Hi there first time on the forum so hello, hope someone can help out here , I got a brand new highway one sunburst yesterday and snapped the trem arm off! it was screwing in oddly and when i tried to loosen it and remove it it got very tight and snapped, really sad and angry. a piece is still in there, any ideas? or new trem and bridge time? thanks.

Hi vaarl, welcome to the Forum.

The tool for the job is called a "screw extractor". Here's one being sold on a website where I live, just to give you an idea what we're talking about:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp? ... e=1&jump=0

That is a comparatively upmarket kit. Simpler versions are available much cheaper.

That is probably on the wrong continent for you, but if you Google "screw extractor" you will be able to find one close to home. They are usually available on Ebay.

Alternatively, any machine shop can perform that extraction for you in moments. It is also possible that the shop you bought the guitar from has a tech who is equipped for the job and if the guitar is brand new he may take pity on you and do it cheap or for free. You ain't the first person this ever happened to!

Some options.

Good luck - C

Ceri is right on the money here...but my choice would be to take it back to where you bought it first, as it may well be covered by warranty!

Ok, will look into the tool, my worry though is that the threads are now damaged and the new trem arm won't fit.....

Hi Butterscotch: only worry with that is, though accidental it is pretty obviously user damage rather than a fault, so I suspect the shop wouldn't agree to do it under warranty. Always worth asking though - and they may just decide to be friendly and helpful anyway!

Cheers - C

With any luck, after you get the piece removed, you can "chase" the threads in the trem block with the proper sized tap. If the trem block isn't too badly damaged, (and with one crossthreading you should be ok), you will be able to screw in a new trem arm.

Good luck!

Gridlok

Thanks guys for the help, I guess it will be a bonus if the threads are ok after removing the piece, if not, I will just buy a new block. Now to address the uneven fretwork, I have a gordon smith made in uk guitar and the fretwork from workshop was top quality low action, shiny as a mirror, alas my hw1 is terrible in comparison, once sorted I am sure it will be a low action a sing well. It is in for a dressing as we speak...

Hi again vaarl: well I was about to point out that that is not exactly comparing like with like, but then I just took a quick tour round his website:

http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/

Good grief, some of those prices are pretty damn reasonable for luthier built guitars, aren't they? How on earth does he do that?

Now I just wish he'd come up with a design that was more his own, if you know what I mean...

Cheers - C

Looked on the site,mostly uses Cedar Spruce and Poplar.
All fine tonewoods, but at least here, cheaper options.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Well ceri they are good prices for handmade/crafted guitars considering how solid they are. They are low on frills and there are obvious human "touches" that a machine could do away with, but light as a feather and a waiting list gives you something "special" However, as you say to an untrained eye and ear they will look like just another "copy" I too would love a more original design in play and believe in the 80's there were different models that were more original. Although not mahogany bodies they still cost about the same as gibson or fender low end models. I do like fender sound though and trems (when not snapped off), so the strat is an obvious choice for me. I mean why do we think GS is using their shapes in the first place? Because it is tried and tested. I love both and would not part with it now as they will become much sought after in time, quicker than my strat will.

evryones pretty much nailed it in one! take it to the shop if they cant or wont help then go to a tool store and re thread it:) very easy process i have to do it alot with car parts.

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A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~