Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: je00143 on October 30, 2014, 05:35:23 PM

Title: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: je00143 on October 30, 2014, 05:35:23 PM: Just saw an blurb for Power Pins on Facebook by Guitar World. Has anybody tried these yet? Are you happy with the results?

Thank you!
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: CodeBlueEMT on October 31, 2014, 01:58:22 AM: "As Seen on TV" type marketing scares me. I would never install a contraption like that on any of my guitars. They also marketing a state of the art bridge pin puller that won't work with their own power pins. My state of the art bridge pin puller: side cutters. :)
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: tenoratlarge on October 31, 2014, 02:51:51 PM: I ran a Google search on them, and one of the first few sites that came up was Costco... so take that for what you will.
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: Roman on October 31, 2014, 05:03:14 PM: Check 'em out here:

http://www.guitarworld.com/gear-review-power-pins-bridge-pins-acoustic-guitars

Might be worth a try.
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: Edward on October 31, 2014, 08:02:24 PM: I love Costco!
...but this looks like snake oil, albeit shiny!
Sorry, but I don't buy the claims: "greater string contact" and "stability" just doesn't seem logical to my pea brain. And the last time my bridge pins wore enough to "cause tuning issues" was ...um...when??
lol :D

Edward
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: CodeBlueEMT on November 01, 2014, 01:07:46 AM: My solution for cheap plastic bridge pins is to replace them with ebony bridge pins. Problem solved. :)
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: michaelw on November 01, 2014, 11:01:30 PM: Quote from: CodeBlueEMT on November 01, 2014, 01:07:46 AM
My solution for cheap plastic bridge pins is to replace them with ebony bridge pins. Problem solved. :)
+1

costco used to sell Taylors & martins, but so did best buy (along with gibson acoustics made in the old garrison factory)

personally, i don't see the point in converting a pin bridge to a pseudo pinless style -
the added mass, the change in break angle & bridge pull, a greater
possibility of inadvertently dinging/marking the top with the ball ends &
i doubt there'd be adequate room for the system to work on a 12 string

also, the method that secures them to the bridge plate could void the manufacturer's warranty on a new guitar,
there may be clearance problems with a SBT pickup, like a k&k/jjb 330, lr baggs iBeam or ES2, which already
has a bridge plate string ground, as does ES1.3, which wouldn't need more metal bolted onto it, imho ... i'll pass

here are some AST titanium pins, FMI (both hi $) & ebony
http://www.advancedshelltech.com/Products/Bridge%20Pins/BridgePins-pricing.html (http://www.advancedshelltech.com/Products/Bridge%20Pins/BridgePins-pricing.html)
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: lmacmil on November 02, 2014, 11:52:55 AM: IMO, the tonal effect of bridge pins ranges from non-existent to imperceptible. I agree with whoever called them "snake oil." But hey, it's your money to spend as you please!
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: michaelw on November 03, 2014, 01:20:19 AM: i have Tusq bridge pins on an engelmann top 614ce & they've added a perceptible (audible) amount of clarity & definition, to my ear
http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/tusq/product-detail/pp-2000-00-tusq-presentation-style-bridge-pins-black-with-paua-shell-inlay?id=68814ccc-c9dc-4320-8c89-f0a4e1771ded (http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/tusq/product-detail/pp-2000-00-tusq-presentation-style-bridge-pins-black-with-paua-shell-inlay?id=68814ccc-c9dc-4320-8c89-f0a4e1771ded)

i tried brass bridge pins on a mahogany top 314mce & with the amount of mass on the bridge, they seemed to deaden the overall response
http://www.dandreausa.com/?site_id=1721&item_id=183015 (http://www.dandreausa.com/?site_id=1721&item_id=183015)

john pearse faux tortoise casein pins made an aesthetic difference, but seemingly not much else
http://www.jpstrings.com/brbpins.htm#tortpins (http://www.jpstrings.com/brbpins.htm#tortpins)

i end up replacing plastic pins with ebony (usually with an ab dot) because for me the plastic pins don't want to seat correctly,
or be removed, as easily as wood pins, but when i've changed a plastic saddle to a harder material, such as Tusq, the change
in tone is not always what i would consider an 'improvement' (yamaha fg720s & fs720s prefer the standard plastic saddle) &
bone is not always what its cracked up to be, as i've had some better results with Tusq (maple 414mace with mahogany neck)

ymmv
Title: Re: "Power Pins" - Anybody used them?
Post by: ronmcc4 on November 08, 2014, 01:35:09 PM: I choose pins mainly for looks (except for plastic ones). I haven't been able to tell much, if any, difference in tone from the pins. The saddle is a different matter but the pins really didn't do much to my ear.