Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF

Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: MikeB on August 15, 2013, 04:34:25 PM

Title: Wood bridge pins
Post by: MikeB on August 15, 2013, 04:34:25 PM
Anyone substituted solid wood bridge pins for the factory ones?  I put some boxwood ones on my older Fender a/e, not sure it made much of a difference in the sound or not.  ::)   There are so many wood materials available, as well, from ebony to maple and rosewood.
Title: Re: Wood bridge pins
Post by: jerrytubes on August 15, 2013, 04:52:19 PM
From my past experience, bridge pins don't make a noticeable sound change.  I've gone from ebony to bone on my 314ce.  They look better, but...........

Title: Re: Wood bridge pins
Post by: Strumming Fool on August 15, 2013, 05:33:34 PM
I have experienced a difference in sound when I've gone from wood (ebony) to other materials (bone, water buffalo horn). It's subtle, but it's there. Both materials add a little bit of "jump out" presence, but the bone tends to "fatten" that presence a bit more.
Title: Re: Wood bridge pins
Post by: MexicoMike on August 15, 2013, 06:51:11 PM
I think there MIGHT have been a slight difference between the oem wood and bone pins on my 414CE but even if there is any real difference there, the way you pluck a string from note to note makes a much more noticeable sound quality difference.  If you use a pick, different thickness/material picks will make a much greater difference in guitar sound than anything you can change on the guitar - type/gauge of strings, saddle material, whatever.
Title: Re: Wood bridge pins
Post by: sandygerli on August 22, 2013, 08:36:52 PM
I have bought several sets of the Snakewood/Abalone bridge pins from StewMac, basically because I thought they looked very nice and sure beat the plastic junk on two of my guitars (not my Taylor). I can hear no difference at all, frankly, and they sure do look better! A nice way to spiff up most any guitar, seems to me.
Title: Re: Wood bridge pins
Post by: mikeguywest on August 28, 2013, 04:44:20 PM
I replace the plastic pins with ebony's on my mini not long after buying it (a couple of months) and noticed a definite difference, not tremendous, but better nonetheless. I also replace my 80/20's with PB's so that also contributed to a better tone (for me). I think TG should just go ahead and put ebony's on even their low end guitars.