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Old 09-16-2021, 02:58 PM
Wadcutter Wadcutter is offline
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Default Bridge Pins…Really Make A Difference?

Do you guys think end pin types REALLY make any difference in the tone of a guitar?
(Note: I edited the thread title from “end pins” to “bridge pins” which is what I really meant to say. Sorry bout that amigos)
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:03 PM
Big Band Guitar Big Band Guitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wadcutter View Post
Do you guys think end pin types REALLY make any difference in the tone of a guitar?
If you believe it will, then it will.
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:24 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Wadcutter, are you talking about the pins that hold the strings in place in the bridge or the pins that go into the end of the guitar, which some players hang a strap from? Technically, it’s the latter that are end pins, and they have no impact on the sound.

The pins in the bridge are the bridge pins, and they can have an impact on the sound. Whether it’s desirable to alter the sound with bridge pins is a matter of personal preference.


whm
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:31 PM
Wadcutter Wadcutter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
Wadcutter, are you talking about the pins that hold the strings in place in the bridge or the pins that go into the end of the guitar, which some players hang a strap from? Technically, it’s the latter that are end pins, and they have no impact on the sound.

The pins in the bridge are the bridge pins, and they can have an impact on the sound. Whether it’s desirable to alter the sound with bridge pins is a matter of personal preference.


whm
Sorry Wade, I meant the pins that hold the strings in. Didn’t make myself too clear there.
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:42 PM
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cliff_the_stiff cliff_the_stiff is offline
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Default Bridge pins

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Originally Posted by Wadcutter View Post
Do you guys think end pin types REALLY make any difference in the tone of a guitar?
Yes I do. I think the difference is subtle. I believe bone pins give me the best volume/ tone.
I find ebony pins to be pretty neutral and a good go-to particularly on bright guitars.
I don’t like plastic, and I have not tried the liquid metal pins because I don’t like how they look.
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:43 PM
Dustinfurlow Dustinfurlow is offline
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Absolutely. No question.
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:44 PM
coyote95667 coyote95667 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wadcutter View Post
Do you guys think end pin types REALLY make any difference in the tone of a guitar?
An end pin that you plug a quarter inch jack into will sound different when plugged into an amp, compared to an end pin that is just a solid piece of bone, ebony or plastic.

Bridge pins... bah it is a bunch of hooey - I'm all for dressing up guitars for aesthetics though. Actually I dipped some bright white bridge pins in coffee for two days, and they came out sounding darker but somehow more alert.... I swear to God.
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Old 09-16-2021, 03:49 PM
Arthur Slowhand Arthur Slowhand is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wadcutter View Post
Do you guys think end pin types REALLY make any difference in the tone of a guitar?
You have nearly 6,000 posts, so you're a regular - have you not read any of the dozens of posts on this subject? Sorry, but do we really need another thread about bridge pins?
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Old 09-16-2021, 04:02 PM
Italuke Italuke is offline
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Here's how I always think of these questions: there are many variables that contribute to an acoustic guitar's sound.

IF, and only if it could be scientifically proven that bridge pins make a difference, they are not in the top three, five, or more other variables on the list.

So worry about nos. 1 thru x first. Then if you're sure you've addressed all those, get the expensive bridge pins.
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Old 09-16-2021, 04:08 PM
BairdM3 BairdM3 is offline
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I had added Ryan Titanium bridge pins to a Goodall Grand Concert and it didn’t really change the tone (at least it didn’t seem to), but it definitely improved the sustain...
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Old 09-16-2021, 04:10 PM
D-utim D-utim is offline
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Old 09-16-2021, 04:27 PM
musicman1951 musicman1951 is offline
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Yes, everything makes a difference. But not the same difference on all guitars, some will have a tiny difference. Even on a guitar with a larger difference it will still be very subtle. And I'm assuming you have ears to hear the difference. If you're one of the players who think all guitars on videos sound the same, then no difference at all.
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Old 09-16-2021, 04:43 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musicman1951 View Post
Yes, everything makes a difference. But not the same difference on all guitars, some will have a tiny difference. Even on a guitar with a larger difference it will still be very subtle. And I'm assuming you have ears to hear the difference. If you're one of the players who think all guitars on videos sound the same, then no difference at all.
This is my experience too.
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Old 09-16-2021, 05:08 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Let me just put this put there.
Martin (and possibly Gibson -remember them?) supply their guitars with basic, plastic pins which do not add or distract from tonal quality.

Collings supply their standard models with ebony bridg pins ... in ebony bridges . which I see as neutral - why do they do this? because (I'd suggest) because Collings have worked very hard to build evenly balanced instruments and did not choose to effect the product by using pins (or anything else) od deiifering densities.

I own four Collings instruments. None of them still have the ebony pins.
Why? Because I like bone pins in an ebony bridge. i.e. looks.

However !!! Whilst I mostly buy locally supplied bone pins, I have two sets of Fossilised Walrus pins bought from Bob Colosi.
Frankly, they look like they've been made of bad teeth, but seem to look cool in my sunburst DS1ASB and my 0002h.

Funny thing ...I "perceived" a slightly purer treble tonality with, perhaps a little more sustain. this wasn't what I was seeking, as I was satisfied with the guitars from the outset, but I welcome it.

Conclusion - some (good) guitars "may" benefit, slightly, from a change of the dnsity of bridge pins, and many will not.

Change them if you fancy a different colour.
If you feel the need to improve the tone of your guitar ... consider changing the guitar ... not the pins.

It's late ... and so to bed.
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Old 09-16-2021, 05:13 PM
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I found that on my two smaller guitars, a 00 and a folk, that putting in brass bridge pins affected the tone. I hated the look of them after about a week and put them in my guitar stuff junk draw.

On my larger guitars its just what pins I like to look at. I prefer ebony with abalone dots.
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