Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

[Almost Never]

I finally got around to bringing my Kay home to replace the bridge. The original bridge was made of a metal "claw" that acted as a stopbar, holding the strings, and a wooden saddle piece similar to that on an acoustic bridge. Problem was mainly threefold:

- The saddle section isn't intonatable or adjustable much at all except for up and down motion
- The there's no ground wire to either section (and wood is a lousy conductor), so it's ungrounded
- The saddle section, being wood, is easily broken, so it's pretty mangled and rough

The guitar is almost identical to this, except it only has one centered pickup. The bridge, however, is identical.

The new bridge is this one.

I got a topmount Fender-style stopbar and removed the old bridge sections. The new bridge SADDLES are 3/16" farther apart at the centers of the low and high Es, changing the string spacing a bit (the old bridge was also very small). I don't think this should hurt it much, because the pickup appears to be a single magnet, no pole pieces. I think the new bridge's saddles can be adjust almost as low as the old bridge's lowest setting, so I shouldn't have to shim the neck to get the action decent.

I should be able to set the bridge centered overtop the old saddle section's placement, both to center the new saddles (so the intonation is both correct and adjustable to a degree) and to utilize the old piece's mounting holes for where I drill the ground wire in through.

I don't know if I have a drill bit long and skinny enough to run that far. It would have to run from the control route to where the old bridge post's hole was, and to accomidate for the turning drill head itself, it would need to be a good 6-8 inches long, and yet small enough to only fit the ground wire through without causing any damage to the guitar due to the new passageway.

Do they MAKE drill bits that long and narrow? Anyone foresee any other errors or problems? Sorry, no pics right now, but if needed, I could get some.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Good question (about the bit). Sounds like a trip to the hardware store is in order. They definitely make bits that long, but I don't know about the diameter.

 

[Almost Never]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Good question (about the bit). Sounds like a trip to the hardware store is in order. They definitely make bits that long, but I don't know about the diameter.

Yeah, I think I have a few that long, but they're probably an inche around or larger. I don't wanna use a big bit, even if the guitar is wider, out of fear of slipping up or having it cause structural damage.

 

[jawaegg]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

I have a friend who's a bit of a mad engineer who has been known to braise steel rod stock onto the end of a standard twist drill. For a particular job I saw him make a 600 long drill with a 5mm diam. Works a treat, just line everything up against a straightedge on a flat bench beforehand, and only ever use it at low speed in a battery drill.
cheers.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

looks like the shortest job would be to drill from the bridge to the jack area? That can't be more than 4".

alternatively, wedge a high E string under the bridge, and then discreetly run it over the surface of the guitar to the control cavity. That's how Fender does it with the Mustang, though admittedly they make it less conspicuous

I hate to say it but a TOM would probably look better on it.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Shield it properly and don't ground.

Grounding the bridge/strings is dangerous nonsense, IMHO, and only done because the lazy manufacturer uses your guts (or balls) for shielding that should have been inside the electronics cavity and around the pickup wires in the first place.

 

[Almost Never]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Shield it properly and don't ground.

Grounding the bridge/strings is dangerous nonsense, IMHO, and only done because the lazy manufacturer uses your guts (or balls) for shielding that should have been inside the electronics cavity and around the pickup wires in the first place.

I think every guitar I own (of 15) is shielded to the bridge, short of maybe my Parker (because who the hell knows what's going on inside that thing?) and my Explorer (because it has an EMG 81).

 

[uOpt]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

I think every guitar I own (of 15) is shielded to the bridge, short of maybe my Parker (because who the hell knows what's going on inside that thing?) and my Explorer (because it has an EMG 81).

You mean has the bridge grounded?

I know.

There are also many more creature eating **** (flies) than not (humans). In my opinion, it's dangerous nonsense and in any case, it's not improving the noise situation once you properly shield the guitar.

 

[jawaegg]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Shield it properly and don't ground.

Grounding the bridge/strings is dangerous nonsense, IMHO, and only done because the lazy manufacturer uses your guts (or balls) for shielding that should have been inside the electronics cavity and around the pickup wires in the first place.

If you don't earth your shield it's not shielding dude. The general idea is that any stray signals - flouro lights, radio etc. - are earthed before they get to the pickup coils. Floating metal doesn't do the trick.

I have a beautiful steel with the cavities and wiring all carefully shielded, (and earthed), but the strings/bridge ungrounded, and it buzzes away using those strings for aerials until you put a finger on the strings and the tele style control pots (which are earthed by default if the pots are earthed), then it's quiet as.
If your amp is built properly ie. with an earth, there's no danger whatsoever. If there was current flow to earth above the small value of your amp fuse it would blow. It's the current that kills you, and I guess that's the dangerous bit.

If you don't mind the buzz of unearthed strings, no sweat, but you will get noise from them if you don't.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

If you don't earth your shield it's not shielding dude. The general idea is that any stray signals - flouro lights, radio etc. - are earthed before they get to the pickup coils. Floating metal doesn't do the trick.

Of course you ground the shield in the electronics cavity and the pickup bases/covers.

But you don't ground the strings and hence your balls. That is not necessary if you properly shield and can be dangerous, in particular if you play badly maintained amps.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

They make extra-long drill bits like that- I've personally used a 12" by 1/4" twist drill. For string grounding, I think something more like 3/16" is in order, but still 12" long. Places like Sears Hardware or Home Depot might have them. If not, maybe Stew Mac or an industrial supplier like Grainger.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Putting a new bridge on an old guitar, and drilling for a ground wire

Ignore all my suggestions above and look at the online wood-working suppliers.

Here yuh go.