Bass Repair Help Needed

[blueman335]

I have an older Epi EB-3 SG bass I need help with. The 'stop bar' has two big screws that go into metal shafts (anchors?) in the wood. On the treble, one shaft/anchor is coming out of the wood, maybe 1/4", due to string tension. I've never had this happen with a guitar. What's the fix for this?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

The bridge sits on three threaded inserts, similar to those found on a Les Paul Tune-o-Matic/Stopbar combination. From what you describe, the insert is literally losing its grip.

Options include;
1) Bashing the insert back into its orifice.
2) Removing the insert. Plugging the hole with a dowel. Redrilling. Reinserting.
3) Remove the insert. Line the insert hole with a layer of glue. Reinsert.
4) Remove the insert. Wrap it in something like PTFE tape. Reinsert. Cross fingers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

The bridge sits on three threaded inserts, similar to those found on a Les Paul Tune-o-Matic/Stopbar combination. From what you describe, the insert is literally losing its grip.

Options include;
1) Bashing the insert back into its orifice.
2) Removing the insert. Plugging the hole with a dowel. Redrilling. Reinserting.
3) Remove the insert. Line the insert hole with a layer of glue. Reinsert.
4) Remove the insert. Wrap it in something like PTFE tape. Reinsert. Cross fingers.

I've tried the first way, and when I tighten the strings, it slides back up. I'm thinking the dowel method might be the most secure. Thanks!

 

[Adieu]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Toothpicks an sh!t in the hole to tighten it up, THEN get it back in there....dowel's too much, thats like a serious vintage gibby repair

Here, treat it as you would an XXL strap button that got loose

 

[kamran77]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

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[ginormous]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Does the bridge look like this?

String tension should not pull that anchor out of the top... that sounds like a serious repair.

Go for the dowel suggestion, and maybe swap it out for a Hipshot replacement bridge.

It takes body/ferrule string-through or bridge loaded.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

The ideal solution is to drill out a fair amount of that soft body wood that Epi use, and plug it with some hard maple, or anything harder than that crap, really. If you can't find maple dowels, poplar ones are readily available at the big and crappy chain hardware stores. Once the plug is glued in and trimmed flush, you can redrill to the proper size. The anchor should be tight enough that you need to tap it in with a hammer and block, using a fair bit of pressure. If you can push it in by hand, the hole is too big.

That said, it's just an Epi, and it will never be great with that stock bridge anyhow. Therefore it might not be worth as much effort as I just described. I used to own one of those basses, so I am familiar with its shortcomings. Yes; my bass had the same problem. The easiest and cheapest solution is to just epoxy the insert back in there and/or stuck some wood shavings or toothpicks/matches in there.

FWIW, my Gibson Les Paul's bridge post anchors fit like crap as well. Until I glued them in, they would fall right out if you turned the guitar upside down with the bridge off. So it's not just an import vs. domestic issue. It's an issue of poor craftsmanship in general.

 

[ginormous]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

^What a shame. That a post for a bridge should fall out because of cheap or poorly seasoned wood (maybe the moisture content was too high when it was finished, and the poly locked in the mushiness).

You'd think a company as experienced as Gibby would be more on the ball about that kind of stuff.

Anyway, I'd save up for that Hipshot bridge. The original 3-point is pot metal, and the replacement is machined aluminum (finished in chrome or whatever).
That will definitely tighten up the sound.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

+1 for Reggie's Hipshot suggestion.

Alternatively, wig out completely and install a Kahler bass whammy system.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

^^^ yup.
PC

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

One other alternative that will work but look odd is the Schaller 3D-4. You would probably require the matching Schaller shim to get the correct height for the Epiphone EB-3 clone.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Before you do extensive wood replacements you can also try wood filler on the sides of the existing holes and put the screw in when it's half-dry. That's what I do for pickguard screws but it's pretty solid, it might make it work.

Those Gibson bass bridges are terrible.

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Just replace the bass.
No, just kidding. I am a firm believer in epoxy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

I am a firm believer in epoxy.

As a religious choice?

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

As a religious choice?

LOL! Yes (don't let the Forum Gods find out)!!

 

[Warheart]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

I've worked on a lot of Epiphone EB-0 with that bridge. A lot of them have this issue due to either the soft mahogany or incorrect adjustment of the bridge height.

If the hole is still a snug fit, I'd layer up the bushing with Thick CA glue then push it into place. Wood glue also works well, and is a little easier to clean up.

I've done this on 20-30 of these instruments without having one come back to me with the same issue. I've not yet had to drill and dowel one.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

I'm monitoring the heck out of this thread, tho my EB hasn't pulled this shenanigan yet.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[blueman335]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

I've worked on a lot of Epiphone EB-0 with that bridge. A lot of them have this issue due to either the soft mahogany or incorrect adjustment of the bridge height.

If the hole is still a snug fit, I'd layer up the bushing with Thick CA glue then push it into place. Wood glue also works well, and is a little easier to clean up.

I've done this on 20-30 of these instruments without having one come back to me with the same issue. I've not yet had to drill and dowel one.

Are you saying to push the bushing back into place with the glue still wet, or after it's hardened?

You mentioned incorrect bridge height; are the actions typically too high or too low when the bushings come out?

 

[Warheart]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Are you saying to push the bushing back into place with the glue still wet, or after it's hardened?

You mentioned incorrect bridge height; are the actions typically too high or too low when the bushings come out?

Well, remove the bushing from the bass, keeping it on the bolt/screw. Do a line of glue around the circumference of the bushing near the bottom, so it gets pushed up the rest of the bushing. If you put too much glue on, you're going to ruin the finish around it, if you don't put enough on, well, back to square one. Also, if one of the studs has let go, there's a good chance the others are about to go as well.
(Maybe leave a gap if there's is a ground wire on that bushing so that makes a solid connection still) and put it in the bass while the glue is still wet. Also, have a mallet/wood/nylon hammer nearby in case you need a little extra force to get the bushing back in, you've only got seconds to work with. All of that hinges on the bushing already being a good fit, however.

Well, not so much incorrect bridge height, just trying to adjust it without detuning the bass first. And making sure that you don't just crank down on one of the bolts, you have to adjust all of them, or the bridge kind of "locks up" on you. If you take the strings off, the bridge should be able to move around freely and fall off, without being stuck by the 3 screws. Should have a slight back angle; the front should be a little higher than the back of the bridge. Usually this problem occurs when someone is trying to lower bridge, essentially turning the bolt, and it just pulls up the bushing instead of going down in to the bushing.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Bass Repair Help Needed

Does the bridge look like this?

String tension should not pull that anchor out of the top... that sounds like a serious repair.

Go for the dowel suggestion, and maybe swap it out for a Hipshot replacement bridge.

It takes body/ferrule string-through or bridge loaded.

I like the look of the bridge, but I've read a lot of stuff on those Hipshots and they apparently do wonders for the tone of the machine too.