https://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_an...MI9p-5hrH66AIVFbDsCh1abg4nEAEYASADEgLjnfD_BwE
Saw these and got curious. Anyone have and use these?
Saw these and got curious. Anyone have and use these?
StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
- Thread starter B2D
- Start date
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
I've seen them before. Not sure what problem they're supposed to solve though . . . the only advantage from the design is that you don't have to push the pins out to change strings. Other than that, all I can see are negatives. They put slight additional rotational torque on the guitar and slightly reduce break angle over the bridge. They add mass to an area that it isn't beneficial to add mass to, and they're pretty pricey.
I've seen them before. Not sure what problem they're supposed to solve though . . . the only advantage from the design is that you don't have to push the pins out to change strings. Other than that, all I can see are negatives. They put slight additional rotational torque on the guitar and slightly reduce break angle over the bridge. They add mass to an area that it isn't beneficial to add mass to, and they're pretty pricey.
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
I always thought heavier bridge pins were counter-productive to what you'd want on the top of an acoustic guitar. Come to think of it, why do you even need bridge pins these days? My Adamas doesn't use them. It seems like a better design.
I always thought heavier bridge pins were counter-productive to what you'd want on the top of an acoustic guitar. Come to think of it, why do you even need bridge pins these days? My Adamas doesn't use them. It seems like a better design.
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
Frank Falbo's Bridge design doesn't use pins, but the entire bridge it built that way from the start. I can verify first-hand the benefits and strengths of that design.
I was looking at this just as an option... I recently replaced the pins on my Taylor and I had to go through a few sets before I found pins that were tight enough.
Frank Falbo's Bridge design doesn't use pins, but the entire bridge it built that way from the start. I can verify first-hand the benefits and strengths of that design.
I was looking at this just as an option... I recently replaced the pins on my Taylor and I had to go through a few sets before I found pins that were tight enough.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
The other issue with the Power Pins is that luthiers like Jerry Rose feel that they will pull the bridge loose eventually.
In a normal guitar with bridge pins the ball of the string is inside the guitar against the bridge plate which is inside the guitar.
With the Power Pins the ball is on top and on the backside of the bridge and pulling forward.
That's how you remove a loose bridge. You start at the back and pry it up.
Jerry feels that's what the Power Pins will do too, over time.
Maybe he's right. Maybe he's wrong. But his argument against using them makes sense to me.
The other issue with the Power Pins is that luthiers like Jerry Rose feel that they will pull the bridge loose eventually.
In a normal guitar with bridge pins the ball of the string is inside the guitar against the bridge plate which is inside the guitar.
With the Power Pins the ball is on top and on the backside of the bridge and pulling forward.
That's how you remove a loose bridge. You start at the back and pry it up.
Jerry feels that's what the Power Pins will do too, over time.
Maybe he's right. Maybe he's wrong. But his argument against using them makes sense to me.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
Frank's pretty smart and I'm sure he knows what he's doing.
Classical guitars use nylon strings and don't have much tension and as we know, the strings are tied to the top of the bridge and don't use bridge pins.
Steel string acoustic guitars have much more tension and builders like C.F. Martin learned a century ago that tying steel strings to the back edge of the top of the bridge causes the bridge to lift loose eventually.
With bridge pins the strings are actually attached to the bridge plate inside the guitar and under the bridge. Not to the bridge itself.
They pass through the bridge, yes, but the ball is against the bridge plate inside the guitar on a Martin type guitar. So really, it's "attached" to the inside of the top...not the bridge.
Frank's pretty smart and I'm sure he knows what he's doing.
Classical guitars use nylon strings and don't have much tension and as we know, the strings are tied to the top of the bridge and don't use bridge pins.
Steel string acoustic guitars have much more tension and builders like C.F. Martin learned a century ago that tying steel strings to the back edge of the top of the bridge causes the bridge to lift loose eventually.
With bridge pins the strings are actually attached to the bridge plate inside the guitar and under the bridge. Not to the bridge itself.
They pass through the bridge, yes, but the ball is against the bridge plate inside the guitar on a Martin type guitar. So really, it's "attached" to the inside of the top...not the bridge.
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Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
I get it, but I am surprised Frank (and Ovation, who uses pinless bridges) are among the few that have eliminated the pins. While they work, it is a pretty silly 19th century idea that has only stuck around because of tradition, I think.
I get it, but I am surprised Frank (and Ovation, who uses pinless bridges) are among the few that have eliminated the pins. While they work, it is a pretty silly 19th century idea that has only stuck around because of tradition, I think.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
If you are looking for bridge pins, I'd suggest Tusq, bone or the Liquidmetal pins from Martin. You want light weight, and density. Avoid materials like brass pins as they are too heavy and dampen the top. I personally would not use the Power Pins for many of the reasons others have stated.
Fossilized Walrus Ivory or Jawbone, or Mammoth Ivory are good, but I did not hear a huge difference between those and bone and they are much more expensive. Bison horn is often used on guitars like D-18s that use black pins, with similar results to bone. I'm using Tusq pins in a couple of my guitars, and bone pins from Maury's Music in several of my Martins. I do hear a difference, and to my ear an improvement. Tusq pins were a huge improvement over the stock ebony pins in my 2002 Taylor 710CE.
And many people don't know this but there are many shapes and sizes of pins. Some have collars, some have a string groove and others don't. (These are good for ramped bridges.) Different MFGs. use different sizes. Maury's site has helpful info for you.
Good luck.
Bill
If you are looking for bridge pins, I'd suggest Tusq, bone or the Liquidmetal pins from Martin. You want light weight, and density. Avoid materials like brass pins as they are too heavy and dampen the top. I personally would not use the Power Pins for many of the reasons others have stated.
Fossilized Walrus Ivory or Jawbone, or Mammoth Ivory are good, but I did not hear a huge difference between those and bone and they are much more expensive. Bison horn is often used on guitars like D-18s that use black pins, with similar results to bone. I'm using Tusq pins in a couple of my guitars, and bone pins from Maury's Music in several of my Martins. I do hear a difference, and to my ear an improvement. Tusq pins were a huge improvement over the stock ebony pins in my 2002 Taylor 710CE.
And many people don't know this but there are many shapes and sizes of pins. Some have collars, some have a string groove and others don't. (These are good for ramped bridges.) Different MFGs. use different sizes. Maury's site has helpful info for you.
Good luck.
Bill
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
- Yeah, it's really hard to change strings on acoustics?
It's even easier than stringthrough body and stop tail tuneomatic where you have to either cut string or drag it full length through to get old ones out.
I think standard pins are really good invention.
And as it looked there is a plate where I glue kksound pure mini usually, right where standard pins comes through underneath.
Wood vibrating, who wants to replace that.....it's going direct to mikes....
- Yeah, it's really hard to change strings on acoustics?
It's even easier than stringthrough body and stop tail tuneomatic where you have to either cut string or drag it full length through to get old ones out.
I think standard pins are really good invention.
And as it looked there is a plate where I glue kksound pure mini usually, right where standard pins comes through underneath.
Wood vibrating, who wants to replace that.....it's going direct to mikes....
Lewguitar
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
I get my nuts and bridge saddles from Don Colosi. www.guitarsaddles.com/
Pins too. I like the Mammoth and Walrus Ivory pins with the Abalone inlay.
My Taylors came with Tusq nuts and saddles but I replaced the plastic pins with fossilized Ivory.
Tusq is hard but seems softer than bone or ivory. It still sounds very good to me though.
I think bone and ivory give a more brilliant and louder tone, but they all sound good.
Jerry Rosa uses Elk Antler for his bridge saddles.
His repair videos are very informative and entertaining. Check out Rosa Stringworks on YouTube.
I get my nuts and bridge saddles from Don Colosi. www.guitarsaddles.com/
Pins too. I like the Mammoth and Walrus Ivory pins with the Abalone inlay.
My Taylors came with Tusq nuts and saddles but I replaced the plastic pins with fossilized Ivory.
Tusq is hard but seems softer than bone or ivory. It still sounds very good to me though.
I think bone and ivory give a more brilliant and louder tone, but they all sound good.
Jerry Rosa uses Elk Antler for his bridge saddles.
His repair videos are very informative and entertaining. Check out Rosa Stringworks on YouTube.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
Check out this video where Jerry installs and reviews the Power Pins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IayTsxhsFzo
Check out this video where Jerry installs and reviews the Power Pins. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IayTsxhsFzo
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
Thanks for the tips, guys.
I switched my Taylor over to Ebony pins with a little brass and MoP inlay a while ago, but they're just a teeeeny bit looser than I would like so I have to make sure they get seated properly when changing strings. They're the best I've found for looks & tone and they're made locally.
Plastic pins are a no-go for me. They don't sound great and I find them to be not quite durable enough.
Thanks for the tips, guys.
I switched my Taylor over to Ebony pins with a little brass and MoP inlay a while ago, but they're just a teeeeny bit looser than I would like so I have to make sure they get seated properly when changing strings. They're the best I've found for looks & tone and they're made locally.
Plastic pins are a no-go for me. They don't sound great and I find them to be not quite durable enough.
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
I don't know about other companies, but I'd consider Martin's plastic pins VERY durable. A few friends have Martins from the early '50s and '60s...still with original pins and going strong, as is my '75 D-28. They've yellowed nicely and have some marks from the ball ends...but I consider 45 to 70 years of use to be VERY durable.
In contrast, one guy I know has chewed up ebony pins several times from ball ends, and even had them break.
I'll add one more comment about brass pins. Early last year I saw a Craigslist ad for a Martin D-45V. Beautiful guitar, so I called and took a four-hour road trip to check it out. The owner made the comment that he was disappointed in the guitar; it had never met his expectations, and he was going to buy something else.
I saw right away he had the D'Andrea brass/abalone bridge pins in it, which he told me he'd put in the day he bought the guitar. He thought they were wonderful pins. They are very pretty. But because of his earlier comments about the guitar I was about able to negotiate a couple of hundred off, so I got a VERY good deal on it.
I played the guitar for a few days, and decided to change the strings and put in a set of Martin plastic pins that I had. I'd noticed when I bought it that the guitar felt tight and constricted, and maybe he hadn't played it much...idk. As soon as I got the plastic pins in, I could feel it come alive. It was like taking a blanket off a speaker cab. The top now vibrated freely.
The sheer weight of those brass pins had killed the tone. With the plastic pins, and now with bone pins, the guitar is lively, dynamic and resonant. And LOUD! Built on the same chassis as the HD-28Vs I have, it's one of the few guitars I have that I can't out-sing. I love the abalone bling, especially the delicate snowflakes on the fretboard. I've always wanted a D-45, and I got a good one. Glad I took that drive.
Pins aren't a huge investment, but they can offer a nuanced change in tone and feel. I like what I've heard from bone and Tusq, but someone wanting a mellower tone might prefer boxwood, rosewood or ebony. I do have one guitar that bone pins haven't made much difference in. And some of my guitars will stay with plastic pins...well...because.
I always tell players to "...enjoy the journey." The tone quest is different for everyone, and I'm fortunate to have discovered (sometimes the hard way!) the things that work for me and define me. As always, YMMV.
Good luck!
Bill
I don't know about other companies, but I'd consider Martin's plastic pins VERY durable. A few friends have Martins from the early '50s and '60s...still with original pins and going strong, as is my '75 D-28. They've yellowed nicely and have some marks from the ball ends...but I consider 45 to 70 years of use to be VERY durable.
In contrast, one guy I know has chewed up ebony pins several times from ball ends, and even had them break.
I'll add one more comment about brass pins. Early last year I saw a Craigslist ad for a Martin D-45V. Beautiful guitar, so I called and took a four-hour road trip to check it out. The owner made the comment that he was disappointed in the guitar; it had never met his expectations, and he was going to buy something else.
I saw right away he had the D'Andrea brass/abalone bridge pins in it, which he told me he'd put in the day he bought the guitar. He thought they were wonderful pins. They are very pretty. But because of his earlier comments about the guitar I was about able to negotiate a couple of hundred off, so I got a VERY good deal on it.
I played the guitar for a few days, and decided to change the strings and put in a set of Martin plastic pins that I had. I'd noticed when I bought it that the guitar felt tight and constricted, and maybe he hadn't played it much...idk. As soon as I got the plastic pins in, I could feel it come alive. It was like taking a blanket off a speaker cab. The top now vibrated freely.
The sheer weight of those brass pins had killed the tone. With the plastic pins, and now with bone pins, the guitar is lively, dynamic and resonant. And LOUD! Built on the same chassis as the HD-28Vs I have, it's one of the few guitars I have that I can't out-sing. I love the abalone bling, especially the delicate snowflakes on the fretboard. I've always wanted a D-45, and I got a good one. Glad I took that drive.
Pins aren't a huge investment, but they can offer a nuanced change in tone and feel. I like what I've heard from bone and Tusq, but someone wanting a mellower tone might prefer boxwood, rosewood or ebony. I do have one guitar that bone pins haven't made much difference in. And some of my guitars will stay with plastic pins...well...because.
I always tell players to "...enjoy the journey." The tone quest is different for everyone, and I'm fortunate to have discovered (sometimes the hard way!) the things that work for me and define me. As always, YMMV.
Good luck!
Bill
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: StewMac Power Pins for Acoustic; anyone tried these?
The reviews at StewMac seem favorable. Tone wise probably the same as a brass saddle, which is something people did once.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The reviews at StewMac seem favorable. Tone wise probably the same as a brass saddle, which is something people did once.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk