what to do?

[dtb]

man, we played Wed. nite, and when we finished up I was taking my strap off and the end pin snapped off. It snapped off clean with the rest of the pin still in the guitar (acoustic, 26 year old, Alvarez). What should I do? See if it can be knocked out, or maybe drill it out with a smaller bit? It's been in there for 26 years.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[maestro_dmc]

Get a power drill with a really thin bit, like about 3/32" and drill a hole into the center of the stump, then run a wood screw into the hole, and pull it out with pliers.

If it doesn't come right out, work it back and forth gently until it loosens up.

If it's glued real tight, well I'm not sure what then

 

[dtb]

that's what I was thinking to do. Hopefully, it wasn't glued. Thanks for the reply, maestro.

It'll be a day or two before I fool with it. So if anyone else has any ideas, chime in.

Dan

 

[Lt. Bob]

I doubt very seriously that it's glued at all......those things are usually just shoved in there.

Maestro's idea sounds like the way to go unless it protrudes into the inside of the guitar. Then you can reach into the soundhole and tap it out.

 

[Clive Hugh]

Before you go ahead with the screw bit, what diameter screw is protruding or sitting flush? do you have enough meat to drill it and get it out with ezy-outs? - these tap into a drilled hole and are a left hand thread so in tightening you unscrew the drilled bit.
We have them pretty small in our workshop, so they are available, the trick is to centre pop the screw and accurate drilling.

Alternately, rather than risk any damage to the adjacent finish is there any reason why you can't just put in a new one next to the old one?

 

[dtb]

thanks guys. and Clive, it's the end pin, the plastic one, that as Lt. Bob says, it's normally just shoved in. I know when I got my Martin, the end pin came seperate, and I had to shove it in. I think I have some of those easy-outs. they're real samll in dia. that sounds like a good idea also. I may try today. I wont need the strap until Wed. nite, so there's time to check out you guys' ideas.

Thanks fellows,

Dan

 

[dtb]

worked perfect. I used a tiny drill bit, drilled thru the pin, then used a little bigger bit, and slowly drilled it thru, and when I backed out the bit, the pin came on out. Glad it wasn't glued. Now to find a new pin.

Thanks for ya'lls' input.

Dan

 

[Middleman]

Now's the time to install an internal pickup. You can get a metal pin with a centered jack and replace your old peg with this. Then you plug the guitar into the PA or Mixing board.

Just a thought.