Homepage Forums Guitar Discussion Guitar Help restringing a Burns Vista Sonic with vibrato

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  • #23137
    kiefspoon
    Participant

    Hi

    I have a Burns Vista Sonic guitar (1962). It’s the first time I’m going to restring it, and in fact, the first time that I will restring a guitar with a vibrato/tremelo arm. I’m very new to this, and am not sure what is the best way to do this. Do you lift the plate up? And if so, should it just pull up and then get access to the bridge? The plate is jammed in very tightly and I am reluctant to force it up.

    If anybody could help or has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Or maybe there is a good, reliable place to take it to. I have trawled the internet for this, but have had very little luck!

    Many thanks in advance for your help.

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    • #69919
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Couldn’t agree more with Lee’s advice; “change one string at a time”.

      Lee also (I know) owns a Thunderbird bass. I’ve lost count of the number of people who remove all the strings, turn the body around, and watch all the saddles fall out. I ALWAYS remove one string, fit new string, move onto the next string. Even with the simple but reasonably effective Fender barrels. I think it keeps the neck from getting a sudden shock, too, but I realize that’s just anecdotal and not really backed up by evidence.

      Keeping to the string guages, if you’re happy with them, also solves a lot of problems. No nut, bridge or truss-rod adjustments with any luck.

    • #69929
      kiefspoon
      Participant

      Many, many thanks for your advice when restringing – and also for the link to that site – I will have a good look shortly. There’s not a great deal of stuff on Burns on internet with that much info – so this is a great find!

      Many thanks again for your help.

    • #69944
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Have a look on this site, see if they use the same trem unit on other models
      http://uk.geocities.com/burnsguitarssince1992/SGMarquee.html
      one word of advice, when changing strings, make sure you use the same gauge as he ones you have taken off, other wise your guitar may need setting up.
      Also when changing string on a trem unit – change 1 string at a time.

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