Replacing an acoustic bridge?

My acoustic guitar has developed a buzz on a couple of strings which I think is due the string sitting in grooves that have been worn into the pinholes. So I'm guessing that I need to replace the bridge right? Anyone have any idea of a rough price for such a procedure or anything else to watch for?

Ta,

This seems a little unlikely to me, but I'm sure various other readers (Paul?) will be more helpful.

Steve

Very unlikely. Remember that the pinholes are *behind* the vibrating part of the string, so are unlikely to be a problem.

No.

When did the problem start? Is it due to a change in temperature and/or humidity? I have an acoustic which buzzes a little in the Winter (due to low humidity thanks to the central heating) but is fine for the rest of the year.

Maybe a truss-rod tweak would help? Raise the action marginally? Check for the bridge lifting or the soundboard bellying (unlikely)?

I don't do acoustic repairs (other than on my own) so can't quote a price I'm afraid. I suspect it's nothing to do with worn pinholes though.

True, hadn't thought of that. 'Buzzing' was probably a bad choice of word, the strings are almost completely dead but with a hint of sitar/double bass to them. They buzz when played open and all the way up the neck with the sound seeming to come from the bridge.

The bridge seems pretty solid and the action high which leads me to suspect it is indeed these grooves that have been worn into the pinholes. Does the contact between the string and guitar at the pinhole have no bearing on tone at all?

thanks,

Hi Paul,

just a few quick points..

1. are these new strings? If they're pretty old that's probably the reason.

2. what kind of a saddle do you have? If you have bone, it may be the overtones.

3. Do you have electronics in your guitar? Check to see if the undersaddle pickup has a jack that's worked loose.

4. check that the buzzing doesn't dissappear up or down the fretboard.

Finallt, The slots for the strings to appear from the bridge pin slots don't a great deal to do with the sound; remember that the scale length is from nut to saddle as that's where the oscillations of the strings happen; there should be no movement past the saddle; that's what it's there for.

It's pretty unlikely that the bridge is the problem. It's more likely that the neck is slump forward and needs bit of a truss rod adjustment or a neck reset. A bridge replacement can cost quite a bit I think it's usually from 80 quid onwards; a neck adjustment is far less but a neck reset can be much more.

Warmest Regards, Terence.

Are there grooves worn into your bridge saddle? I had a Takamine once which had a very irritating buzz. That turned out to be a split brace. It's possible to fix that sort of thing yourself if you're confident about what you're doing.

Perhaps it's time to get a mirror down inside the soundhole...

I doubt it. A groove in the pin hole should make no difference, after all that's how pin bridges used to work before plastic pins were invented. My guitar-lute, made 1910, has completely round ebony pins and grooves cut up the sides of the slots to accomodate the strings. The pin doesn't wedge the string at all, the string is retained by the ball-end being trapped against the bottom of the sound-board. (In case anyone says 'Nylon (or gut) strings don't have ball ends.' - you tie a knot in the end of the string to make one!)