End Pins....Do they make a difference?

[TexMexMike]

Plastic, Macarta, TUSQ, bone, vintage bone, ebony, rosewood and both elephant and walarus ivory(FOSSILIZED specimens only...for PITA members sake).

To me, the selection of end pins makes a sagnificant difference in tone. Not as great as string selection, but a truly noticable tonal difference.

On my 00-15 Martin I have sampled the original plastic pins, TUSQ and ebony pins. To my ears, the ebony pins give the best over-all tone. Using the same strings that I tested all of the other end pins with, the ebony end pins seemed to give the 00-15 more sustain and a clearer, more complex tone versus the other end pin materials I have tried.

Am I alone in thinking that the little pin that secures the string makes a difference in over-all tone?

[Bytor1975]

I think it helps. Just a little. I swapped out my wife's Dean Exotica FM's plastic bridge pins with some ebony Planet Waves pins with the Abalone inlays in them. I think they really helped improove the sound over the cheap plastic ones in there. Even if the sound change is not noticable to others, it sure looks better with the pins matching the inlays now. And heck, they were only $12!

[nothin but the blues]

No your not alone, endpins def. make a difference in tone. My personal preference is Ebony as well. :)

[aaronl]

i was looking at mine when i changed to the strings out for some martin sp ones, the pins are surely plastic and was wondering the same thing.

i was also wondering about the bridge itself, it is plastic and the low or thick e string is kinda digging into it a little already, maybe that will just happen...

[TexMexMike]

i was looking at mine when i changed to the strings out for some martin sp ones, the pins are surely plastic and was wondering the same thing.

i was also wondering about the bridge itself, it is plastic and the low or thick e string is kinda digging into it a little already, maybe that will just happen...


Do you mean that the "Saddle" material is plastic...or the bridge itself?

Try some ebony pins. They are inexpensive...and make a difference, to my ears.

[aaronl]

Do you mean that the "Saddle" material is plastic...or the bridge itself?

Try some ebony pins. They are inexpensive...and make a difference, to my ears.


sorry, the white saddle part
not the bridge or the brown part it is wood.
the white part is a plastic and it is starting to notch just the smallest amount where the fat e goes

i like the guitar but if i could get a little better saddle and a little better end pins and a little better tuners hahahahaa....

so the saga begins :Loco:

[TexMexMike]

sorry, the white saddle part
not the bridge or the brown part it is wood.
the white part is a plastic and it is starting to notch just the smallest amount where the fat e goes

i like the guitar but if i could get a little better saddle and a little better end pins and a little better tuners hahahahaa....

so the saga begins :Loco:


Heheheheheh! Now your thinking like a true Acoustic man! :thumbsup:

[WireNWood]

The saddle will make a much bigger difference than the endpins, but be more work to change.

[TexMexMike]

I agree WnW. I replaced my Macarta saddle on my 00-15 with fossilized mamoth ivory. It made a huge change in tone. Increased clarity and sustain with out making it overly bright.

[Justpickin]

sorry, the white saddle part
not the bridge or the brown part it is wood.
the white part is a plastic and it is starting to notch just the smallest amount where the fat e goes

i like the guitar but if i could get a little better saddle and a little better end pins and a little better tuners hahahahaa....

so the saga begins :Loco:

Don't over analyze a $200.00 guitar. Just play it...and don't put any money into it. You decide you want something better in an acoustic someday, buy one.

[TexMexMike]

Don't over analyze a $200.00 guitar. Just play it...and don't put any money into it. You decide you want something better in an acoustic someday, buy one.


A true statement. But you can find bone saddles for well under $20.00 dollars. If you were able to install it yourself, it may be a worth while project.

Remember, the largest and simplist change in tone is made by your string selection. I would assume that Martin SP 4100's PB's or D'addario EJ16's would sound nice! Experiment a bit. Perhaps a set of 80/20 strings. :nod:

[Bytor1975]

I feel that way about putting pickups in cheap guitars and changing this, that or the other. It is like a guy driving an '81 Caprice with a $2000 paint job, $1500 rim, and a $3000 stereo system. Talk about priorities upside down! Then he wants to get $9,000 when he sells it... but he forgot it was an '81 Caprice!

Personally, I wouldn't put more than $50 back into a $200 guitar. Once you start going over that you could have started out with a guitar in another price bracket with those features you wanted to upgrade to anyhow.

[TexMexMike]

I feel that way about putting pickups in cheap guitars and changing this, that or the other. It is like a guy driving an '81 Caprice with a $2000 paint job, $1500 rim, and a $3000 stereo system. Talk about priorities upside down! Then he wants to get $9,000 when he sells it... but he forgot it was an '81 Caprice!

Personally, I wouldn't put more than $50 back into a $200 guitar. Once you start going over that you could have started out with a guitar in another price bracket with those features you wanted to upgrade to anyhow.

Gee...I guess the gold Weaverly tuners, FWI nut, saddle and pins, along with the 24K gold plaque stating, "My first Guitar." was a bit over the top for my FG-75.. :Loco: ...Myself, I think a $15.00 bone saddle and some $12.00 dollar ebony pins...would be more than enough.....and probably would improve the sound. :nod:

[Bytor1975]

You should have done some diamond incrusted inlays or something... why skimp out?

[Spiritinthesky2k]

I don't really know if the end pins make much difference but since I have tusq nut & saddle I swapped out the cheap plastic pins for tusq when I got a setup.