Where is ground attached on SX 2 Ash lap steel?

[Doug Anderson]

I just received Peters Benders and bridge and I'm installing them hopefully tomorrow. The bridge comes with new studs and bushings but I'm curious how the ground wire(s) is/are attached on the stock bushings or studs?

If I put in new studs, will be ground still be connected? I'm hoping the ground is connected to the bushings.

Are studs normal screwed in all of the way OR are the stud heights adjustable based on how high you screw them in?

[Chris Clem]

I'm not familiar with Asher way of grounding, but I do know how Gibson did on their stud tailpiece. They a have a solid wire that runs from a pot ground through a hole drilled to where the grommet goes into the body. When the grommet is installed it just butts up to that bent wire. It is not soldered it simply butts against the grommet. If you need help with removing the old grommet let me know, I have done that several times. Hopefully the new stud will have the same threads as the one already installed.

A continuity test will tell you if the old grommet is already grounded......I'm betting it is.

[Doug Anderson]

Chris......Thank you for your response and your offer to help if I get stuck removing the bushings.

I really appreciate this forum and how generous folks are with their time and expertise.

Sincerely, Doug

[George Piburn]

On those SX ASH with the guitar type bridge, the part with the female thread that receives the adjuster post not certain of the Guitar Name -- is where the strings ground to.

That Said - I purchased an SX ASH from a forum member to use to measure out GeorgeBoards™ upgrade parts. Despite the fact that it didn't hum, the Receiver part was NOT Grounded although the hole from the control chamber to the receiver was there.
I had to do what Mr.Anderson is asking bout, "Pull that receiver out" then run a ground to it and connect to the ground plane inside the chamber. After -- Reinstall that post receiver with the ground wire attached - basically Touching.

No super big deal, 1st use a continuity tester to see if it is grounded to save a lot of effort and such as Chris Clem suggested.
Next I put the post back in and grabbed it with Vise Grips and the trick is to pull straight up. and not wiggle it too and fro.

Reinstall buy pressing the receiver back down, making certain your ground wire is touching. Possible some persuasion with a small hammer.

Of course that arc adjustable guitar bridge is a DUD for lap Steel,

--if it helps , we sell 3D printed replacement nuts and bridges both in Static, and Roller -- that make the strings Level, more correctly spaced for actual lap steel playing.

[Michael Kiese]

Grounding should be pretty simple.

Ideally the bridge assembly and the saddles themselves are all made out of metal. That way the strings are grounded as well.

Then you just run a ground wire that's soldered to the Vol pot housing, and attach the other end to the metal bridge assembly.

The strings themselves and anything the strings touch should be grounded. So just figure out a way to run continuity from the vol pot housing to the strings.

[George Piburn]

I looked into Peters Parts and re-Read your post,

If the bridge will fit the existing posts, Great , only need to test ground bridge to output ground.

The Adjustment Height part is to personal taste - obviously start with the post all the way down.

Back to the ground , if it is already good to the bridge , then all is well, if not and you do need to pull that receiver it screws into.

Then 2 possibilities, if the new post fits , then only pull the receiver closest to the control cavity.

If you need to pull both receivers then , tough love , you gotta pull them and install the new ones.

Most of those guitar parts are pretty standard, if that new bridge is wider than the original, and you need to plug and redrill for the new receivers, then it becomes a can of woodwork worms.

[Chris Clem]

Here is my way of removing the grommets from the body, it's super simple when you know how. Get a 1/4" wood dowel, cut it about 1/2" long. Stick it in the grommet hole (it will hit the bottom of the wood) Then screw in the stud, when it hits the wood dowel it has nowhere left to go and will lift the whole grommet out....it's that simple.

[Doug Anderson]

Thank you EVERYBODY!!!