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For home set-up folks: any homemade bridge jack tools?


guitarjump

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Posted

Stew-mac has a tool to lift the bridge of a Tune-O-Matic bridge while under string tension - to adjust the thumbwheel height.

It's the Tune-o-Medic bridge jack:

 

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_...iece_Tools.html

 

I only use something like this rarely, but I can see it would be handy. Problem is, I am cheap, and with shipping, this little lever-like thing comes to about $42. I have a hard time justifying spending that kind of dough on something like this.

 

Has anyone come up with a home-made alternative to lift the bridge to adjust the thumbwheels (while the strings are on) for a TOM bridge?

 

Thanks!

Posted

  I use a small screwdriver wrapped in felt or a washcloth.  Not pretty but it's functional. If I did it everyday I'd buy the proper tool but after my guitars are setup I don't need to use one very often.

Posted

I've been leary of that tool, that it might damage something.  So I've reduced tension, adjusted, checked, repeated...  Maybe taking that pic to your local hardware store and seeing if they have anything similar - then placing heavy felt on the botton for protection?

Posted

I use a small screwdriver on the teeth of the thumbwheel.  Do it in very small increments tangent to the teeth at about 7:00 or 5:00 o'clock depending on the desire to go up or down.

Posted

That tool looks cool, but I'm with you Jump.  I don't do that stuff enough to justify the money.  My .02 worth.

Posted

Thanks for all the suggestions - keep 'em coming!

 

I took a look at our spoons and did a quick stress test. Hm, ours must be really cheap ones -they'd be "Uri Gellered" by my bridge. That's real close, though - something with a curve.

Posted

Get a bicyle tire iron.  They're made of plastic and look like this:

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-9620-NCL-TOP.jpg[/img]

or

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-5203-NCL-TOP.jpg[/img]

or

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/50-2772-YEL-TOP.jpg[/img]

It's where Dan Erlewine got the idea from.  One of his tech tips or trade sercrets or whatever was the bicycle tire iron.

Posted

I use my finger...just lift up the strings with my left index finger & turn the wheel with my right thumb and index finger. Eat your wheaties guys & gals.

Posted
...they'd be "Uri Gellered" by my bridge.

 

Good to see you on the forum again, 'jump!  +1 for a relatively (now) obscure pop-culture reference!    :wink:

Posted
Get a bicyle tire iron.  They're made of plastic and look like this:

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-9620-NCL-TOP.jpg[/img]

or

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/00-5203-NCL-TOP.jpg[/img]

or

width=480 height=480http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/500/50-2772-YEL-TOP.jpg[/img]

It's where Dan Erlewine got the idea from.  One of his tech tips or trade sercrets or whatever was the bicycle tire iron.

 

 

 

  That's the best idea I've heard yet.  The strange thing is that the guitar store I frequent has a bicycle shop right next door.  Literally 10 steps away.  I'll stop in during my next trip to the guitar shop on Saturday.

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