one for over 30 years.
But that's just me.

[Dustinfurlow]

Originally Posted by islandguitar

Good one! I also use a coin.....often a quarter to push the pin up from inside if I get one stuck. As Barry indicated, using the same pin in the same hole each time has merits!

I used the same pin for each string every time as well, Marc has Ebony pins that seem to be fitted for each to ensure they're snug and I've yet to have any pop off on me while restringing!

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Victory Pete

Scars on guitars are not part of my life. Maybe on me, but not on my guitars.

Don't get out much ? just kiddin'

Guess I should have qualified, I am definitely more scared than my guitars. But on the guitars I regularly gig with, scars just seem to eventually be part of it. and something I do not worry about. I try to be as careful as I can but in the end guitars are things for creating music , great things but still just things

[Johan Madsen]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I did the exact same thing on the very 1st string change on a new Maton 12-string guitar.
The pins must have been hammered in.
Bruised the bridge trying to get them out with the remover 'groove/slot' on the end of the string winder cup.
Found 2 things that work properly.



- Snapz 2.0 pin puller - I painted the silver on my set.
- small pair of pliers. I reshaped and smoothed the internal jaws with a Dremel, left 1 single 'rib' at the very tip to grip the pin.

There's an easier way to achieve that task, just push the string toward the pin hole (that may sound counter intuitive), the pin will pop out immediately, no need for plier or anything, and you won't damage the pin

[AcousticDreams]

I would like to second the Snapz Puller. I am a bridge pin experimenter..and have pulled hundreds of pins with this wonderful device. It has really saved my guitar from mishaps.

[Big Band Guitar]

Dings scratches stains are part of playing. A instrument without them stays in the case or on the stand too much. It's a history only you know.

I knew a bass player (stand up acoustic) that could tell you the history of every scratch and dent, there were many in the 60+ years he played it. He is gone now and I wonder what happened to his bass/history book.

My grandfathers violin has many dings and scratches. When I hold it in my hands I sometimes think, he held this violin in his hands, it makes me feel closer to him. He died long before I was born. Those dings and scratches are a connection.

I would never ding or scratch an instrument on purpose but if it happens I make a mental note of the history.