Bride pin problems on my new A200c

[guitarist 4 christ]

Hey All,
I finally found the guitar I have been searching for, an A200c. Drove three hours away to a shop that listed it for an unbelievable price and claim it was brand new just shopworn as it has been there for a while.
Of course when i got there there were many many Taylors and Martins and one lone Avalon that was probably passed over by many potential customers in search of the right well wrong guitar Well fortunately for me the right one was still there, and very discounted
After I finally got it home I went to put new strings on it and found the bridge pins very difficult to remove. It is like they are wedged in the bridge and don't want to come out, and I did break one trying to remove it I tried several different bridge pins I had and all of them are too thin and will not stay in the slot. I finally found one that would stay which was great cause I wanted to play it at church the next morning for worship
even though it was white and did not match, had to explain that to everyone as I was showing off my new Avalon
Anyhow is this common or has the bridge been modified by someone after it left the factory. The saddle is very low on the high E string. Any advice on this would be very helpful and how can I get some replacement bridge pins, they have a larger head on them than any others I have seen, is this standard on all Avalons
The guitar looks , sounds, and plays awesome LUCKY ME !!!!

THANKS ,STEVE

[JB]

sorry about that Steve, when using real wood pins as we do, there is a possibility that sometimes they can be weaker than others in a particular batch

but if you send me a PM with your full postal address I'll get new pins set out asap

Glad you like the guitar otherwise

[JRenn19]

Hey man. Try pushing the old string into the guitar before, or while pulling the pin out. The tension from the pull of the string is what keeps that sucker in there, so reversing that usually gives enough relief to pull it out easily, or at least more easily. I've used this trick for years, and it usually works. Hope it helps. God bless!

[guitarist 4 christ]

Hey Thanks JRENN,
I had never run into this problem before with any of my other guitars, I always loosen the strings quite a bit before removing the pin, but I see what you are saying. I will try this next time I change my strings

Thanks for the advice
BLESSINGS, STEVE

[Son of Thunder]

I trust you do know that most string winders come with a notch in the base that is most helpful in removing bridge pins...

Years ago, I was quite embarrassed when, after having played for many years, I learned that little tidbit from a drummer!

[Mr. Pohl]

It's always the drummers, isn't it?

[guitarist 4 christ]

Oh Ya, been using a string winder for over 20 years now. The problem wasn't with getting under the pins, half way out they were wedged in place. Thanks to a reply from JRenn I have figured out how to easily remove them now.

Speaking of drummers they tend to know everything don't they


J.B. by the way I never did receive my replacement bridge pins you promised to send me. I have been rather patient though and just got out of the hospital recently, had a bleeding aneurysm in my head, I'm just blessed to be alive and thanks to GOD I have no residual damage at all. My Avalon never sounded soo good

[Son of Thunder]

JRenn's solution does indeed help. I might have suggested that one too, except that I've been playing a Lowden for a few years now, and so I don't presently have to deal with bridge pins!

Glad to hear you're out of the hospital and enjoying good health!

Happy Thanksgiving to the "Yanks" among us!

John

[JB]

Hi G4C

I've sent out a number pins sets to different people recently, I possibly missed you but I thought I remembered everyone .... ... I've re-checked my PM's I don't see one from you with an address ? ... did you send it by PM or E-mail ?

Send it again anyways and I'll get some sent off, I'll send you some nice black Buffalo Horn ones instead of the normal ebony

Cheers
Jim

[guitarist 4 christ]

Hey JB,
I will send you another PM with my address to send those pins to. Also what material is used on the saddle and nut on a gold series A200C which is probably one to two years old serial # is 00669.

Thanks for your help,
Steve

[SteveW]

Have to tell you that I had the same problem - also in a panic situation - was just about to go to a wedding and thought I would change the strings before going because I was going to play at the wedding later - One of the pins was so tight that in the end the damm thing broke on me - I ended up rushing into town to my guitar shop and they replaced them with plastic ones - first time in my life I had a pin break on me.

[JB]

All Gold models normally go out with a Graphtech Tusq nut and saddle but the odd one or two have gone out with a bone nut.