Re: Lets talk Acoustic bridge end Pins
Since I sorta need to grab a set of bridge pins for one of my rides... is there any significant difference in tone between materials? Assuming a decent guitar here... solid wood, mid-line Alvarez.
I've heard people say they make no difference since a properly installed string should stay in place w/o a pin holding it. Not sure I buy that... The stock pins are, I think mahogany? Regardless they're worn out & splitting where the slots are... strings slip out so I dropped a set of plastic ones on there since I had 'em in the parts drawer. Does the job.
I'm wondering though if its worth going to say, brass, bone or ebony & if that would make any sort of difference in volume & projection.
Stock pins are probably snakewood.
A lot of folks note a huge change of tone with brass or other metallic bridge pins. An increase in volume by a good amount, as well as more top end. Whether that's good or bad is up to you.
Bone or ivory will get you closer, with an increase in volume (when using bone pins on a solid topped instrument, you will at least note the volume change), with more top end sparkle and tighter mids (IMHO). They're the closest natural material used for bridge pins to brass, so you can expect similar results, just not to such an extreme.
Ebony, while an extremely hard wood, is softer than the stock plastic pins. You will note a much "smoother" sound all around. Highs will sounds more even, and everything will blend very well across the spectrum.
On my strumming guitars, I prefer bone. I like that little extra edge it gives, especially for the type of music I beat out.
On my finger pickers, I use ebony on the 3 treble strings and bone on the 3 bass strings. I find that it helps even things out when it's quiet and it's only flesh and steel.
Now, time for my PSA and disclaimer:
Acoustic instruments are very finicky creatures. While some generalizations can be made using the woods and body shape as to how an instrument will sound, it's actually the things we can't see that have the largest effect on tone. Bracing patterns, shapes, and bridge plates play the largest roll in the voice of an acoustic tone. So, if you don't like the tone you have now, a bone nut, saddle, bridge pins, and banging the **** out of it to "open it up" will not make it better.
Please keep this in mind when purchasing anything for an acoustic instrument, and allow your ears to be the guide. Solid guitars can sound like crap, and I've came upon laminates that sang. Even with laminates, bracing has the largest effect on tone.
If interested in learning more, I suggest the Acoustic Guitar Forum (I spend PLENTY of time over there) or The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (great for Martin questions, but other brands the info is few and far between).
This has been brought to you by the letter L, for logic. Let it be your guide.
