Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins

Subject: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 06 Feb 25 - 10:28 AM

Bought two weeks ago, the bone look ones.
I don't want you to think of these as lightweight, they're not. They're considerably heavier than bone, almost same weight as brass bridge pins.
I've noticed a little more volume and a little extra sustain, but is that worth 169 bucks cost?
They won't wear, so there's that too.
Cheers guys
Fred :)

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 06 Feb 25 - 11:20 AM

Just to add that you can get them in 2C or 2A , the latter will sit higher.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 06 Feb 25 - 12:36 PM

So what do they do to the sound? A friend said they make his Atkin sound more expensive. I don't know about that but on this D-18 I get a nice, full and clear tone using bone or ebony. If I put in the liquid metal, then to my ears they take the edge off, sort of leaning towards mellow.

Hope this has been helpful.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 06 Feb 25 - 05:09 PM

My D18 came (from new) with genuine plastic. Heavier bridge pins - e.g. brass - can be used to restore the top end you’re likely to loose by shaving the bridge down to improve the action. (The bridge, not the saddle.)

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: gillymor
Date: 06 Feb 25 - 06:22 PM

Yep, when my old D-18 was gone over (neck reset,scalloped braces and a new bridge, the old one had been cut down) it was noticeably brighter sounding, in fact the whole tonal spectrum seems to have broadened.

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 07 Feb 25 - 05:02 AM

My D-18 Standard also came with plastic bridge pins (black, no inlay); in fact, most Martin players I bump into seem to stick with plastic or they use that other old favourite, ebony. I've not met one yet who uses liquid metal.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 07 Feb 25 - 08:02 AM

Amongst the first things I do when I receive a new Martin - I’ve owned five, a D-35, J-40, OM-28 Marquis, HD-28V, and a D-18 - is dump the POS soft plastic pins that all but the OM-28 Marquis were fitted with, ream and slot the bridge-pin holes and install solid, un-slotted pins (either ebony or Antique Acoustics galalith a.k.a. ‘hard plastic’). I do this to protect and extend the life of the bridge-plate, and achieve improved tuning stability.

I have never experienced any tonal change from replacing bridge-pins, whatever material(s) have been involved, and I’m convinced that there’s a great deal of confirmation-bias involved when others claim to have achieved an almost-miraculous transformation in their guitar’s tone, and wax lyrical about ‘choirs of angels’ and such nonsense.

I currently have ebony pins in the D-18 and Antique Acoustics in the HD-28V, which are my two remaining Martins, and I have no plans to change - if I did, it would definitely not be to ‘liquid metal’ pins. Over-hyped and over-priced AFAIC.

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and that’s fine by me.

Subject: RE: Martin Liquid Metal Bridge Pins
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 07 Feb 25 - 09:41 AM

Backwoodsman, that's interesting. I do hear a difference between bridge pins materials, or I'm convinced I do :)
That aside, I'm with you over liquid metal. I think they're an over-expensive product that you don't frankly need and I returned the set I bought.

Fred