Hot Rod bridge pins!

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:19 am Post subject: Hot Rod bridge pins!

I have to tell you up front I would have a hard time buying into what I am about to tell you if I had not done it myself.

I use my Seagull M6 gloss Spruce at our monthly nursing home gig most of the time. I like to "dress" the guitar up for the gig. I have even been known to place a bright sticker or two on the pick guard, like a Christmas tree at Christmas, that sort of thing.
Somewhere I saw these neon colored bridge pins made by "Jellyfish", and finally ordered a set. I got the neon green color because the blue where on back order at the time. I was just looking for the "bling" addition, not really expecting any tone change.

So I put them in this week, I had just changed the strings not long ago and they still had plenty of life left in them, and me being cheap, I changed the bridge pins without removing the strings. I just loosened up the sring tension enough to pull the pin and insert the new one.
My wife was in the room when I did this, and just for fun I played it for her before and after the pin change. She has a very good ear, much better than mine, and is a much better singer than I am. You know there was a change! Without asking her I could tell a change and she had no trouble hearing it.

The string seemed to ring longer and it seemed to have a little more bass response. I do like the tone better. It is not some earth shattering change, but there is a change non the less, I didn't really expect to hear any difference, it is not why I changed them in the first place.

I plan to get a couple more colors and maybe change out the plasic set on my S6 I use all the time. They will at least be a good conversation peice. I would be interested to hear if anyone else tried them. I couldn't find anyone that carried them local, and I called everyplace. I ended up ordering from MF. Here is the web site about them:

http://www.jellifish.com/hotrods/index.html

sharring · Tiger Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Posts: 813 Location: Texas

Bro Mark...i had a similar experience with TUSC bridge pins on my Martin...notable improvement for small amt of money. Cool

markm2553 · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:44 am Post subject:

PunkStar · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:44 pm Post subject:

I've certainly read somewhere that the material the bridge pins are made of can have an effect on tonal quality. So I am certainly not surprised by the results.

What are they actually made of Mark? From the site you gave, they seem to be a metal of some kind, which you'd hope would sound better than plastic (which I imagine is a little dull in comparison). I'd have thought metal might have added more of a clarity, with maybe a bit of tinnyness maybe?

markm2553 · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:25 am Post subject:

P.S., they are made from aluminum; they say it is some “special” alloy of aluminum. They are pretty light weight, not as heavy as brass would be, but just a little heavier than the worn out plastic I removed.
To me it seemed to have a little more to the bass end, and the string seemed to ring longer when you plucked it.
I would give credit in at least part of the improvement to the fact that my plastic pins where in such bad shape, perhaps even a new set of plastic would have help some?
I’m going to put a set on my Seagull S6 cedar, I don’t recall the pins being in such bad condition on it, maybe I can tell more then. The silver color they have should match my turners pretty nicely…

PunkStar · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:46 pm Post subject:

Interesting. It would certainly be interesting to see how they effect your S6. I look forward to hearing how it goes.