Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: bassicmusik on September 01, 2021, 05:42:38 AM

Title: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: bassicmusik on September 01, 2021, 05:42:38 AM

Dear Alembicia


as I do live on the other side of the Atlantic, I have some problems with the tools. If I want to disassemble the bridge, I need an allen wrench, and a spanner. Can someone tell me the correct size of the spanner & the allen wrench for the Aircraft fastener & the intonation screw?


Best regards,
Christoph

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: adriaan on September 01, 2021, 06:02:08 AM

You're not the alone in that ...

Here is Mica's post on "Adjustment Key Sizes (Tools)" (https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=200.0).

You might check the Alembic store (https://alembic.stores.yahoo.net) where you won't need to search for tools that will fit.

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: bassicmusik on September 01, 2021, 06:08:29 AM

I read Micas post of course :-) But the size of the spanner is missing.

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: pauldo on September 01, 2021, 07:58:14 AM

Quote from: bassicmusik on September 01, 2021, 06:08:29 AM

I read Micas post of course :-) But the size of the spanner is missing.

The nut size on my Distillate’s bridge is 11/64”.   Which is just shy of 4.4mm.



Edit: that is the nut on the screw that goes through the saddles for intonation adjustment.
For Clarification; when you say Aircraft Fastener is that the same as an ‘Allen’ screw (hex shaped socket head cap screw?)

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: bassicmusik on September 01, 2021, 11:02:51 AM

Dear Pauldo,


yes - my problem was the nut of the aircraft fastener.
I ordered a 4,5 mm spanner, and we will see if it fits properly.


Thank you very much!


Christoph

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: JimmyJ on September 01, 2021, 11:27:13 AM

I believe Christoph is asking about these nuts which secure the intonation screws, and two more actually support the bridge.  (See pics). I am measuring that as .158" or 5/32" or about 4mm.  I don't recall ever needing to take the entire bridge apart so never knew that size until today.  I do recall once using a needle-nose pliers to hold the bridge supporting nut while tightening down the height adjustment (I know, wrong tool, shameful).  If you have a small adjustable wrench that may also work.

Jimmy J

edit: Ah yes, the 4,5 may be close enough to work but I was able to squeeze a 4mm socket onto one.  Good luck!

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: pauldo on September 01, 2021, 12:07:18 PM

Yes, the second shot that Jimmy posted are the ones I checked on my Distillate and they (with a pair of veneer calipers) measure .167” and 11/64 = .172”… so it sounds like we are on the same page.

Knipex makes a nice set of pliers with a jaw design that (although technically NOT the right tool for the job) closes with a nice parallelism that, providing the nut is not seized, should be sufficient for disassembly.

Good luck Christoph!

Title: Re: Which tools do I need for the bridge?
Post by: bassicmusik on September 03, 2021, 05:37:09 AM

Dear fellows,


thank you very much for your support! As I do live in europe, and I am used to metric tools, the american seizes do confuse me. Sorry for that.
I got a 4 mm spanner, which fits perfect. Now I just have to wait for a 7/64 allen wrench, which will complete my toolset for Alembic.
I took a little picture of the tools.


Thank you again for your help!


Best regards from Germany,
Christoph