I don’t make a distinction when I’m taking in guitars for repairs, brand names and model numbers mean little to me. Yet, I will rarely touch a Rs 3.5 – 4K toy with a barge pole – too much effort, results unsure and the owner dithering on the cost of repairs. But, if the owner is sentimentally attached to the ‘thingy’, understands the limit and scope of repairs, and is willing to pay, I do (try and) repair it. In my journey, I have got to see a broad spectrum of constructions – ranging from the good, the bad to the ugly – if not the entire gamut.
Yet, it is only when you have something sterling in hand do you really appreciate the craft of the builder and the pains taken in putting an acoustic guitar together. Big name guitars like the Martins, the Gibsons and the Taylors do make you take a step back and admire what you have on the work table.
This Martin was one such instrument.
Not a top-of-the-line Martin, but an HPL (high pressure laminate – made by pressing together reams of paper) instrument, its sound quality could never belie its raw materials.
The owner was a young man moving to another city for a new job and wanted bone bridgepins installed in the guitar. But why bone bridgepins?
Now, if you put your mind to it, the strings remain in contact with just the saddle and the nut, which give the instrument its characteristic sound, its volume and sustain (depending upon their material). If there’s a third place that the strings touch and help somewhat in the transfer of sound, it is the bridgepins. Thus, it helps if all three things are of the same material.
This is what I pulled out of the guitar – perfectly good bridgepins, but plastic, and replaced it with a set of these
But again, like in the case of the nut and saddle, these are not just replaced – or at least should not be. I like to shape bridgepins before installing them.
The one on the right is the original bridgepin, while the one on the left is after being shaped.
The owner also brought me a set of his strings of choice to be put in.
But before all of this was put together, a little cleaning of the guitar was in order. The top, the fretboard and bridge was cleaned and given a coat of love.
And as always, I leave you with some shots of the finished job
