Do you believe that changing bridge pins can affect tone?

[mikedanton]

If so (or not) what has been your experience?

[mutley2209]

a Fender GDO-300 i'm borrowing off my brother really needs new bridge pins, plastic is horrible imho for bridge pins, changing them to wood or bone would do it a world of good. But using this as an example if he were to put wooden bridge pins on it wouldn't have the desired effect if the nut & saddle weren't upgraded to bone from plastic, and the tuners replaced. So yes upgrading the bridge pins will improve tone but only if the rest of the guitar is set up right otherwise you won't feel/hear the benefits as you should

[Matt Mustapick]

This is an easy theory to test. Have someone replace one of the pins, then hand you the guitar, and see if you guess without looking which pin has been replaced.

No.

[cke]

Originally Posted by Matt Mustapick

This is an easy theory to test. Have someone replace one of the pins, then hand you the guitar, and see if you guess without looking which pin has been replaced.

No.

ooooh! cleaver!

There is a saying in the High End Stereo world:"Everything has a sound." So there may be some people who can detect a difference. However, I don't find such a difference meaningful; i.e. it is a tweak at best, and most valuable for cosmetic rather than sonic reasons. Possible/likely exception would be brass pins. Personally I think if/when there is a discernible difference it is more due to the resonance of the pins rather than changing the mass of the bridge.

Could such "Golden Ears" reliably tell which is which in a blind test?

[Ed422]

I voted yes, but I'd throw in a qualifier. I think material is unimportant and that it is mass that makes the difference. If you can't hear the difference between a full set of plastic and a full set of brass, you aren't listening.

Ed

[Misty44]

There are too many people whose judgements I respect who can easily hear a difference that I've finally concluded that those who can hear a difference do, and that those who can't, can't.

Blindfolds and scientific testing machines and psycho-acoustic loopiness simply don't enter into this discussion, they are irrelevant. It's all in the ears, man, the ears know...

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by mikedanton

If so (or not) what has been your experience?

Hi mike...
I have changed the bridge pins on many guitars. Nobody has even noted changes visually (which should be obvious to all), much less audibly any sound improvements or declines.

I only changed them for cosmetic reasons and to upgrade the material from cheap plastic to better looking and more enduring ebony or bone or buffalo horn.

[Matt Mustapick]

Originally Posted by Ed422

I voted yes, but I'd throw in a qualifier. I think material is unimportant and that it is mass that makes the difference.

That's a fine point.

[HHP]

Maybe, but not much.

[ResoN]

Originally Posted by Ed422

I voted yes, but I'd throw in a qualifier. I think material is unimportant and that it is mass that makes the difference. If you can't hear the difference between a full set of plastic and a full set of brass, you aren't listening.

Ed

I agree. I tried brass and it definitely changed the sound, not for the better.

[jackcooper]

Originally Posted by ResoN

I agree. I tried brass and it definitely changed the sound, not for the better.

How did brass change the sound to your ears?

[gitnoob]

The bridge pin effect has been scientifically proven.

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=241387

[Judson]

Yes, but whether it is a positive or a negative impact is debatable, I think Martn plastic end pins give the optimum sound and that's why Martin puts the on their most popular models even though the cost of a higher-grade,"better" materials would not cost enough more to even be a consideration if ,.,., IF the exotic pin materials were actually better. I think exotic end pin material is largely a cosmetic issue with tonal differences in the ear and imagination of the listenter,

[alnico5]

My Taylor has no bridge pins. Will it sound better if I add some?

[ResoN]

Originally Posted by jackcooper

How did brass change the sound to your ears?

It was many years ago and I could not tell you how it sounded to my ears except that in my opinion it was detrimental to the sound. The only professional that I can recall who uses, or used brass pins is Martin Carthy. I think he used a few on his Martin guitar. He liked what it did for his guitar. I think he only used three.