JLD Bridge System Installation

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

I bought my 74 FG260 when it was 12-14 years old. I noticed it bellying up very, very slowly and only recently found out that these guitars are famous for having insufficient bracing. Since we moved from Detroit to the Desert Southwest 12 years ago, I have kept it 2 frets down-tuned and the warp if not lessened, has at least not gotten worse. Another desert picker showed me the brass bolt/peg version on his 6-string and I only recently found this Bridge Doctor version installation on the same guitar that I presumed was beyond hope. Thank you so much! Following your video and with my drill press, I should be able to do an installation for under $30 and maybe a few months of gradual tightening & flattening (with a damp sponge inside), my Yamaha will play better than she did when I first brought her home. "12-string players spend half our time tuning, and the other half playing out of tune." ----Bob Burns, 1942-2015

[@guitartec]

I've literally installed about 500 JLDs. A lot of old Yamahasseem to be excellent candidates for a bridge truss. They usually play better than ever before. Thanks for the video.

[@coyotegrins]

Yamahas react well to JLD installs.

[@muddymuddymuddmann]

the one i have is from 30 years ago. one of the first ones. even before they hit the shelves at music stores. total different look and design. no holes to drill, it was a piece of wood sloped at 45 degrees, and mounted with brass pegs that screwed in through the the existing holes for the pegs. the strings were strung through holes in those pegs. the brass peg mounts have abalone in the center for good appearance. The reason I used it was for acoustic EQ and to protect the value of my Alvarez acoustic/ electric cutaway guitar. I consider my Alvarez a real classic, and just wanted to protect the bridge and body from warping over time. but the best part of the JLD is the eq effect by turning the base board tension adjustment. Too bad they cheapened the design and needs a hole drilled into your guitar. The old design was much wider and mounted much more securely. over time, and weather the bridge and body should go back to the original position, and thus be able to convert back to original. so one could saved the pegs for that. the inventor is brother to Jerry Lee Lewis, and Jimmy Swaggart. or cousins I guess. the JLD are his initials, but dont remember the name. I am no disappointed in the one I got. But I am disappointed that they decided to cheapen the design, especially to the point of making you drill into your musical extension of the soul. MUDDy

[@w13rdguy]

Brass pin mounted JLD is still available, screw mount is good enough for my thrift store Yamaha, though.

[@randysims4779]

Thanks for the useful comments. Sorry about the TV noise.

[@Furtheronmusic]

Hi - thanks. Just ordered one of these from Stewmac to fit to my Yamaha FJ 12 string, which has same issue. I'll be back to watch again once it arrives from the USA! I'm hoping it'll make the guitar more playable than now. I'll not before and after 12 fret action - and glad I watched for the tips about the hole placement and or assembly of the doctor itself

[@1957Jfk]

Just put one on an old Yamaha 12 string someone gave me... Sounds GREAT!! Fixed the tilt in the bridge and flattened the bump a bit.. Didn't need to shave the saddle . Plays easily / just this side of buzzing so don't wanna go lower @$22 online for the JLD

[@mymartind35]

You might turn off the TV next time. It's annoying as heck.

[@w13rdguy]

Good man, thanks for sharing both the good and the bad. Probably saved a lot of drilling and filling for other folks!

[@bad205]

@DADGADDY It turns out that I could have used the first hole I drilled according to another youtube post by someone below. I'm glad the video helped. I looked all over for a video or even pictures of the installation, but couldn't find anything.

[@bad205]

@newplasticidea So good, so far. I would like to try and adjust it even more, but I'm a bit worried that something may give with that much stress. The guitar is still a bit hard to play, but a definite improvement from before the install. Let me know if you can get the top even flatter on your Yamaha FG.

[@xaghru]

Geeez!!! Why all the rush?... If you setback a thought about it you could have saved drilling another hole my friend. You needed to move the pvc cylinder into the other hole that's furthest away from the wood lever. Like that you can even achieve more leverage or twist if you like to counteract string tension. What do you think?

[@hopelessable]

are u sure you have to drill in the jld . I have read that there is a JLD brass pin mount for 12 string guitar ?

[@bad205]

@jltrem See comment from xaghru. He said that I could have used the first hole by moving the pvc cylinder further back. It should have been in the instructions though.

[@bad205]

@xaghru I didn't think of that and it wasn't in the instructions. Thanks for the tip.

[@bad205]

@Furtheronmusic Make sure to read some of the other comments. Another post mentioned that the hole could be at the back of the bridge. You just have to screw the white plastic tube like thing in at another position. Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

[@KevDiver]

I've got one of these on my bench, too! Learned it was Yamaha's first 12-string so it was under-braced. Going to see about the string-pin version thanks to your video. What was obstructed? The string balls?

[@bad205]

The pin on back row wouldn't go in

[@13coyote13]

You should have used the other kit that replaces the string pins with bolts that allow the strings to go through them, but too late now.

Guitar "belly bulge" and the bridge warp/raising is caused by lack of proper humidification. The bridge plate is glued inside and most of the wood inside is unfinished and will dry out, warping without proper humidity. Thanks for the vid. :)

[@lt1caprice57l]

Mitchell Deliman That may be case with many guitars, but these old FG 12-strings were laminate top and under-braced at that. They warp no matter what.

[@bad205]

@OughtaKrawl Hope the video helps

[@cugir321]

You're supposed to use the brass one with a 12 string.

[@drscratchnsniff2]

now, check your truss rod (neck), and you have lots of saddle there to shave to bring the action down more, if that isn't enough then a neck reset is in order. You cannot use the soundboard to set your action!!

[@ramoncivil11]

good night, this piece after it is installed, gives difference in the sound of the instrument?

[@bad205]

It made it not discord when moving up and down the fret board. So .. yes. Before the strings were so far off the board that it was only in tune in one location.

[@DADGADDY]

Hey this was great, I got the EXACT same guitar that my buddy owns and wants me to fix for him, the belly is just as bad as yours. I have installed the JLD on 6-strings before but never on a 12. I think you might have saved me from putting an extra "soundhole" on his guitar. Thanks

[@bad205]

@sonictherevenge Not sure what you mean, but I marked and drilled hole from outside.

[@abmbarry]

I think you got the wrong JLD bridge system, ... They have one just for the 12 string. It has brass bridge pins that the strings go through instead of being trapped as usual by the pegs. ?

[@bad205]

Your probably right. I had no idea what I was doing for sure. There wasn't much information I could find then on the JLD. I put this video out because I couldn't find one anywhere at the time.

[@abmbarry]

I just made my unit, .. spaced it to suit the 12 string pegs, ... too easy, and it worked out well. Fine adjustments and the belly disappeared in about 4 days. I also hung it up in the shower area, so it got a good drink of steam.

[@christopherquattromusic]

I just got... today... this same guitar with the same issue! Are you happy with it still? I saw your post on Stewmac. What do you use for the truss?

[@stigolespang9899]

Christopher Quattro

[@sonictherevenge]

How the heck did you get that marked in there lol

[@oldfatguyrr1]

You may be able to shave the bridge saddle down some to lower the string action. Check out Davey4557's channel. Excellent videos on guitar repair.

[@jltrem]

JLD should have given the proper drilling instructions for use on a 12 string so that you didn't have to drill a second hole and make the other adjustments you had to make in order to install. Poor move on manufacturer's part.

[@llally02]

Thanks for all the help but I wish you would have thought to turn off the TV in the background it was too distracting so didn't watch all of your video. Sorry.

[@randysims4779]

Thanks for the useful comments. Sorry about the TV noise.