Gold Power Pins Nick Dow

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 11:34 AM

Are you sure the buzz wasn't a ball-end rattling because it wasn't seated properly up to the bridge-plate? That's one of the most common causes of rattles and buzzes from the bridge-area. Removing the pins and re-seating the ball ends ( as you did by changing the pins) will cure it.

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: Musket
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 09:46 AM

A lot of snake oil indeed concerning pins.

However, Backwoodsman mentions adding mass to the bridge. There can be occasions when this helps. I have a guitar (Backwoodsman has heard me play it coincidentally) made by a local luthier that has a small light bridge made of lacewood to match the back and sides.

I had an annoying buzz which tightening the machine heads, dressing the zero fret, graphite in the nut channels etc just didn't cure. Last week I bought some brass pins as a bit of a last resort. I don't pretend to be an expert on guitars as such but my PhD in mechanical vibration does help the old thought process at times.

I seemed to be correct. The buzz on the top two strings has disappeared and recording a tune before and after and analysing the wave form afterwards (sad old Musket) I can say with confidence that the seeming increase in richness of tone as a bonus seems to be borne out.

Chuffed to bits!

The bridge pins are Pinz by name, bought from Strings Direct, about £24.

(I first bought some brass ones from Amazon for £2.95. Took three weeks from China and once I got them decided to buff off the awful gold paint. I felt and looked a right prat when it revealed monkey metal cheap steel!!!)

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: GUEST,#
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 09:35 AM

From a Gibson chat site.

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 09:08 AM

Stanron, are you suggesting that Nick's name has been hijacked?

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: Stanron
Date: 16 Apr 15 - 04:06 AM

Big Rock Power Pins appear to like to use forums like this to get free advertising. It won't be so obvious here because people can post as GUEST but as the thread slows down it will get revived again by the same interested parties.

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 03:08 PM

One of the guitar forums I lurk around on had quite a bit to say about them. The general feeling seemed to be that they are the guitar equivalent of snake-oil, and an answer to a non-existent problem.

My concern would be the mass they add to the bridge.

But, each to his own - give them a try and report back, please - enquiring minds need to know!

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: GUEST,#
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 02:55 PM

Here's a link to YouTube BRE Power Pins.

Thank you for bringing this up, Nick. I'd never heard of them before now.

Subject: RE: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 01:13 PM

Check them out on Big Rock Engineering and You tube

Subject: Review: Gold Power Pins Nick Dow
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 12:54 PM

I am just about to try a set of Power Pins on the bridge of one of my acoustics. Has anybody tried them out yet?