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Solution/Problem - Strings with a small ball end

Posted by Paul Cezanne on December 20, 2017 at 7:16pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Here's what I've come up with.

Notice how I put a nail through the "ball" at the end. I guess most people just drill through the wood and let the ball stop it, but notice how one of the ball is tiny, it was pulling through the wood! When I went to fix that I also put the grommet in, because, well, shiny!

The nail would never pull through with a drilled hole, but it looks like there is a real danger of that above. I'd also want to file down the nail points so it doesn't catch clothing, but even then, they would probably be annoying.

What's a good solution to the problem I made for myself since I wanted more shiny?

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Replies

  • Paul Cezanne December 22, 2017 at 6:37pm

    Here was my nickel fix...

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    That's the good news.

    I keep on breaking strings so I'm going to put this aside for now, give up on the eye-bolts tuners and get some real tuners in.

    But thanks for all the good ideas!

  • Taffy Evans December 21, 2017 at 11:29pm

    Hi, I would threadle the strings through small 5/32" washers, they will sit flush with the underside of the top. See my post Tailpiece tip, the photo with the two arrows in it.

    As a rule a hardwood "plate is put under the bridge area with a pin bridge, called a bridge plate, to protect the softer top wood. 

    Taff

  • the anonymous pick December 20, 2017 at 9:00pm

    use a pop rivet cap ( inserted) in wood  as a stopper .( also works on the top side  of guitar to stop string from cheese cutting into the wood )  semi shiny too. 

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    or..

    slip on a small nut .

    ps . slipping  a ball end on a nail makes a great roller  bridge also .

    (for you whammy   monkeys out there ) ;-)

    • Paul Craig > the anonymous pick December 21, 2017 at 1:15am

      The pop rivets are a good idea. I have used threaded inserts for string ferrels in the furniture hardware area of the hardware aisle at Lowe's. 

  • darryl kernaghan December 20, 2017 at 8:55pm

    you can get pushbike spoke nuts for cents, come in many colours and polished metal finishes

  • Korrigan December 20, 2017 at 7:40pm

    You could screw on a metal plate with holes in it for the strings.

    • Paul Cezanne > Korrigan December 20, 2017 at 7:50pm

      I like that idea, plus I can use found metal scraps. It would obscure the grommet though..., I'll be clever. Thanks!

      • Korrigan > Paul Cezanne December 20, 2017 at 8:21pm

        I was thinking lose the grommets altogether in favor of a very shiny metal plate.

        I also motion that henceforth shiny metal things used to cover up mistakes be known as opps-bling.

    • Korrigan > Korrigan December 20, 2017 at 7:41pm

      Don't forget to shine the plate.  : )

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