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Just clicking around on some photos and noticed this close-up of the bridge on a Tomatito Guitar. Check out how they've tied the strings. Is this a common method? I've never seen it before.
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Before the Tomatito model there was the Paco de Lucia model (a collaboration between Vicente Carillo and Paco's brother Ramon de Algeciras) that also had the double drilled holes for each string. I think that's how Vicente Carrillo does it. I own a Vicente Carrillo "Paco" negra, and the strings are easily tied. They also have a slightly greater "break angle."
Cheers,
Bill
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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Does that create more tension? I'd imagine it would.
Yes it does and i dont like it. Probably its just a matter of getting used to it, but if everything is ok with the break angle with normal stringing i think you dont need it, but its of course better to at least have the possibility to tie it the 12way.
The 12 hole is neat but requires a ball on the end of the 1st and 2nd string to keep it from slipping. No big deal and the results are a better looking arrangement at the bridge as well as aforementioned greater break angle. I had one guitar with 18 holes to eliminate any string wrap on the bridge. A bit to fussy for me and the trebles were hard to remove.
Because a guitar has 12 holes, doesnt mean you have to use them. If you prefer the sound or feel with 6 holes, use 6 holes. If you buy a Ferrari, you dont have to use all 600 hp all the time
With respect of slipping, it sounds to me that you dont know how to string the guitar with 12 holes. The strings DO NOT need balls or anything else. The 3 nylon trebles, you heat with a lighter, a candle, a match or whatever and it makes a small melted ball. This way you can use whatever string tension you like including xx light. No problem.
There arent really any backdraws on a 12 hole tieblock
You don't need a ball on the 3rd string. The extra surface area provides the grip. Likewise on a 6 hole winding the string around itself like on the 1st and 2nd is not necessary for the 3rd string.
Interesting, I didn't know that was possible without at least damaging the top. I might have to ship my guitar to have this done, 'cause I sure as hell won't attempt it myself.
The strings DO NOT need balls or anything else. The 3 nylon trebles, you heat with a lighter, a candle, a match or whatever and it makes a small melted ball
I have an Anders. Just don't melt the string while it's threaded through the tie block. You might drop hot candle wax on the polish or burn it with a loose match head. I have seen guitars with these marks. Anders lays some card over the lower bout when doing this to protect the body from the wound strings scratches.
This is a 0 fret. This is just a picture I found in the internet. I saw it at a flamenco guitar about 5 years ago. The use of it is the equal string height also at the 0 fret position. I dont know if it is really necessary for a flamecno guitar.
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For the really paranoid about string burns. From David Schramm's web site. Note the balls on the ends of the trebles. Balls, small melted balls...whatever.
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ball end strings are for dorks. tying them is much cooler. i even think the melted balls are overkill. do people really have that much trouble tying strings?
^interesting way of tying the trebles. thanks for sharing^
quote:
why not buying ball end strings.
MAN!!! at leo!!! YOU GAVE IT TO ME! I GOT A LAUGH CRAMP OVER HERE!!!! Guess what I wanted to write right here... --> <--- And than I saw your comment...
This one:
quote:
ball end strings are for dorks.
I wanted to write... Dont do that! Both is for gays.. (sorry gays... But I guess youre used to it.. ) I prefer not to do such cosmetics with my strings.. I also dont roll them up to little advent-rolls.. Thats not masculine..
RE: New way to tie strings?? (in reply to Doitsujin)
Hey i dont do that either, just 6 holes and 6 knots. But i thought the picture looked like overkill i mean 18 holes + 3 "pussy" trebles. So in comparison just buying ball end strings seemed to be less work-intensive for me.
For the record, i also dont cut the strings at the headplate.
There's a guitar maker in the San Francisco Bay Area who first did that 12 string bridge his name is John Gilbert. And I second that you put a piece of cardboard under bridge or behind the bridge when you use a 12 hole bridge. If the string slips it might snap a big divet on your top.
The classical maker Romanillos has made 18 hole bridges, it's for looks. Also weakens the bridge, In my opinion ( condoms included)
Are saying nope it does not weaken the bridge? If you have a bigger bridge like yours probably not, but it could compromise a bridge with a lower tie block.
Tie blocks with 12 holes have been broken, but it depends on the wood and the massiveness of the tie block. Mileage varies.
It is a nice looking bridge. I always liked the ones with tie block rising out of the back of the bridge on that little ledge edge.
For the really paranoid about string burns. From David Schramm's web site. Note the balls on the ends of the trebles. Balls, small melted balls...whatever.
The most important thing Schramm mentions is the need for a double loop/tie on the trebles, as they're more slippery.
I have seen trebles slip with the double loop, but the ball isn't necessary. I've never melted the end of my strings. You just have to ensure you have enough tension on them so they bind - and then maintain that tension until you've finished tightening the string enough at the machine heads until it can hold on its own.
It's a bizarre coincidence that this thread is here, restringing on a 12-hole bridge is precisely the reason I was popping in.
When I received my guitar, I took pics of the bridge, just in case I messed up stringing it and needed a reference.
I didn't but, over time, I don't think my ties look the same as the way they were when I rec'd her. So I recently referred to my pics and found that I was still rather noobish with lighting and the macro functions on my camera. And as she came with clear trebles, it really shows (my noobishness that is), because the clear trebles barely show at all.
Anyway, they were originally tied pretty much exactly the same as Schramm's except without the melted balls. (Which aren't absolutely necessary, but a great idea.)
I searched around a bit, but haven't found any tutorials regarding 12-hole tie blocks. And my Google-Fu is strong, so I'm really surprised that I couldn't find anything. Someone needs to post a tutorial.
I have always observed that there are people who can do things neater, fancier, cooler and just plain better than me and while it's always fun to be resentful; I'm not above copying these people. So the reason I dropped in was that...
I wanted to ask how you folk might tie yours, if you have experience with 12-hole bridges, and maybe if you might post some pics.
Here's some more 12-hole bridge or tie-blocks pics starting with mi amor, la Chela:
And linked pics belonging to other folk:
P.D. Interesting... Now that I re-examine my pics, it does appear that the luthier did melt the ends of the strings. They're not quite balls, but they definitely don't look like the strings I use...
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Printable Version
BTW your blanca that you made me is gorgeous! 
tying them is much cooler. 
) 
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