String stuck in bridge

**sgosnell** · 12-30-2017, 11:45 PM

If it is the wires, a clip attached to the back or top with double-sided tape can help. They're commonly sold as wire/cable holders, cheap but effective in the proper size.

**Cunamara** · 12-31-2017, 11:55 AM

I presume the ball end got stuck in the ball end counterbore? It's called an "interference fit." .001" oversize ball end versus the bore can do it, the brass is just soft enough to pull in under string tension. A similar issue might be if the string overwrap might be too thick for the hole through the tailpiece.

For the future there are several options:

A) enlarge the counter bore and/or the string hole;
B) use strings with a smaller ball end and/or lighter gauge;
C) fashion a standoff to go into the counterbore and keep the ball end from entering.

C could be done with a short length of brass tubing or something like that. It has the advantage of not altering the guitar and letting you use your preferred string.

**wzpgsr** · 12-31-2017, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

I presume the ball end got stuck in the ball end counterbore? It's called an "interference fit." .001" oversize ball end versus the bore can do it, the brass is just soft enough to pull in under string tension. A similar issue might be if the string overwrap might be too thick for the hole through the tailpiece.

For the future there are several options:

A) enlarge the counter bore and/or the string hole;
B) use strings with a smaller ball end and/or lighter gauge;
C) fashion a standoff to go into the counterbore and keep the ball end from entering.

C could be done with a short length of brass tubing or something like that. It has the advantage of not altering the guitar and letting you use your preferred string.

Thanks for that! I have the patience of a gnat and strung it up. I’ll be taking it into a luthier soon to finish off a couple of minor “low-rent restoration” tasks and have them address it again.

**Hammertone** · 12-31-2017, 02:52 PM

That looks like an old ABM Model 1111 tailpiece, typically used on lower-end archtops from Hofner and various other West German makers. All older ABM tailpieces (even the fancy-ass ones) typically used holes on the cross bars - later on, they improved their products with slots.

You could slightly enlarge the countersunk holes for the string ball-ends. If it was my guitar, I'd upgrade the tailpiece to either an ABM Model 1266 or Model 1251 tailpiece - they both have slots for the strings, and are much nicer tailpieces: German-made; correct vibe for the guitar; vastly superior to Chinese-made garbage tailpieces. They are available in nickel, chrome and gold-plated versions. The 1251 is a bit more expensive, but the screwhole pattern on the rimplate is identical/close to the one currently on the guitar. Vintage versions of these tailpieces do come up on ebay now and again as well.

I'd also get rid of those visually/stylistically wrong Gibson-style tuning machines w/plastic keystone buttons and install a set of open-back vintage style tuners with plain round metal or plastic buttons, from Gotoh, Schaller or Waverly. Grover has a 18:1 version that's good (as opposed to their 12:1 version, which is pure garbage), but I'm not sure it's available with rounded buttons. I'd use conversion bushings to fill in the over-sized holes in the headstock, or dowel and redrill the holes.

**wzpgsr** · 12-31-2017, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

That looks like an old ABM Model 1111 tailpiece, typically used on lower-end archtops from Hofner and various other West German makers. All older ABM tailpieces (even the fancy-ass ones) typically used holes on the cross bars - later on, they improved their products with slots.

You could slightly enlarge the countersunk holes for the string ball-ends, but I'd upgrade the tailpiece to an ABM Model 1266 tailpiece - it has slots for the strings. It's a much nicer tailpiece, German-made, correct vibe for the guitar, and vastly superior to Chinese-made garbage tailpieces. It's available in nickel and gold-plated versions.

Thanks for that. I checked on the prices and it’s a bit more than I want to spend right now, but I’ll file it under “down the road”.

**Hammertone** · 12-31-2017, 03:12 PM

NP - just getting a last bit curmudgeonly advice out before the new year, ha!
It's a really neat guitar - whatever you do, just enjoy playing it.

**wzpgsr** · 12-31-2017, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

NP - just getting a last bit curmudgeonly advice out before the new year, ha!
It's a really neat guitar - whatever you do, just enjoy playing it.

I’m getting there! Last step (for now) is getting a very slim pickup that will not rub against the first and second strings. I’d like to avoid paying for a neck reset right now, so the fantastic sounding DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100 reissue I had on there is going on the auction block.