Acoustic Peg Hole

1. Remove the peg from the B or G string (or both if you bought a double) and discard the string(s). It will be too short to reuse on the Bender. For ease of installation, also remove the peg from either side leaving those strings attached to the tuning keys (unless you wish to put on a whole new set of strings). Then loosen the rest of the strings enough to put your hand and arm down through the sound hole of the guitar.
 

2. Remove the hex nut, wing nut and metal washers from the threaded rod of the Bender leaving the rubber washer in place. Slip the threaded rod down through the peg hole of the B/G string. With the wing nut and washers in hand, reach down through the sound hole of the guitar and locate the end of the threaded rod. Slip the two washers over the threaded rod (hold the guitar on its edge so that the washers stay on the rod) and then carefully thread the wing nut on to the rod.
 

3. Align the Bender Handle Assembly in a straight line with the direction of the strings. Holding the Bender in line, tighten the wing nut very firmly, so that the Bender Assembly will not move easily from side to side. Replace all the strings and their pegs and tune all the rest of the strings to pitch. NOTE: Some customers have had trouble tightening the wing nut tight enough by hand, allowing the bender to move from side to side too easily. It is OK to use pliers or an adjustable wrench to assist you in the final tightening. Also, you may remove the rubber pad if you are not worried about a possible mark on the bridge (I don’t use the rubber pad on my own bender). If all else fails, the included standard 8-32 nut can be used to replace the wing nut and tighten the bender even tighter. You will need a small 11/32 socket wrench or box end wrench to accomplish this and be careful not to damage any adjacent bridge pins protruding inside the guitar. If you are still having trouble making it work correctly, please contact the inventor, Richard Bowden, by phone at 903-814-1482 or by email and a solution to your problem will be found.

4. Insert a new B string (.013 or .014 gauge recommended) from the rear of the bridge, under the Bender roller and up through the slot in the bottom of the Bender continuing over the bridge to the tuning key. Before tuning, slip the ball end of the string over the Top Pin of the Bender, making sure the string wraps into the groove at the rear of the Bender Handle. If you are planning to use the Bowden Bender on your G string, the instructions are the same as for the B -- just move things over one string. I recommend a .016 thru .018 gauge plain (unwound) string(s) on the G. Wound strings will saw a slot in your bridge saddle. IMPORTANT: Now, making sure to keep the string in the rear groove and seated in the roller, tighten the string to pitch and stretch it out until it stays in tune. Once the string is sufficiently stretched, it is time to adjust for pitch.
 

5. An electronic tuner is helpful in this step: Flip the Adjustment Screw Lock out in a clockwise direction (looking down from the top and butt of the guitar) to adjust the pitch “travel” of the Bender Handle. With the string tuned to the proper pitch, turn the Adjustment Screw until the handle, when depressed all the way down, raises the pitch of the string to the desired pitch, usually one whole tone. To do this, alternately release the Bender Handle, adjust the Screw, and depress the Handle to check pitch until you have reached the desired pitch. Holding the Bender Handle down while adjusting the screw will not always get you to the desired pitch. Once you have attained the desired pitch, hold the Adjustment Screw in place and tuck the Adjustment Screw Lock back under the Bender Handle, locking the position of the Adjustment Screw in place. 

ADDITIONAL TIPS: An occasional drop of lubricant on the the nut, the bridge saddle and the pin at the rear of the Bender Handle should be all the maintenance required to keep the Bender working perfectly. You will notice a piece of fuzzy material at the rear of the Bender Handle where it comes to rest against its metal pin. This serves to dampen any clicking sound when releasing the Bender. If this material should deteriorate or come off, it is simply the “loop side” of self-adhesive Velcro and can be replaced by cutting a small piece to replace it, available at most hardware or fabric stores. A small pad of the same material can also be used to replace the little round “landing pad” where the Adjustment Screw touches down. NOTE: There should be a little sideways movement of the Bender Handle in the body of the Handle Assembly to assure that the Handle is not too tight. Without a string in place, the Bender Handle should easily flop down into its “depressed” position. If the Bender Handle is too tight, simply take a small screw driver, ice pick or other suitable device to spread the rear of the Handle Assembly slightly apart to allow the Bender Handle to move up and down freely with no binding. To lay the Bender over for tight cases, slightly loosen the string and pull back on Bender handle with a twisting motion until the Chevron Joint is open enough to lay the Bender over.
 

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 THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING THE BOWDEN B BENDER -- It should provide you with years of trouble-free use. As always, if you encounter a problem of any nature, immediately  contact us using the information that came on your bender box. We guarantee that there is a solution to any and every problem you might encounter. Thanks again! 

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