converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge

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Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge

my dad wanted me to convert his 6 string hole bridge to a 12 hole bridge, he found a easy way that he wanted me to try.

Ive seen some people asking about this converting stuff so I figured I'd post some pictures of how I did this.

Its a cheap guitar, and its not ment to look like an incredible repair job or anything, my dad just wanteds 12 holes for some reason, so I didnt spend any trouble doing nice detailing work etc.

Also, my dad wanted me to use a piece of maple, even though I tought rosewood would be better, or even a piece of bone to prevent the strings damaging the piece of wood.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:37:25

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

bridge before converting

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:39:32

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I planed the wood off up to the original string holes.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:41:18

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

drilled 6 holes in a piece of scrap maple, and planed it down to the holes as close as possible.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:42:43

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Cut the piece to shape and glued it on

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:43:44

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

strung up the guitar, remember, this wasnt ment to looks super nice, just an easy way to convert to 12 string holes.

I think I spend about 2 hours doing this, maybe even less.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2011 13:45:33

Graham_B

Posts: 283
Joined: Jul. 10 2007
From: Leigh, Lancashire, UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I did something similar a year or so ago as an experiment to see whether increasing the break angle of the string over the saddle made any difference to an old classical.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2011 9:53:22

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

did u notice a difference??

I honestly dont hear any difference on this guitar, then again, its cheapo chinese made guitar, a proper build guitar might be more sensitive to little changes like this.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2011 12:37:46

Steve Wright

Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Gimar, looks like a nice job you have done. Be good to nourish the wood on the guitar. You will only notice a difference if the break angle was bad in the first place. It's hard to notice a difference when you are improving on something that already has little problem. However, I think it was a worthwhile alteration as it takes one thing out of the equation. To have really assessed whether there would be a difference, you would have had to of recorded the guitar before alteration and played the same piece after alteration with the same intensity. That's also subjective. Nice photo's and a good idea. Cosmetically though, I prefer the look of the traditional tie (which actually causes the break-point issue.)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2011 13:10:33

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Steve, I also prefer the looks of 6 hole bridges.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2011 15:05:46

Steve Wright

Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Sorry, I didn't explain myself. What I meant was I like the way (The look) that the tie is done on classical/nylon guitars. Well, I like the way I tie the strings and I only do this because I like the look of it and it is the strongest tie. I don't finish off the tie as neatly as do some of you - and I wish I had because sometimes you get a buzz from the string tail vibrating on the sound top - (Easily fixed by bending the string.) However, I still like your fix. I also thought a tie could be made on a thin bar - perhaps a large paper-clip instead of making the extra 6 holes. This would have the same affect as the 12 hole version, providing a better break point.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2011 19:04:45

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

what did u mean with the "paperclip" like putting the string trhgouh the same hole twice??

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 12 2011 21:15:19

Steve Wright

Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

On your picture of the 12 hole tie block, it looks like you use 1st & 2nd nylon strings and the 3rd is "gut". Am I right? Do you do this because of intonation problems?

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Rhythm, grace & passion. El ritmo, gracia & la pasión
Be the change you want to see in this world - Gandhi

http://www.youtube.com/user/FusionMusic1000

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 13 2011 14:57:31

Steve Wright

Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

In the attached picture I have Martin Strings with Ball End’s. Where the ball end is used at the bridge the ‘break angle’ is at a steeper angle which could in some cases provide better power and tone to the guitar. A similar idea: Use a large paper-clip (straightened out and cut to length) and tie each string to the paper-clip which will result in the same break angle. The more I thought of this, the more ugly the envisaged knot(s) would be on this paper-clip bar. Perhaps I should come off this forum - I seem to cause more confusion rather than things getting clearer. Anyway, at least it makes you all look very clever. To be honest, I've built electric guitars which are a world away from classic and flamenco guitars, and I've tinkered about for 35 years, but never studied it like I have since coming onto this forum. This is an invaluable source of knowledge and discussion (when we talk guitar).

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Rhythm, grace & passion. El ritmo, gracia & la pasión
Be the change you want to see in this world - Gandhi

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 13 2011 15:59:19

Gimar Yestra

Posts: 298
Joined: Jan. 19 2011
From: The Netherlands

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Thank for the picture steve, it makes sence now :D

The strings I used are d'addario composite, the G is made of composite material, hence the different color

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 14 2011 18:27:05

Steve Wright

Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Thanks Gimar, I've played d'addario before, but don't think I've seen the composite. I'll have to look out for them and try some. I don't think our stockist keeps them, but they don't sell good classical guitars let alone Flamenco.

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Rhythm, grace & passion. El ritmo, gracia & la pasión
Be the change you want to see in this world - Gandhi

http://www.youtube.com/user/FusionMusic1000

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 14 2011 20:58:41

Jeff Highland

Posts: 401
Joined: Mar. 5 2010
From: Caves Beach Australia

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

Drilling new holes in situ to convert to 12 or 18 hole is about a 30- 60 minute job including finding up the tools and restringing.
You just need a 12" long 1/16" drill bit.
A bit hard to find here , I was very fortunate that an american luthier George Thomas offered to send me two free of charge
You just cover the bridge to tail area with cardboard about 1mm thick make a starting hole with an awl and then drill, being careful when breaking through to the channel.
I use a proxon min drill /grinder to drive the drill, its light weight and speed range makes it very easy to control

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 14 2011 21:06:16

Samarto

Posts: 160
Joined: Mar. 21 2008

RE: converting 6 hole to 12 hole bridge (in reply to Gimar Yestra)

I covered the top with golpeador material and since I couldn't find a long enough bit in the gauge I wanted, I made a shaft from 2 old aluminum threaded post. Put heat shrink around the bit and threaded it into the shaft. A few minutes of hand power and I drilled new hole accurately.