David Love et al, It has been my formula: If the pin block is 1 1/2" thick, then 2 1/2" tuning pins are appropriate. If you do the math, ie the pin block is 1 1/2" + the web is 1/8" that equals 1 5/8". Add at least 1/8" for coil clearance, that makes 1 3/4" from the becket hole to the top of the pin is approx. 1/2", that makes 2 1/4". Add the width of the coils, which is approx. 1/4", that equals 2 1/2". Of course, you never want the pin to protrude below the bottom of the pin block. These figures are to the nth, so in actual application, the pin will be a bit higher and therefore will not protrude. On open faced pin blocks, it's a bit different because we don't have the plate web to take into account. However, most open-faced blocks are waaaay thick and will usually accommodate this math. There are, of course, exceptions to this and we should make the calculations before starting to string. Some times the length of pin in the original will dictate what you use. Other times, not. Regards, Regards, Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
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