Sources for ABG bridge pins?

[Mike Kolb]

Does anybody know of a source for acoustic bass guitar bridge pins? I've tried StewMac, Elderly, GraphTech and Allparts (well, at least to the extent I can wade-through Allparts goofy listings)... but no luck yet.

A fellow told me that most ABG's use regular guitar endpins, but they don't really fit well at all. Any tips appreciated....

[Rob Mercure]

Hey Mike,

While it may be a little bit of an effort I make my own bridge pins by first carving the material fairly close to shape (so far: Lignum Virtae, Tagua nut ["vegatable ivory"], ebony, plexiglass, various other woods) leaving a little "stub" which I chuck either in my drill press or my hand electric drill and then use either use improvisedlathe chisels or files/rasps to form into final shape. At this point I can make a bridge pin from a bandsawed blank in about 5-10 minutes depending the material (Tagua nut takes the longest time as it actually a complex sugar that burns deeply into the material unlike wood which more or less ruins the material) - large pins such as end pins and acoustic bass pins are actually easier to make.

When I get my health back what I intend to do is make a hand "pencil sharpener" pin shaper which would allow me to take a carved blank and shape without use of a drill to turn it - if you're good at making tools you can probably make one yourself (I used "drill" in colloqual sense - I was trained as a machinist and the "drill" is actually what we usally call the "bit" while what we call a "drill" is the "motor/chuck" assembly." Jargon I know but my instructor would turn in his grave to hear me refer to a drill as a "bit.").

I'm drawing a blank right now about end pins but I assume that they the taper angle is too narrow to fit a ABG bridge pin hole? If so as a temporary fix you could probably soak a bit of linen - or other suitable fabric - in CA and wrap the pin and then afte it dries sand it the taper if necessary. This is what phenolic boards are more or less although the phenolic is baked to harden it.

Rob

[Mike Kolb]

Thanks Rob....

Good info.... it really sounds like fun & all (and believe me, I love the craftsmanlike approach, as you do) but there's got to be "some off-the-shelfers" lurking somewhere. There's a zillion ABG's in the world and there has to be a little factory a-chunkin' those things out like chiclets.

Of course, if push comes to the proverbial shove, I'll make what needs to be made.... but I find it hard to believe there's a worldwide shortage of the little buggers!

At any rate, many thanks for the tips.... and -more importantly- get your health squared-away and get out to the shop, man! /// mike

PS: I really like the 'pencil sharpener' idea.

[Tim Mace]

You should be able to use a mandolin type tail pin .....maybe,What diameter?For sure less time consuming to customize than making your own .Larger than standard guitar bridge pins.Elderly has them.

[David Houchens]

Stewart McDonald sells oversized pins for bridges with holes that are wallowed out and need to be reemed again. they are 5 degree taper.

[Mike Kolb]

Oversized, indeed.... but only by about .015" or so, still way too small for a ABG.

The good news is that I found the real deals. The folks at "Just Strings" (www.juststrings.com) carry the Martin bridgepins that fit all the Martin basses. Their stock number is CFM_18APPB1, the cost is only $9.45 for a set of four, and that includes a matching endpin.

Their overall prices for strings are great and I received a prompt and courteous response from them, so they seem like pretty good folks to deal with.

[Bob Gaddis]

Google Pinzuk.com

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Mike- Have you tried the maker of the bass???
juss a suggestion---
Peace,
Donald

[Mike Kolb]

Sure did, Don... and getting Martin parts easily can be daunting, indeed!

As mentioned 2 days ago, the pins were found at www,juststrings.com and the search is over. Thanks for that tip, though.