Bridge pins with through hole underneath head?(Update,the plot thickens on 2nd page)

[Brushwood]

IMG_1644120226.174374.jpgIMG_1644120237.276689.jpg
These came on a used guitar I recently purchased. I was just changing the strings for the first time and discovered this. These pics are two sides of the same pin and the holes are approximately the same size in each of the six pins. All are drilled at the same angle where the slotted side hole is a bit lower than the other side. Any thoughts on purpose of the hole on these slotted and I think ebony bridge pins?

[Shuksan]

In the two pins you show, the holes are different sizes. Did you notice if the hole size corresponded to the gauge of the string each pin went with? Small hole for high strings, large hole for low strings?

Edit: Are those two sides of the same pin?

[guitar george]

Probably made by someone who had the brilliant idea of threading the strings through the holes with the balls of the strings resting against the holes. He then would have discovered that this was not a satisfactory way to string a guitar because the pins would pull out of the holes over a short period of time or maybe immediately. Also, the guitar would not stay in tune.

[Brushwood]

Originally Posted by Shuksan

In the two pins you show, the holes are different sizes. Did you notice if the hole size corresponded to the gauge of the string each pin went with? Small hole for high strings, large hole for low strings?

Edit: Are those two sides of the same pin?

Pics are two sides of the same pin and the holes are approximately the same size in each pin. All are drilled at an angle where the slotted side hole is a bit lower than other side. (I edited my post to include the answers to your questions)

[JayBee1404]

It looks/sounds to me as though someone intended the pin to be placed in the pin-hole with the slot facing the butt of the guitar (i.e. facing away from the saddle, the reverse of the standard method of installation) and the string to go in the slot, up through the hole, and over the saddle to the headstock.

But I could easily have that wrong. If I’m right, I don’t really understand what they hoped to gain.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[AcousticDreams]

I have to admit that is quite unusual.

It is a Possibility. that was there way of allowing the head of the pin to be fully seated with heavier 6th, 5th & 4th strings.

For thicker strings...the head of the bridge pin will not allow the bridge pin to seat all the way down. Thus the head or the skirt( a secondary rim at the bottom of the head) is cut up into the head to allow the string to seat.

Possible, that he was trying to do this with a drill and just cut all the way through? I use a round diamond dremel bit and follow the channel to cut through the bottom of the head.

This diagram...shows the head, just a tiny bit cut upwards.

[Stevien]

Possibly an experiment to reduce weight & mass in the bridge area.
Steve

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Stevien

Possibly an experiment to reduce weight & mass in the bridge area.
Steve

Could be, Steve. But why drill the hole at an angle? That makes it seem to have a different purpose…intriguing!

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[guitararmy]

I have some brass E-Z Pegs which were around about 10-15 years ago that were made like that.
The ball end was threaded through the hole but not pulled up against it until after the ball end and the pin were pushed through the bridge pin hole.
It kept the ball end from chewing up the bridge plate. Also good if the plate was already damaged.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

I have some brass E-Z Pegs which were around about 10-15 years ago that were made like that.
The ball end was threaded through the hole but not pulled up against it until after the ball end and the pin were pushed through the bridge pin hole.
It kept the ball end from chewing up the bridge plate. Also good if the plate was already damaged.

Thought that must be the case! Was I also correct in thinking that the pin is inserted with the slot facing ‘backwards’, i.e. towards the end-block?

[JonWint]

Can you post a photo of the bridge plate?

[Rudy4]

Looks like someone was attempting to attach strings in the same way as a Taylor GS Mini bass guitar is strung. See Figure #3 here:

https://www.taylorguitars.com/suppor...s-gs-mini-bass

[Brushwood]

Originally Posted by JonWint

Can you post a photo of the bridge plate?

Here’s the bridge plate...treble on bottom (edited...originally incorrectly wrote treble was on top). Does this one look original/proper and not a diy replacement?
.IMG_1679.jpg

[guitararmy]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

Thought that must be the case! Was I also correct in thinking that the pin is inserted with the slot facing ‘backwards’, i.e. towards the end-block?

Yup the string lays in that groove when you insert it in the bridge hole and then you pull the string until the ball end stops at the pin

[LuckyDan]

That strikes me as pretty dam smart. For years the only steel string acoustic I owned or had ever changed strings on was my '78 Ovation Balladeer, which has the string-through bridge. I never had to mess with pins till I got my Masterbilt EF in 06 and I thought, what a primitive way to keep a string in place.

I assume you haven't had any tuning issues with the guitar prior to this discovery.