Slotting an acoustic guitar bridge for unslotted pins

Reaming bridge pin holes with 5 degree reamer and slotting to use unslotted 5 degree ebony bridge pins. Stewmac reamer and saws used.

[dannywoody]

I tried to find a video like this on YouTube. It’s impossible. You’re the only one greatly appreciated

[Nessynity]

Great video brother! Thank you for taking the time and for the tips. I recently came across this modification and I’m now eager to test it out in one of my guitars. Thank you for sharing!

[ker]

Way more "real world realistic" without any editing. Really shows a tech what they will face on the bench. Working with a mirror inside is definitely the best way to go for the most accurate job.
I don't often see presenters using a protective cloth and mask. Very professional. Thank you for this. Earned you another subscriber today.

[leonardharverson]

By far the best video I’ve seen on this subject. It’s actually refreshing to see the ‘real time’ experience of each step. Far too many repair videos are edited for people with the attention span of a goldfish. (Now I sound like a dinosaur complaining about “Kid’s on the TikTok these days.”)

[patrickcampbell]

Thanks buddy just what I was looking for!

[dannywoody]

Such a lovely video you say the size of the reamer this is the best

[GuitarBasement]

Awesome video. Practical and straight to it. Nice tips about using the rag and mirror inside. Thanks for posting this.

[cheintz]

Great video Jesse. This is exactly what I needed to see as I'm considering purchasing the saws from Stew Mac and giving this a go. The sawing sounds are intimidating - I don't want to mess up my guitars. But, I have 4 acoustics and would love to give it a go. This gives me confidence and knowledge which is a pretty good combination. Thank you.

[braderrick]

Thanks so much for posting this! I just got some non slotted pins in and have 4 guitars to do this on lol

[Shianetto]

It might improve the sound a little bit. But it shortens the longetivity of the bridge, and the pins can get deep into the soundboard over time because of this modification.

[DougCunnington]

Super helpful! I’m going to be doing this soon!

[RaymondLandis]

Hey Jesse! This was an awesome video... I am so blessed to receive this teaching and I've been wanting to do this to my acoustic guitars for a while and your video really offers a total overview of this process... Thank you! Even the cardboard cut-out to guard the body is a great idea! I'm wondering about the pins... Is it okay to just turn the pins around and face the slot backwards, or is it better to get unslotted pins for a better transfer of vibration? The whole process is relatively quick...Cool! I can't wait to try it, I just ordered the saws!

[MOEMUGGY]

This is a solution looking for a problem. This mod is supposed to fix a shallow break angle past the bridge. Yes it works, if that's your guitars specific problem. But most guitars today don't really have this problem. You're just unnecessarily ruining your bridge.

[MrKevivn]

Great video. I'm surprised that even a lot of top shelf guitar companies don't do this. In less than a year the bridge plate holes get distorted from the string tension. Which non slotted bridge pins do you use? I've heard that bone seems to improve the sound.

[Freeneuron]

Hi. Just checking. If the bridge pins fit, do you need to do any reaming? Thank you for posting this!

[grifftargets]

Thank you or the video. The bridge pins on my Collings D2H do not go down as far as the pins in this video. I assume that means the holes need to be reamed out a bit - is that a fair assumption?

[matthewandthehope]

Well done, sir!
Quick question... How much space would you say is between the top of the new notches you just cut, and the bridge? (I guess you could call it the break-angle area...)

[BeardnScars]

So if you have advice for me please help.. I’m wanting to change out the bridge pins on a Martin 000-15M and the site doesn’t say the size of the existing pins.

Do unslotted pins have a taper/size with them? Should i purchase a reamer as a safe guard?

[jonathonlong]

Im guessing the sound improved a little.

[andriipylat]

Is it worth slotting a bridge on 12 string guitar?