Do you think bridge pins change tone?

[Pheof]

I just changed out the obligatory stock white pegs with black dots in favor of some Martin genuine Ebony pegs with Abalone dot inlays. Now my guitar seems to sound warmer and slightly less bright.

Does this make any sense, or is it a pigment of my imagication?

[HHP]

Pins may make a small difference, not much. Your new ones may just fit better than the old.

[stepchildusmc]

......nope.

Bridge pins make a noticeable, and IMO significant difference. Not of the same magnitude as strings or saddle material, but significant nonetheless.

[Kip Carter]

Wow this was helpful! Might make a small difference....Nope not any difference at all.... Huge baby, Huge!

Be fun to watch how this shakes out.

[Dreadfulnaught]

I think that they change tone if your previous pins were not well fit or if strings were not slotted well before the pin change. You may now be hearing the real tone of your guitar.

[ukejon]

The correct answer is yes....no....and maybe.

[GuitarLight]

Originally Posted by Pheof

I just changed out the obligatory stock white pegs with black dots in favor of some Martin genuine Ebony pegs with Abalone dot inlays. Now my guitar seems to sound warmer and slightly less bright.

Does this make any sense, or is it a pigment of my imagication?

It makes great sense. Ebony pins make a difference for me..not huge...but a difference in many of my guitars....most recently a new Gibson hummingbird...dumped the cheap white plastic pins and used Ebony. Warmed it up a bit, tamed some of the brashness that Tusq saddles can bring, and slightly seemed to increased volume and refine the sweet tone. It's a thing you REALLY need to listen carefully to, but it's definitely there...I will also say the ebony/abalone pins do look much richer on the bird! And that alone makes ebony pins worth the effort because they are cheap to buy and look great...and they are solid ebony WOOD! ...WOOD! ...Now, I like that!

[fazool]

yep. Absolutely.

Mechanically and mathematically they must obey the laws of physics.

The real question is whether you can notice the difference.

And the answer to that:


it depends

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by fazool

it depends

This. /thread

[cke]

Many have noted that ebony pins make for a slightly darker/warmer tone. Bone ivory etc. make tone comparatively a bit brighter than ebony. At best it's a tweak, and many don't hear much difference.

I think the difference can be heard, but once the music starts, it's not significant, and not discernible to the audience.

Get pins the same way you buy jewelry for your wife - for the appearance. If there is a pay off, it's a private experience

[brucefulton]

If it could be established that one kind of bridge pin made all guitars sound better, wouldn't it stand to reason that all guitar makers would use them?

Your question sounds reasonable, and many people have asked it, but given the millions of guitars that have been made over a few centuries, the fact that guitar makers still use a variety of materials is evidence that the OP question is probably nothing that can be definitively answered.

Buy them for looks, or buy them for tradition. There is no evidence-based method for selecting, otherwise. If you don't like the sound, try something else.

[brencat]

Originally Posted by cke

Get pins the same way you buy jewelry for your wife - for the appearance. If there is a pay off, it's a private experience

Classic!

But back to the question, yes, I most certainly have noticed a tonal improvement both times I've done it.

[ahorsewithnonam]

....only if you think they do.....

[Oldguy64]

I have been using a set of brass pins in my old 5013 for years.
They didn't alter tone, but they have given me the ability to play with lighter gauge strings with out losing volume.