Generally I like wood. The ebony pins on most of my guitars look and feel good, though on one they're pretty chewed up after a zillion string changes but they work as good as new anyway. I personally think the pins should be in good enough shape to do their job and that material is pretty subjective. I DO hear a brightening with brass on some guitars and agree that its not necessarily desirable, but beauty is in the ears (and mind) of the beholder, don't you think?

Plastic on a good guitar is kinda like naugahide seats in a Rolls, and ivory pins on a cheap plywood guit-box is a bit like a white wedding for a two bit whore. Either way the vibe is distorted. Vibe that is. Tone, well...prove it to yourself and be happy. Some of the wood choices are nice options, but much like the options I face when staring into my underwear drawer every morning (I did say EVERY morning).

So much sound depends more on technique, strings, atmosphere, inspiration and the rest of the guitar's construction that pins are a very minor consideration. However, as much thought is put into every aspect of the guitar's construction by builders through the ages that it's kinda silly to go cheap on the pins on a good axe, and on a lesser axe pins might just be a minor route to improvement, but nut, saddle, strings, set-up, etc come first.

Let's debate the relative merits of types of bone next, okay?

Peace, Mooh.