F512 bridge pins

[egrefin]

Hello,

I'm new on this forum.
I own a beautiful F512 (#109409), made in Westerley in 1974.
I would like to replace the ugly plastic bridge pins with bone pins (with ebony dot).
It seems Guild used various models of bridge pins over the years.
I'm looking for pins on these sites :
http://guitarsaddles.com/
http://www.custominlay.com/
But I don't know which model is ok for this F512.
The only thing I know about the bridge pins on my Guild is they are slotted below the skirt.
So, is there anybody who have changed the pins on a F512 ?
Many thanks for your help,

David

 

[GardMan]

First, welcome to LTG!

My seven Guild dreads (from '71 to '92) came to me with four different pin diameters... probably not all original as they came form Guild. The only thing they had in common was that they were all 5 degree taper.

It's very possible that, if you bought your 512 second hand, the pins holes have been modified... (fairly common thing to do), so knowing what pins it came with originally may not mean that's tthe size it needs now. Even if you bought it new, Guild seemed to have changed pin diameters thru the years, depending on what was available.

My advice would be to either (1) measure the pins you have (Colosi tells what measurements he needs) or (2) send one of the pins to Colosi or England, for them to copy. Option (3) would be to order a set of pins that you know would be larger (say, 0.220 dia, 5 degree, slotted below the skirt), and then ream or sand the pin holes to fit. This isn't hard to do... but if you use a reamer, be VERY careful, and test the pins often. Doesn't take many turns of the reamer to make the hole TOO big!
Dave

 

[egrefin]

Hello Dave,

Thanks for your message.
You have a beautiful collection of Guild!
I think I'll follow your piece of advice. I'll order a set of larger pins.
It seems the easiest solution.

Cheers,

David

 

[GardMan]

David,
Be very careful! From what I have read, enlarging the pin holes is not a difficult operation... but you want to make sure you don't make them too big!

Actually, I have always opted for measuring the pins (digital calipers are not expensive) and/or sending one or all of the pins to be copied when having a set made. I keep a spare set on hand, just for that purpose. Then, when the new pins arrive, the most I have had to do was a little fine tuning of the pins/holes with a strip of sand paper wrapped around the pin shaft.
Dave

 

[coastie99]

David,
Be very careful! From what I have read, enlarging the pin holes is not a difficult operation... but you want to make sure you don't make them too big!

Actually, I have always opted for measuring the pins (digital calipers are not expensive) and/or sending one or all of the pins to be copied when having a set made. I keep a spare set on hand, just for that purpose. Then, when the new pins arrive, the most I have had to do was a little fine tuning of the pins/holes with a strip of sand paper wrapped around the pin shaft.
Dave

Hello David and welcome from New Zealand to the forum.

I'd be very much inclined to do what Gardman suggests. I have found Bob Colosi extremely easy to deal with.