guitar bridge pins image
Adam
i have an acoustic guitar by Gibson it is kind of a cheapy but not that bad. i am a beginner and know nothing about guitars. on the bridge of the guitar below where the bridge pins go there are two screws one on the left and one on the right. there used to be a little rubber cover thing above both of these screws but they came off. the right screw on the bridge has come loose. i am wondering if this will affect anything, and what are these screws even for. if you could help me out that would be great. the bridge is glued so its not like the screws are whats holding it on. also if the loose screw is affecting something how do i tighten it?
thx in advance
Answer
Hmm. If the screws are indeed below the bridge pins, they're not for adjusting the saddle height as some have suggested. Height adjustment screws are big knurled things at either end of the saddle, and I don't recall any Gibson acoustic models with them anyway. You do see them on some entry level acoustics though. The saddle sits in a metal carrier with the height adjustment knobs at the ends, and the whole carrier sits in an oversize slot in the bridge. You screw the knobs IN to raise the saddle. But as I said, those knobs are in a different location from yours, and they are big - usually about 3/8" diameter, with knurled edges and a slot for a coin or big screwdriver.
Screws to help hold the bridge on, with or without glue, are usually the sign of a very cheap guitar. Are you SURE this a Gibson? People sometimes talk about "Gibson Epiphones" and "Gibson Maestros", but these are misnomers. I have seen pictures of a Gibson model from 40 years or so ago with a plastic bridge held on with screws, but AFAIK they thought better of it rather quickly.
I sure wouldn't call any real Gibson a cheapie, either. They're pretty much all over $1000 new. I've seen cheap imported guitars with clumsily forged Gibson or Martin logos on the headstock, though.
Anyway, if the screw is helping hold the bridge on, there should be a nut on the inside that you can tighten. You can get at it by loosening the strings and working through the soundhole.
Piezo dots (pickups) are also sometimes installed in that location but I don't think you would be confusing one with a screw once the decorative plug had fallen out.
Hmm. If the screws are indeed below the bridge pins, they're not for adjusting the saddle height as some have suggested. Height adjustment screws are big knurled things at either end of the saddle, and I don't recall any Gibson acoustic models with them anyway. You do see them on some entry level acoustics though. The saddle sits in a metal carrier with the height adjustment knobs at the ends, and the whole carrier sits in an oversize slot in the bridge. You screw the knobs IN to raise the saddle. But as I said, those knobs are in a different location from yours, and they are big - usually about 3/8" diameter, with knurled edges and a slot for a coin or big screwdriver.
Screws to help hold the bridge on, with or without glue, are usually the sign of a very cheap guitar. Are you SURE this a Gibson? People sometimes talk about "Gibson Epiphones" and "Gibson Maestros", but these are misnomers. I have seen pictures of a Gibson model from 40 years or so ago with a plastic bridge held on with screws, but AFAIK they thought better of it rather quickly.
I sure wouldn't call any real Gibson a cheapie, either. They're pretty much all over $1000 new. I've seen cheap imported guitars with clumsily forged Gibson or Martin logos on the headstock, though.
Anyway, if the screw is helping hold the bridge on, there should be a nut on the inside that you can tighten. You can get at it by loosening the strings and working through the soundhole.
Piezo dots (pickups) are also sometimes installed in that location but I don't think you would be confusing one with a screw once the decorative plug had fallen out.
Powered By Y! Answer Blogger Poster
