Bridge pins

[solspirit]

How much difference do they really make?

 

[beaubrummels]

Difference in what?

That’s like asking what’s the difference between a duck.

 

[solspirit]

Come on man, you know what I'm asking.

I didn't know I had to spell it out.


Does the different material make a difference in tone?

 

[Lewguitar]

How much difference do they really make?

I think the difference is subtle. Subtle enough that many people insist there's no improvement.

I think there is an improvement and instead of plastic pins or wooden pins all of my acoustics have pins made from either bone or fossilized ivory.

To me, my guitars seem to ring a little better with bone or ivory pins, bridges and nuts.

But the diff is very subtle.

So subtle that it's more of a "feeling" than something I definitely hear.

 

[Mincer]

I probably would forget by the time I swapped them out. I do like nice wood ones or TUSQ ones, just because they look much better. I can't believe in this age that bridges still use them.

 

[GuitarStv]

I've used plastic, ebony, bone, and tusq. Can't hear any difference between any of them, so I just stick with whichever looks prettiest.

 

[solspirit]

I didn't think they would make much difference, if any. Sensibly it would be only the saddle & nut that would make any difference, right?

I just don't like the plastic look.

 

[Lewguitar]

I didn't think they would make much difference, if any. Sensibly it would be only the saddle & nut that would make any difference, right?

I just don't like the plastic look.

Makes a difference what a stop tailpiece on a Les Paul is made from. Aluminum makes a LP sound different than zinc or brass does.

All these things DO make a difference.

Not a night vs. day difference, but a difference.

Even what the tuners are made from make a difference.

Has to do with the transfer of string vibrations/energy to the guitar, which affects the resonance.

Doesn't matter if the audience or a microphone can hear it or not.

That doesn't prove anything.

Often as not the difference is FELT, not heard.

it's what the player holding the guitar FEELS while he or she is playing it.

 

[solspirit]

I agree, Lew.

 

[Boogie Bill]

I've replaced the plastic pins on several of my Martin dreadnoughts with bone, and been very pleased with the results. But on one guitar, my D-41, the difference was minimal.

My D-45 was used when I bought it. It came to me with D'Andrea Brass Pins, and I couldn't get those off fast enough; they just killed the resonance and the tone. Going back to plastic was huge, and then going to bone was very dramatic as well.

My Taylor 710CE came from the factory with ebony pins. I switched those out for Tusq pins...again dramatic. More volume, dynamics and resonance, for sure. I'm also using Tusq pins in a 2004 straight-braced D-18 with similar results.

I think pins make a difference, but it sometimes depends on the guitar.

Bill

 

[superpete]

i've swapped plastic for ebony and noticed a difference for the better

 

[solspirit]

The guitar in question for me is an Ibanez Artwood AW-70
Ibanez says they have some unique material but this is an older guitar so I doubt it even has it.
Same with the saddle & nut. WHAT SHOULD I DO. hahaha. It sounds great but but but... I really think it could sound better somehow. You know how we are, I know I can make you sound a little sweeter.