Stuff like this only happens to me

[Ky Slim]

I bought a really beaten up 1921 A2 project a couple months ago. I have wanted one of these for a long time to play old time and Irish tunes etc on. I must admit that I now wish that I had just bought one that was in playing condition. With my work schedule and the holidays and everything else it has been a really slow going task to get it playing. Not to mention my limited experience with repairs. But there is an old time jam this Saturday that I would really like to play this thing at.

After some work on the back and the tailpiece I'm finally installing the vintage replacement tuners. They didn't just go on btw. The bushings didn't fit in the original holes so I had to ream the holes out a little. Now they finally went in the holes but the screw holes didn't really line up. Anyway, I got them on there and I finally started to string this thing up looking forward to getting some tunes out of it but.....

One of the A string posts doesn't have a hole in it. .. ...

You can see how far along I was stringing it before I even noticed. Please feel free to make fun.

[journeybear]

[rubydubyr]

You can see how far along I was stringing it before I even noticed. Please feel free to make fun.

Awwww, no, can't do that, I am too busy just feeling your pain Sounds like something that would happen to me. Best of luck in getting it in shape by Saturday!

[Marty Jacobson]

You can drill your own hole with a 1/16 drill, no problem. You will want to center with a center punch or something to keep the drill bit centered. No big deal. Be sure to debur the hole with a rat tail file or sandpaper or you will break strings with the sharp new edge of the hole. I would let the supplier know and see if they will send you a correct set for you to switch out at your convenience.

[j. condino]

Another satisfied customer who wasted good money and still had to modify an almost 100 year old instrument for a cheap set of tuning machines made by 11 year old Chinese kids who play 7 string mandolinzzzz......way to go Stew Mac.

[jim simpson]

I got a replacement set from a local shop once, he dug them out of a box of parts and they fit the old Gibson nicely. The only problem was that the string holes were just below the surface of the peghead. I had to drill all 8 posts to make it usable. I kept the old gears and made them both available when I sold it. The buyer wanted the newer gears left on it. Good luck!

[LongBlackVeil]

Wow that's excellent quality control!

[bratsche]

At least they got it 87.5% right... your cup is way more than half full!

bratsche

[Ky Slim]

Awwww, no, can't do that, I am too busy just feeling your pain Sounds like something that would happen to me. Best of luck in getting it in shape by Saturday!

Thanks! All four keys of the bass side (G + D) on the original set were still working so I'll just put them on until stew mac can get a replacement (for the replacement) out to me. This should be fine for playing this Saturday. I will just have to do righty tighty for those 4 strings.

[rubydubyr]

[Pete Summers]

I'm wondering if the Frank Ford method of stringing (www.frets.com) would hold the string on the post without a hole? He wraps the string over itself and when tightened to pitch, it looks to me like it might be tight enough not to slip. Worth trying, anyway. As a matter of fact, his method of stringing is time saving and worth knowing in any case.

[rubydubyr]

If your post was intended for me Pete, I am the wrong person to address it to. At this point, if a string were to break, I'd need to take it to the store to have it replaced. I know the "theory" of replacing it, but don't quite trust myself to do so. And am in absolute AWE of people who take an old and valued instrument and actually rework it themselves! Don't even get me STARTED on my drool (and I have to be careful of that around the mandolin....) over folks who can actually BUILD one for themselves either from a kit or from scratch, and finish it, and adjust it, and...... <gasp>

[Ky Slim]

I'm wondering if the Frank Ford method of stringing (www.frets.com) would hold the string on the post without a hole?

I'm interested but maybe I'm missing something. I just looked at the "restringing clinic" sections for all instruments and it looks as if he goes thru the hole in each demo.

[David Newton]

Of course the string has to go thru a hole. Make a hole.

I bet if I was making 10 gazillion string posts I would miss a few holes.

[pfox14]

Are these StewMac Golden Age replacement tuners? If so, you should send them back and get new ones. That's obviously a huge QC error and you shouldn't have to deal with trying to drill the hole yourself.

[Ky Slim]

Are these StewMac Golden Age replacement tuners? If so, you should send them back and get new ones. That's obviously a huge QC error and you shouldn't have to deal with trying to drill the hole yourself.

Yes they are the golden age replacements. I think they will take care of it and I wouldn't try to drill a hole. I have put the original from the bass side back on there for now. The keys are really tight and I had to make 3 more screw holes but it is (or was) in tune.

I bet if I was making 10 gazillion string posts I would miss a few holes.

I agree with this and I will be waiting to hear back from stewmac on the issue. I used to play some music with an older fellow that would have said "I guess they made those on a Friday."