Acoustic String Thru

Installation of your Acoustic String-thru Bender is the easiest installation of any bending device known. It’s exactly as much trouble as changing your strings. Therefore, it is best to install the bender when changing strings or get new strings when you are ready to install the bender.

 Starting with no strings on your guitar, thread (from the rear) the high E and the low E strings through the corresponding holes in the bender. Then thread them through your bridge and to the keys and tighten to pitch. Continue to do the same with the remaining strings except the one for the Bender.
 

Now, insert a new B string (.013 or .014 gauge recommended) from the rear of the bender, up through 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 and stays in the roller groove. It’s best to hold the string in place by pinching the end of the bender until there’s enough tension on the string to lift the handle.
 

For the G string,  I recommend gauges  .016 - .018 plain as wound strings will saw into the bridge with continued use.  Included in your package will be some tiny Teflon tubing to slip over the string to protect the bridge saddle. You can also use some for the strings passage through the tailpiece if needed. The tubing is optional. 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 the Bender for pitch. An electronic tuner is helpful in this step.
 

Flip the Adjustment  Screw Lock out in a clockwise direction (looking down from the top) to adjust the pitch “travel” of the B 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.
 

NOTE: Holding the Bender Handle down while adjusting the screw will not always get you to the desired pitch. Once you have attained the 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.  You may find that you need to adjust the ‘raised pitch’ about 2 cents flat to compensate for the flex of the rubber pad, depending on how hard you press the handle. Your ear will tell you when it’s right. However, once you have finished setting the Bender pitch, you will never have to change your adjustment unless you change to a different string gauge. The Bender may “seem” to go out of pitch eventually, but that is when the string goes dead.  Don’t  change the Bender … change the string.
 

*For thin plate benders for curved back bridges, the tightening of all the strings should bend the plate to conform to the curvature of the bridge. Once the Bender is securely mounted to the guitar, if necessary, you may slowly and carefully hold the tail end of the handle and bend it slightly sideways to line it up with the string path.
 

 To lay the Benders over for tight cases, slightly loosen the bender string and pull back on the handle with a twisting motion until the Chevron Joint is open enough to lay the Bender over. When you are ready to play again, flip the Benders back up and tune back to pitch. It is not necessary to readjust the Adjustment Screw of the Bender after laying over for cases. 

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