Mystery BRIDGE PINS: Does somebody sell a "Test Set" - one of each size (in plastic)?

[BothHands]

Somebody should sell a cheap plastic "Test Set" consisting of one-of-each of the "standard" bridge pins in wide use today. A cross-section of sizes and tapers that would sell for $10. It would comprise a set of "pin gauges" like the steel pin gauges used by machinists to confirm hole sizes. The pins listed on this page might be a good starting point.

I realize there's no STANDARD for bridge pin sizes, but a knowledgeable seller of related products could certainly put together a "Likely" list...


BACKSTORY

I bought a used guitar. When I changed the strings, all six pins just fell out. No tension whatsoever. The rat who traded in this guitar had it reamed to accommodate larger custom pins, but swapped them out for plastic standard-sized pins when he traded it in.

KindaSux.

I have NO IDEA what size pins to buy, or what taper was reamed because all I have are the cheap plastic standard pins, which are undersized.

And before you tell me to take it to a trusted tech/luthier, I recently moved to a small city that apparently has no luthiers or serious guitar techs. I've looked.

For the past several years I've been using an alternative system sold by an AGF member; it involves no bridge pins. Instead, I feed the string through a small aluminum washer that keeps the ball end from pulling up and out of the bridge pin hole. It works well and sounds good, but changing strings is a chore.

[phavriluk]

No idea if this will do any good, but the price for my comments is right: Contact specialist bridge pin suppliers and ask. Whoever reamed the bridge pin holes had bridge pins that fit.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by BothHands

…I realize there's no STANDARD for bridge pin sizes, but a knowledgeable seller of related products could certainly put together a "Likely" list...

Hi BH

We have a forum member named Bob Colosi who has a business called "Guitar Saddles dot com"

He has a lengthy explanation as to how to measure and figure out specific tapers (even I was able to accomplish it). He also lists his phone number, and is very easy to contact and deal with. No 'kit' of samples needed…

Hope this provides some direction…

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

We have a forum member named Bob Colosi who has a business called "Guitar Saddles dot com" He has a lengthy explanation as to how to measure and figure out specific tapers [...]

Thank you, ljguitar.

In researching prior to posting this thread, I did indeed turn up Bob Colosi's name. But upon visiting his website, determined he's "all about saddles and none about bridge pins." Looks like I was wrong about that. I'll return to his site and look for those instructions.

In the meantime, I'm thinking I can use some drill bits and a dial caliper to figure out the upper and lower diameters of the pin holes, and from there determine the taper. That is, if the bottoms of the holes aren't all chewed up from ball-end incursions:

1. Insert small drill bits (butt end first) to the very bottom of the hole, advancing to a larger diameter bit until I find one that fits snuggly at the bottom of the hole. Record that diameter.
   
   
2. Find a larger drill bit (butt end first) that just fits the top of the hole. Record that diameter.
   
   
3. Use the depth finder that projects past the end of my dial caliper beam to determine the depth of the hole. Insert a flat object into the guitar body and hold its flat surface flush against the underside of the bridge plate. Then extend my depth finder until it touches that flat surface. Record the depth.

The DIAMETERS (upper or lower) should determine the pin size/diameter. And combining all three dimensions should yield the specific TAPER. I'll have to figure out how to calculate it...

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by phavriluk

Contact specialist bridge pin suppliers and ask. Whoever reamed the bridge pin holes had bridge pins that fit.

Thanks, phavriluk, but as usual, I can't get there from here.

Nobody knows to what size the holes were reamed, and I don't have pins that fit those holes...so suppliers can't help me.

[JayBee1404]

You need a set of calipers that will allow you to perform inside measurements - like this from Stew-Mac…

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tool...igital-caliper

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

You need a set of calipers that will allow you to perform inside measurements

Thanks, JayBee1404, and thanks for the link. Mine does measure inside dimensions, but won't fit down inside a bridge pin hole...and neither will the one sold by StewMac.

Maybe I could measure the top diameter from outside the guitar, and then feed the calipers through the soundhole...and measure the bottom diameter from inside the guitar body. But I wouldn't trust that bottom diameter measurement because I wouldn't be able to see the instrument or have a natural hold on it while measuring.

[phavriluk]

S-M's digital caliper differs from those selling $40.00 cheaper is that notch in the jaw that allows a fret's crown height to be measured. Calipers are good tools to have, but careful shopping and planning can pay for a lot of beer.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by BothHands

[*] Insert small drill bits (butt end first) to the very bottom of the hole, advancing to a larger diameter bit until I find one that fits snuggly at the bottom of the hole. Record that diameter.

I was on an Epiphone forum and a member was looking for bridge pins - I had some and asked him what size was he looking for? He didn't know how to measure so I made this up to show him how the pins fitted in various metric drilled holes.

It doesn't measure taper but it's a good starting point and will make the guitar usable.

The 5.5mm hole looks perfect, pin is sitting nicely on the collar.

[guitararmy]

I have a set of brass Carricco’s locking bridge pins which should fit any size bridge pin hole. I could send them to you to try...
BTW I have been using the 1/8” aluminum pop rivet washer trick on several of my guitars instead of bridge pins. I think they sound better and couple the ball end to the bridge plate better than bridge pins.

[Kyle215]

You could get a large set of wood pins and sand them down to fit… Take some elbow grease, but then you’ll know your size and could presumably use that to match the next set.

[blindboyjimi]

The caliper will fit in the sound hole and you can measure the hole in the bridge plate and you can measure the hole in the bridge from the top and get the taper. I just sent Bob Colosi 2 nuts, 2 saddles and 2 sets of pins. He made measurements of all and emailed me pictures of what pins he had in stock. They were mailed back to me Monday. I should have them tomorrow! I’ve used Antique Acoustic (vintage Martins and Gibsons) or Colosi pins in all my guitars.

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

...I made this up to show him how the pins fitted in various metric drilled holes. It doesn't measure taper but it's a good starting point and will make the guitar usable. The 5.5mm hole looks perfect, pin is sitting nicely on the collar.

Thanks very much, Brucebubs.

I appreciate the help, but not having a specimen of that particular pin means I cannot figure out the size of my bridge pin holes. If I had the specific pin that appears in your photo, I could insert it in one of the pin holes in question and judge that hole's size by how tall the pin rides in the hole.

But I no gotz!

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

I have a set of brass Carricco’s locking bridge pins which should fit any size bridge pin hole. I could send them to you to try...
BTW I have been using the 1/8” aluminum pop rivet washer trick on several of my guitars instead of bridge pins. I think they sound better and couple the ball end to the bridge plate better than bridge pins.

guitararmy ==

I much appreciate your offer to send those brass pins out for a trial, but don't go to the trouble. I have NO IDEA what size these holes are yet; I'll have to narrow my options down a bit.

And, I agree about the aluminum washers. I bought the kit several years ago from AGF member murrmac123 in Edinburgh, bonny Scotland. It was an international transaction that went entirely smoothly, and I enjoyed dealing with him.

If you and I were in Scotland, or the UK in general, I think we'd both say, "That aluminum washer approach 'works a treat!'"

[BothHands]

Originally Posted by Kyle215

You could get a large set of wood pins and sand them down to fit… Take some elbow grease, but then you’ll know your size and could presumably use that to match the next set.

Thanks, Kyle215. I've been thinking along those lines, too. If I could get pins that are extra long, I could probably insert the tail end into my drill press chuck and spin them while holding a small sanding block against the side. Then cut off the extra length.

Lots of opportunities for mistakes, and lots of stopping, checking the fit and sanding a little more. But it would work. If I do that, I think I'll have to buy TWO sets to end up with six useable pins.

"A good man knows his limitations."
~ Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry Callahan