Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 07 Apr 25 - 05:40 PM

Sticking this in here rather than a new thread.

Ordered a set of C.F.Martin ebony bridge pins for my D-18.
Didn't want to faff about with the order direct so found a UK retailer who'll do it. Quick too, only asked today and should get the pins this Thursday.

Cheers
Fred

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: GUEST,Peter Cripps
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 12:04 PM

I used to think that bridge pins could not possibly alter the tone, until I put brass pins on my tenor guitar (Lark in the Morning) - definitely made a difference! Much more mellow sound

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 12:35 PM

PC,

Brass will make a noticeable difference in tone.

Other materials do (at least to me) but it's much more subtle,

Fred

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 01:28 PM

It’s all down to inertia! Adding weight to the bridge (e.g. brass rather than plastic pins) slightly changes the way/the extent which the bridge moves the guitar top. I doubt it matters what the pins are actually made of or, for that matter, whether the weight is actually in the form of bridge pins. It’s just that changing the bridge pins is probably the most elegant solution.

A luthier friend of mine once gave me a set to replace the mass lost when he had shaved the top of the bridge down. I never used them but he used them all the time on the guitars he built.

I recall that, back in the 70s, Frets magazine did a series of experiments hoping to draw some conclusions on the then current fad of fitting brass nuts. They eventually decided that it was all down to weight. Add weight to the end of a guitar neck and it increases sustain but you needn’t bother with the luthiery; simply adding a G-Clamp to the head would have the same effect.

None of this can be said to actually “improve” the sound of a guitar, all it does is change it and it’s all down to personal preference.

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 01:31 PM

Now that is interesting!

It looks like I expressed this opinion before - 12 years ago!

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 02:30 PM

If I compare plastic, ebony, bone and Tusq, I can hear differences in tone. No so-called "Choir of angels", but I hear it.

However, saying that, I buy bridge pins I like the look of because the tonal difference (even to MY sensitive ears) is small, apart from brass.

Cheers
Fred

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: gillymor
Date: 08 Apr 25 - 03:13 PM

I remember my brother and I putting a C clamp on the headstock   of our gits way back when, he on his D-28 and me on my D-18, and there was a noticeable increase in sustain, we took it off and forgot about it. We must have heard about it from that Frets article.
I've always changed out plastic for bone or ebony pins but I can't say I ever noticed a difference.

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 10 Apr 25 - 08:38 AM

Update over the Martin ebony bridge pins I ordered. I was told they would come from the C.F.Martin factory. Got SOME ebony pins but they're not from the Martin factor

Nice one, Apollo Music, I'm not daft ya know!

Fred

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 10 Apr 25 - 10:19 AM

Well, I've got to eat humble pie. They're good, ebony bridge pins. Great fit with no work needed. Nice, bassy response when strummed or picked.

That'll learn me!

Fred

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Apr 25 - 12:36 PM

I can’t imagine Martin manufacturing bridge pins any more than makeing their own tuners. They’re more than likely to buy them in; probably from China but maybe not for much longer!

Subject: RE: Tech: Replacing plastic bridge pins?
From: Fred
Date: 10 Apr 25 - 02:06 PM

Ray,

I think you're about right - on BOTH counts :)

Fred