Do Bridge Pins Make A Difference

[DanPanther]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi harry b...

If you like your guitar the way it sounds, you don't need to change them. If you don't like the way your guitar sounds, pins won't likely fix it.

Asking if pins change sound is like asking if pick guards change sound. The answer is sometimes...and for lots of reasons.

• Improper fitted pins sound better when changed for properly fitted ones
• Brass, Titanium or Lead pins all add quite a bit more weight to the bridge than it was designed for, and will probably change some characteristic component of the sound; not always a good thing...but sometimes just fine
• Swapping cheap plastic pins for organic, non-man made pins may not sound any better, but it will likely look better, and will certainly last better
• Wood, metal, and bone pins won't melt if you forget and leave your guitar in the car on a sunny afternoon and heat it to extremes. Of course the bridge may pop off...

I love it.
Dan

[McCawber]

A good ear is both a blessing and a curse........................come to think of it,a bad ear is also a blessing and a curse.........

I think I may have one of each . . . .

[lt131]

Originally Posted by TNO

"I put camel bone pins on my Tacoma Baritone"

I dunno, I've heard camel bone gives a distinct mid hump.

they will scoop your mids.

[el_kabong]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Many people are sure there will be no difference when bridge pins are changed. I would not be surprised if the results vary from one guitar to the next, maybe from one person to the next.

I've only changed pins on one of my guitars, my 1967 Martin D-35. This is a guitar I have owned and played for more than 4 decades so I know it very well. I bought a new set of pins for the D-35 and it ended up too bright, so I pulled out the old original plastic pins from 1967 and they mellowed the sound of the guitar considerably. The strings were not changed. In fact, I changed out 3 difference sets of pins after this as an experiment. Two sets were overly bright, the old plastic pins were more mellow and that's what's back in the guitar now.

I'm a design engineer with 43 years of experience, so I am used to being honest with myself about what is true and factual and what is not. Of course, maybe I am kidding myself here on the pins for my D-35.

- Glenn

Hey Glenn:

Care to share which pins seemed to add brightness...since the OP may be looking for that effect (as I have with my own HD28)...oh, and to save us the trouble of paging through the hundreds of prior threads on the subject, of course

[el_kabong]

Originally Posted by bandit59

For a brighter sound use Taylor pins. You'll find them attached to a Taylor guitar.

Now that's funny

[weisser]

Originally Posted by buddyhu

I put camel bone pins on my Tacoma Baritone. Got better note to note separation and clarity, primarily on lower strings. A bit more sustain too. Did not appreciably change tone or volume. In the case of the baritone, definitely worthwhile but not a profound difference.

I'll bet your Tacoma can go a long way without humidification ....an extra added bonus....

But seriously ....I changed out the plastic pins on my Martin 00-18V for bone pins and I can hear a slight improvement in sustain and seperation. An inexpensive and worthwhile upgrade.

[el_kabong]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Hey, Samson, I just got a text from your significant other Delilah. She told me to tell you:

1.) Turn your amp down;

and

2.) You're due for a haircut.


Wade Hampton "I Can Hear Those Clippers Hummin'...." Miller

Originally Posted by TNO

"I put camel bone pins on my Tacoma Baritone"

I dunno, I've heard camel bone gives a distinct mid hump.

You guys are in good form tonight

[pete12string]

Originally Posted by rkl245

I got some pins made from the jawbone of a donkey and when I hit the first chord I slew 40 Philistines.

This HAS to be the best response! I laughed out loud when I read this one!!!

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by el_kabong

Hey Glenn:

Care to share which pins seemed to add brightness...since the OP may be looking for that effect (as I have with my own HD28)...oh, and to save us the trouble of paging through the hundreds of prior threads on the subject, of course

Hi Scott,

I tried a set of Tusq pins and I tried a set of Martin replacement plastic pins from Elderly. Both sounded about the same -- bright. And bright was not what I wanted on my D-35, because it's already too bright. The only ones that sounded different, less bright, were the original Martin pins from way back in 1967. They were pretty deformed from years of use but they still worked. My wife was with me in the kitchen when I was experimenting and her reaction to the changes in sound were right in line with mine.

I did not have the opportunity to try any donkey bone pins. Who knows?

- Glenn

[harryboss1]

Originally Posted by rkl245

I got some pins made from the jawbone of a donkey and when I hit the first chord I slew 40 Philistines.

This really made me laugh. :

[steveyam]

From the very first time that I changed the bridge pins on a saddle there was a noticeable difference in tone. Changing pins can affect the total mass of the bridge and as a result, the tone also - that's an undeniable fact of guitar construction, the mass etc of the bridge. Not to mention the effects of the type of the material upon other aspects eg resonant frequency, peaks, troughs etc.

Conversely I have found that changing the nut makes no real audible difference. After all, why would it, given that it only affects open strings anyway. And again, changing the saddle to another material - unless it was really crap to start off with - has made little or no difference. Although in theory it could (as per bridge pins), I have always found that it does not have any effect worth bothering/worrying about.

I must admit, it makes me laugh how the opinion of people who make money out these things is often a big sway in people's views on here. Like, "so-and-so says this.." (so it's gotta be true, yer). You could argue that because it's their business they know what they're talking about, equally you could argue that they have a vested interest in selling the items they sell (naturally!).

Not too long ago a guy posted sound plots emanating from a guitar with different bridge pins fitted. The plots were different depending on the pin type used. So, case objectively proven.

[Thunder22]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Here are a few
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=136207
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=242525
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=194984
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=215264
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=234094

among a hundred or so prior threads.

Wow, how did you find those? Is there a search function on this site?

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Thunder22

Wow, how did you find those? Is there a search function on this site?

There are a hundred more. Look near the top of this page and two thirds to the right ("Search") - I suggest an advanced search, titles only. There is also a Google search box at the bottom of the page.

[leeasam]

yes they can but it is not extremely dramatic. I bought a set of ebony pins for my GS mini and it mellowed even the wound strings a bit too much for my taste. lost some pop. so I have the stock plastic pins in the wound strings and the ebony in the b and E and it balances better now. the unwound are not as bright/brittle sounding.

I did try bone pins once on a Taylor 814ce and went back to the stock ebony as the bone gave it a more artificial type tone where the ebony( same material as bridge) sounded more woody.

[00-28]

Sure the bridge pins make a difference. I won't say it's fact that there is a sonic difference, but many believe they can hear a difference. It doesn't matter if it's real or perceived, it's what makes you happy. I think on my D-12-20 the change from plastic pins to bone/abalone dot pins added a little clarity and sustain, maybe not. What is important is how much more I liked how they looked. Pins are kind of like guitar jewelry, it's fun to dress them up a bit. Make-up and high heels is going too far in my opinion but I'm sure there are those that have tried it. Here is my 00-28 with mammoth ivory/ black pearl dot pins. Don't know if it changed the sound, but they made a difference to me.


1966 D-12-20


Mike