Or do they? I state it that way to get a little attention, but bridge pins have been under discussion in a couple of threads on several forums, and a recent posting over at the AG Forum got me thinking of it again. I'd be interested in other folks' takes on this.

One of the posters was saying that he had inadvertently dislodged an bridge pin while restringing his guitar, but that the string stayed seated. So.....

Well then, does this relate to the question of how different pin materials affect tone? If a well-seated string will ring true and clear without being held in by the pin, is it possible that adding a pin makes little or no tonal difference?

E.g., let's say a well-seated pin causes the top to vibrate accurately and fully. Add a pin, which may contact the string ball for, what, certainly less than a square mm of surface. Are we to assume, then, that that limited point of contact causes the pin to vibrate sufficiently that the resulting sympathetic vibrations returned to the top make a detectable difference in the sound? Or would it be that the pin simply ensures maximum seating for the string, in which case, a pin might contribute to a well-strung instrument, but would have no affect on tone whatsoever? And, after all, some of us store our unused capos behind the nut but touching all six strings without any affect on the sound, so why should anything touching the strings on the other side of the other point of string contact have any effect on tone, once the string is fully seated and causing the top to vibrate to maximum effectiveness? E.g., if I set a string vibrating and then touch it between the saddle and bridge pin, I don't hear any change in the sound. Just wondering. What do you think? What am I missing?

B

This message has been edited. Last edited by: B Woods,

An end pin is what you attach your strap to at the back of the guitar -- a bridge pin is at the ends of the strings. Two very different things and I think terminology is being switched.

In any case, please search the forum for other threads that have discussed this exact issue at great length. It's a topic that NEVER reaches a conclusion and typically only ruffles feathers. I encourage any new facts or opinions - I discourage reiterating the same info that has already been run through the ringer.

quote:

Originally posted by elambo:
An end pin is what you attach your strap to at the back of the guitar -- a bridge pin is at the ends of the strings.

Getting more dyslexic as I age. Thanks! B

B Woods - go to the top of the class!!
See my post at page 3 of the topic "PICTURES ADDED - new CJ Mh A SB "in the house" in the Acoustic Guitars section.
Is the penny starting to drop at last, Mr. Moderator?

John.

quote:

Originally posted by jrfree:Is the penny starting to drop at last, Mr. Moderator?

The penny dropped a long time ago, as far as I'm concerned.