Removing tune o matic style bushings

[FredA]

Hey guys,
I was helping my friend fit off his guitar yesterday night, and in the head of things we forgot to run a ground wire before fitting in the bridge tailpiece bushing... Ouch...

So I'm trying to find the best way/s of removing a tailpiece bushing without causing damage to the finish.

I've read I can use a bolt, washers and a piece of wood to lift the bushing out by screwing the bolt in in.
Does it sound right?

Also would you know what bolt dimension I'd need for a standard PBG issued bridge? Is that M6 or M8?
Thanks!

Sent from my 0PJA10 using Tapatalk

[tonyw]

Fred i wire the earth in to the bolt hole, make strands or flatten out the wire bring it up and out of the bushing then screw the bolt back in.

[FredA]

Hi Tony,
That was the plan! And that's how I did it on my 12 strings.
But we forgot and bashed in the bushing before running the wire yesterday on my friends SG... so now I'm trying to see how I can remove the bushing in a 'non-destructive' way!
Thanks!

[tonyw]

Not sure you got me, wrap wire around the bolt then screw back in to bushing? Another i have got away with was solder the wire to the bottom of the blot.

[FredA]

Oh right! Sorry!
I might try the wire-wrapping technique to try and pull out the bushing.

I can't access the bottom of the bolt from the cavity otherwise...

Thanks!

[gavinturner]

I just unscrew the post 1cm then use a claw hammer to lever it up using the gap.

cheers,
Gav.

[FredA]

I was a bit scared to use the 'big claw hammer', but I'll try that one first and see if I an protect the finish.

Thanks guys for your help!

[wokkaboy]

Fred don't use a hammer claw you will risk damaging the finish.

take the bolt and a spare bush if you have one to a hardware store and get a same size and thread bolt to fit the bush.
Then if you destroy the top of the hardware store bolt no loss. Get some of the adjustable claw plier/clamp and gently pull on the bolt and pull side to side. Once the bush starts moving you should be able to pull out the bush. Have the pliers nice and tight on the bolt head or under the head

[Andy40]

Not sure you got me, wrap wire around the bolt then screw back in to bushing? Another i have got away with was solder the wire to the bottom of the blot.

I can't see why Tony's technique isn't better....it doesn't require removal of the bushing.

[gavinturner]

Fred don't use a hammer claw you will risk damaging the finish.

Yes, true. I never use this technique on a finished guitar only on the mock build.

cheers,
Gav.