Ro3b
December 1st, 2006, 08:54 AM
I just got a set of these from Elderly instruments (http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=d%27andrea+tone+pins&x=0&y=0)about a month ago. They're slightly bigger-than-standard guitar bridge pins made of brass instead of the more usual plastic or bone or what-have-you. Since they're much heavier than other bridge pins, they have a marked effect on the tone of the instrument they're installed on. I presume it's because they don't absorb as much energy from the vibrating strings. You can get a similar effect by taping a roll of pennies to your peghead.
Anyway, I installed them on my Guild D-35. I bought this guitar new in 1987. It was my first really good acoustic guitar, and I know it like the inside of my mouth. While I love it, it doesn't have the most balanced tone in the world -- it's kind of boomy in the bass and low midrange, and the highs are kind of lost. Well, problem solved. With these bridge pins, the instrument is totally transformed. It's crisp and clear throughout its range, with tons of sustain. The thing barks now. It's the best twelve bucks I've spent on my guitar.
Now the question: the pin holes in my bridge are drilled cylindrically, and the pins sit pretty high and sometimes get in the way, especially when I'm damping the strings with the heel of my hand. I'd like to enlarge and taper the holes so the pins won't stick up as much, and I'd like (if possible) to do it without spending $50 for a StewMac specialized bridge-pin reamer that I'll only use once. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations before I go attacking my guitar with a rattail file?
Anyway, I installed them on my Guild D-35. I bought this guitar new in 1987. It was my first really good acoustic guitar, and I know it like the inside of my mouth. While I love it, it doesn't have the most balanced tone in the world -- it's kind of boomy in the bass and low midrange, and the highs are kind of lost. Well, problem solved. With these bridge pins, the instrument is totally transformed. It's crisp and clear throughout its range, with tons of sustain. The thing barks now. It's the best twelve bucks I've spent on my guitar.
Now the question: the pin holes in my bridge are drilled cylindrically, and the pins sit pretty high and sometimes get in the way, especially when I'm damping the strings with the heel of my hand. I'd like to enlarge and taper the holes so the pins won't stick up as much, and I'd like (if possible) to do it without spending $50 for a StewMac specialized bridge-pin reamer that I'll only use once. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations before I go attacking my guitar with a rattail file?