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Got this battered guitar whose first (high E) string had no break angle, I mean it was just a straight line from nut to tieblock. Couldn't find any drill bits long enough to convert to a standard 12-hole and didn't feel like removing the bridge, so I looked around for alternatives.
Considered just tying a hard bead to the end of the string (like acoustic guitar steel strings) so asked a girlfriend for six mini-pearls from her necklace, but she refused (bummer-- I gave her the necklace). Next, toyed around with adding a tieblock extension with the proper holes below the tieblock, but it seemed a lot of trouble for just one string-- plus I didn't have any rosewood or ebony lying around.
So I just drilled into the existing tie block. Attached, three pix of the result. In them you'll see a bass string, not a clear "E" string. I chose this so it'd show up better in the photos.
I only did the first string, sort of as a proof-of-concept exercise. If I were to do it for all six strings, I'd probably route the tie block below the new holes and inlay a bone strip for support.
Couldn't find anything like this in the archives. All comments appreciated.
I saw once someone use a regular six hole bridge and managed to tie his strings like a 12 hole by threading each string through the hole of the string next to it. I tried to find a picture but couldn't.
3 - It's actually a noticeable improvement of the sound. There is no big change of volume as far as I can judge, but the sound is more "elastic" or "bouncy"
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You can solder a drill bit into a small diameter length of brass tubing and drill new holes in an attached bridge, turning the bit by hand. Tedious but safe!
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Mira como son las cosas. El clavel no tiene espinas. La que tiene es la rosa!
I thought: This is so downright simple it can't work. So I tried it.
How did you handle the 1st E string, no more holes... did you thread the B through the E and E through the B (which would have the B hole with 3 strings)
I've just been experimenting. I normally use a 12 hole bridge to get break angle because I think its important especially for players who play hard with a heavy hand. And it makes a big difference if you fit an under-saddle pickup because it provides more down force I think.
The standard string hole is 1.5mm so first I went up to 2.0mm and found this just too tight to thread the E and G twice through the hole. On Normal D'Addarios the diameter of these two strings is about 1mm and higher tension strings are thicker still.
So I tried 2.5mm holes and it works fine, so you can just the same break angle as the 12 hole bridge but with only 6 holes.
The larger holes look a little strange but I could get used to it.
I'd love to know what the seasoned professionals on the forum make of this?
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