Brass hardware

[the guy who invented fire]

in the 70's gear thread I posted a few days ago Evan mentioned brass bridges and nuts...does anybody have an opinion on either of these? Before the answers start, please don't tell me that Yngwie uses a brass nut, and he rules or sucks (depending on what you think) so having a brass nut will rule or suck (depending on your opinion of Yngwie. I am looking for opinions from people that did or do use brass nuts, bridges, etc...and before somebody mentiones it I have alaready thought about the brass saddles on Telecacsters...I hate anything else on a Telecaster, but to me that's part of the tone, I am talking about something that on a normal basis does not come with brass, and what type of changes it would make.

 

[big_black]

Re: Brass hardware

I totally dig brass saddles and bridges on Fenders. I got a brass bridge for the Tele I'm assembling. I always wondered why it seems people don't like brass saddles for Gibsons? I don't recall ever playing a TOM that was brass so this is why I ask.

 

[fatigueofheart]

Re: Brass hardware

i don't notice any changes with my kahler guitar with brass nut.....supposed to have more sustain and fuller tone...but the kahler kills it.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Brass hardware

I like the brass nut on a Strat. Yeah, Yngwie uses them...but lots of Strats got the mod. One of my friends who was a tech in the 70's told me that he used to do the brass nut mod all the time.

In terms of the tone, some will tell you that it only affects the open string sound, but I found that it changed the tone even when fretted, though not as much change as with the open strings. One of my ex-bandmates had a Strat that sounded less than defined, and the brass nut cleaned it up, really made the open strings sound huge. Setup is important too, of course.

Mark