got curious and had nothing better to do for last 5 mins...

if you look at photo of this ebay item -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Gibson-NOS-Parts-70s-Top-Loading-J-40-Acoustic-Rosewood-Bridge-/250923370035?pt=Guitar_Accesso

"Vintage Gibson NOS Parts 70's Top Loading J-40 Acoustic Rosewood Bridge"

you can definitely see holes where strings simply thread through
for quick changing like a standard cheap top loading electric guitar bridge.

So apparently no need for traditional pins to anchor through sound board.


.. how long before string temsion rips the bridge off the top of the guitar..

maybe that's why there's still a stockpile of new old stock top loading bridges ???