brixa Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Being influenced by the obsession on these forums about changing to bone pins etc i imported a set from the states a few years back. Got a 2010 j45 standard and was getting frustrated at the frequent need for string changes (d'addario exp 12's every 6 weeks). Had the current strings on for 6 weeks and the a d & g strings were dead. Bunged the original plastic pins back in tonite and my baby has her mojo back. Sustain, volume and clarity all returned. Beware of bone upgrades. I'm now of the opinion that's the reason why you get what you get from the factory. Anyone else had a similar experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 No, but this is definitely a case of "different strokes for different folks". Every guitar responds differently to string/pin combinations. I'm not a fan of coated strings like the EXP's, but it's all a matter of taste. I've settled on bone pins and DR Sunbeam medium PB's (12's in DR world) for my Gibson flat tops (two hog slope-J's and an L-OO), and it's a combination that works really well for me both tone-wise and playing-wise. People here have all kinds of preferences, and there's no right or wrong on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Try ebony warm mellow smooth. Collings scgc bourgeois all use them right off the line. Not to say they are better guitars but it means something. I've put them in all of my guitars. Adds sustain and clarity but not brightness like bone I've noticed added to my guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry K Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Antique Acoustic pins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 Gotta go with whatever your ear says sounds best to you. I like bone or galalaith but read this: http://www.vintageinstrumentrental.com/acou_bridge_pin_sets.htm for another viewpoint. Larry Cragg should know a thing or two about acoustics, but then none of us are the be all and end all about anything. That's what I like about these forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 The day I blow my hard earned scratch on booteek pins ain't yet come. I also just use the Antique Acosutic hard plastic pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchristo Posted May 31, 2013 Share Posted May 31, 2013 I put Colosi antique bone pins in my J-45 TV and could'nt here any difference..........but they look good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 I put Colosi antique bone pins in my J-45 TV and could'nt here any difference..........but they look good Can't argue with that - those things do look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruffchris Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 Hey, I noticed a month or so ago that my J-30 had rosewood pins? Anyway, I whacked in some plastic ones, and I thought that she sounded a little sweeter. But I was mindful that I'd just put new strings on her and I'd not picked her up in a while. So I guess I wasn't sure if it made a difference? But maybe they did.........? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 All my pins bone upgrades have a positive impact, except on my Hummingbird TV where the extra 'clarity' robbed it off the trademark 'nectar' tone, so back came the plastic pins as did the honey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brixa Posted June 1, 2013 Author Share Posted June 1, 2013 Thanks for the comments guys. I'm just glad I've got a nice 'sound' back. No doubt there are different quality 'bone' pins but each to his own I suppose. I've got a beauty of a 3 year old J45 that is better looked after than my family and is maturing very nicely. I also have a new Martin D28 to nurture and I'm in love with that also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph1050 Posted June 1, 2013 Share Posted June 1, 2013 i went with Bob Colosis bone and tortoise simply for aesthetics and since I cannot tell any difference in tone on they will stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 It's so quiet in here, you could hear six pins drop........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madhat Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 very interesting! swapped out my stock tusk saddle and plastic pins for bone saddle and buffalo pins today AND a string change from the original strings to EJ16s-- was thinking i should prepare myself for harsh results! well it wasnt harsh and wasnt bad- but it was very different- really mellowed the guitar and im not sure which 'variable' made this change. but i have 'feeling' its the strings. i like it- but i think the guitar lost some attitude- and i will be wanting to get that back! so many mixed results and opinions on pins, saddles, strings... it does seem to depend on the particular guitar and individual. havin'fun! madhat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAddison Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 Being influenced by the obsession on these forums about changing to bone pins etc i imported a set from the states a few years back. Got a 2010 j45 standard and was getting frustrated at the frequent need for string changes (d'addario exp 12's every 6 weeks). Had the current strings on for 6 weeks and the a d & g strings were dead. Bunged the original plastic pins back in tonite and my baby has her mojo back. Sustain, volume and clarity all returned. Beware of bone upgrades. I'm now of the opinion that's the reason why you get what you get from the factory. Anyone else had a similar experience? I found the best tone by using plastic for positions 4, 5 and 6 and cattle bone for 1, 2 and 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I found the best tone by using plastic for positions 4, 5 and 6 and cattle bone for 1, 2 and 3. Funny, I take it the other way around. Assume you have 6 as bass - But definitely support the idea of different materials. As said before, it's the last fine-adjustment. Some folks thinks this is 1 bridge too far, but thinking about it I believe one have to be fingerpicker to really get it. When f-picking, the contact and impression of each note is very clear and almost isolated (when focusing) and there the difference between wood, bone, plast etc. matters. Can't be bothered by the speckled look - I see it as a part of the guitar's personality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motherofpearl Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 The best results I've found have come with fossilized T-Rex tooth. It's superb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 The best results I've found have come with fossilized T-Rex tooth. It's superb It gives a lot of bite to the treble strings...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted June 3, 2013 Share Posted June 3, 2013 I've noticed on the Elderly's site that they have pins for different years of Gibson's. What set would you recommend for a new Gibson ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.