Removing string pins without damaging wood

Gassage

Best way?

I always scratch bridge.

mart

A special tool?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tone-Deaf-Music-Guitar-Remover/dp/B001GE5RGG

Tbh, I usually just reach underneath the top and push up. Doesn't ruin the wood, but sure ruins my fingers.

richardhomer

They really shouldn't be (if you'll pardon the expression!) shoved in so hard that you can't get them out with your fingers.

If they are, the best fix is to wrap some thick card around them for protection and use pliers to extract them.

ICBM

Use a coin to protect your fingertip and push them out from the inside. Sounds tricky but is easy to get the hang of.

If that fails - very rare - it means the peg is so jammed that almost nothing will remove it and you'll probably have to drill it out.

There's no point in trying to pull it out from the top since you'll either chew up the bridge, snap the head off the peg, or both.

Bidley

Most string winders have a groove in them which is meant for removing string pins. That's what I use.

Gassage

Ummmm.....I hate to admit this but I never knew about the finger thing....



But I've never had a pinned bridge acoustic until I bought a Taylor- my others were thru-bridges.

ICBM

Bidley said:

Most string winders have a groove in them which is meant for removing string pins. That's what I use.

I've always found them completely useless unless the peg is so loose you can get it out with your fingers anyway!

The only problem with pushing it out from the inside is that if you need to change just one string you can't easily get your hand inside, but other than that I really don't know why anyone ever tries to do it from the outside.

Evilmags

As ICBM says. Coin and push. Never fails unless something is really stuck.

bluechargeboy

I use this on my fancy schmancy Larrivee:

Fender String Winder

It works perfectly, much betterer than the Planet Waves one that I also have.

TheOtherDennis

Bidley said:

Most string winders have a groove in them which is meant for removing string pins. That's what I use.

Me too.

Rocker

My Taylor 310 has a set of brass pins [made by Pinz, the six spell my name ].  I have never had any problem removing them but will keep the coin idea filed away.  Thanks @ICBM for the tip.

sweepy

Set of small side cutters and a thick piece of cardboard works every time 

jimmyguitar

I push the loose string back into the hole which loosens the pin enough to pull it out

dchwhite

Bidley said:

Most string winders have a groove in them which is meant for removing string pins. That's what I use.

I managed to break a peg winder doing just that (Gibson-branded, not that it means owt), but that's probably just me being clumsy.

I usually gently push the base of them with the flat side of a pair of longnose pliers now (as per sweepy's suggestion).