#1
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Emerald Pin-less bridge restringing
Hey Guys - literally the day after I really struggled in restringing the new X30, Davy sent me a ~30 second clip showing their recommended way (I had written to him complaining that I was having trouble) - the video is at the 9:45 mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M850P0_kVs I was unable to keep sufficient tension on the string without it popping out as I was trimming and threading the string. I used the golf tee/bridge pin trick that Earl and others have described here. I also had a hard time getting the ball end to latch into place like they showed here - I had to insert the string, put my other hand inside the soundhole and guide the string into the groove where it locks in, and while pulling really firmly, inserting the temporary bridge pins - while doing all of this, it would work 2/3 of the time, but sometimes when I would add tension and remove the bridge pin, the string would come out. Hopefully next time I will have less trouble.
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Larrivee SD-40s: Moonwood/R, Moonwood/M, All-Hog, Standard/M Larrivee D-03 Alvarez AD30 - Yamaha F310 - Jasmine S35 - PRS SE P20E Parlor Martin Backpacker |
#2
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Just like anything that takes practice- you will be a pro in no time.
Remember the first time you put new strings on a guitar by yourself? I took me forever and now I can do it in about 10 minutes, and that is without a automatic string winder. |
#3
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Regarding the Emerald method, I'll be happy if I can reliably latch the ball end without having to stick my hand in the sound hole to guide it into the slot.
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Larrivee SD-40s: Moonwood/R, Moonwood/M, All-Hog, Standard/M Larrivee D-03 Alvarez AD30 - Yamaha F310 - Jasmine S35 - PRS SE P20E Parlor Martin Backpacker |
#4
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Santa Rosa luthier Bob Groat lowered the saddle on my first X20 to specs Kevin gave me, and returned it with a 2” length of 3/16” wood towel, tapered down to 1/8” over 3/4” on one end. It’s the perfect tool to hold the ball end in place when changing strings. Bending the ball end is key, too, but it’s not so easy to keep enough tension on the string so that it doesn’t come out of the slot. I used it on my new X20 and it made changing strings so much easier. IMO Emerald would be wise to ship a similar tool with their pinless bridge guitar models.
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |
#5
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No pin bridge, ever, needed a helping hand like this. I’m seriously close to ordering an Amicus, but that 12-string pinless bridge is, equally seriously, giving me pause.
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Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#6
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Quote:
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class |
#7
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Double post...
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1950 Martin 00-18 RainSong Concert Hybrid Orchestra Model 12 Fret Eastman E20OOSS. Strandberg Boden Original 6 Eastman T185MX G&L ASAT Classic USA Butterscotch Blonde Rickenbacher Lap Steel Voyage-Air VAD-2 Martin SW00-DB Machiche 1968 Guild F-112 Taylor 322e 12 Fret V Class Last edited by seannx; 04-17-2021 at 07:52 AM. |
#8
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I think bending the ball end of the string before putting it in solves most of the headache. Bend it, insert it and put a little tension on it. It's not difficult to feel wether or not it is taught against the bridge plate and into the slot. It's easier for me that stringing my bigsby equipped guitars. Honestly, I'm not sure what the big deal is.
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#9
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I had a nylon custom Emerald and that bridge is excellent. I started thinking, why can't they just use that type of bridge for their pinless guitars, similar to a Lowden? Slide through from the bottom and done. No fuss, no muss. Unless there is a sonic or some other difference it's certainly a better design from a function standpoint. I actually emailed them that question as part of a potential custom order but got no reply so no custom order. |
#10
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My first Emerald had a pinless bridge (costly option at that time!) and the 2nd string slot was quite whimsical. I tried a new X20 since then and there was no problem with the slots. I still don't like this system though, but it's a matter of preference.
When I ordered my X30 I asked for a simpler string-through bridge, and it worked flawlessly. The only condition is to have access under the bridge through the sound hole, meaning no Anthem pickup possible (except if you have tiny forearms!). |
#11
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Innovation is good. Well thought out innovation is better. I am at the point that i have no real idea of what an Emerald guitar is these days. I say that in a sad way, not a critical way. I have held off buying anything new from Emerald for that reason. I know they have started to standardize some things, but this half baked pinless bridge needs to be “painless” to be an improvement. They have also eliminated the molded in bridge - without any real announcement of the change that I know of. I do not want to bash them - i purchased two from them and would like to buy more. Build promise dates confidence is critical in the long run for any company, regardless of what you manufacture. I understand the Covid issues but lets get real.
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#12
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Alistair specifically said the reason for this design was to maximize the strings energy that gets transfered to the top. Maybe it's because I've had guitars with bigsby's, slot heads, etc, etc, but I really don't see what the big deal is. Just bend the ball end and keep a little tension on the string. It's not that difficult, and you don't need pins or clamps. I think you guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
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#13
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And thanks for the perspective check. I used to own a Rickenbacker 12-string, and changing strings on that thing was truly an exercise in patience and dexterity.
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Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#14
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This is my second string change. It still took 45 minutes. I tried using a bridge pin. If you push it in too much it knocks out the ball end. I had the string pop out of the bridge on multiple occasions after I thought I had tightened it. It bent the ball end as you described. It helped... a little. A motorized peg turner also helped. It is harder not easier to use a pinless bridge. It takes practice. I assume after the 10th string change I will have it back down to 15 or 20 minutes. By the way, the Elixir PB mediums sound spectacular. Weird unusual "B" string though. Its louder than the other strings. I looked inside with a flashlight. All of the strings are sitting comfortably in their respective slots.
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1966 Fender Mustang 2005 Takamine TF341DLX 2006 Hamer Artist Korina P90 2008 Taylor 814CE 2020 Emerald X-30 |
#15
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So today, after using my usual Martin PB strings for 3 days, I decided that there seemed to be a little more presence in the trebles with the stock strings, which were EXP19s (medium bass, light trebles). I had an extra set of light strings around, so I took the treble strings and installed them on the X30 - essentially turning it back into the stock Bluegrass gauge strings, although a Martin one and not D’Addario. I swore I was not going to make this harder that it needed to be and I would try using their technique of letting it catch in the groove on the outside instead of sticking my hand in the sound hole to do it. And I did it - I’m not 100% proficient yet, as both the E and B strings had the ball end come out one time each when I removed the bridge pin after I started winding up. You have to really pull hard as you insert the temporary bridge pin. The G string was installed with no hiccups. The good news, even with the hiccups, is that I did this all in 15 minutes. At that rate, to install 6 strings, that would take 30 minutes - which is well over double the time it normally takes me, but significantly better than before. You will get better with practice! Earlier in the week I did attempt to install a string without the bridge pin/tee trick like they showed in the video - I still can’t figure out how they managed to keep tension on the string the whole time, while trimming/winding the string. If I can prevent the string from coming out when I remove the bridge pin close to 100% of the time, I’m confident I can come very close to my standard time.
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Larrivee SD-40s: Moonwood/R, Moonwood/M, All-Hog, Standard/M Larrivee D-03 Alvarez AD30 - Yamaha F310 - Jasmine S35 - PRS SE P20E Parlor Martin Backpacker |