Steel vs. brass tailpiece studs?

[Rex Rocker]

So what will be the difference here?

I ordered a Gotoh aluminum tailpiece for my Gibson, but neither the studs nor the bushings fit. So I've been doing research, and instead of buying a whole new tailpiece, I think I can just order the studs that will fit the US threaded bushings so that I don't have to remove them. It seems like Kluson makes some.

But they offer both brass and steel. What will be the difference here?

Thanks!

 

[thegame]

Brass is softer than steel, so it should be a bit warmer sounding with more midrange. Steel a little harder, crispier, more defined.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Seems like I'd want steel, then. Thanks!

Do you guys think it will make THAT much of a difference? It's just the studs. The strings don't come in contact with them.

 

[braintheory]

Brass is softer than steel, so it should be a bit warmer sounding with more midrange. Steel a little harder, crispier, more defined.

Haven’t tried with studs, but same experience for me when swapping other various parts on guitars. I’ve also recently realized I’m not a fan of titanium really. Seems to have better sustain, clarity and maybe definition, but so hollow, scooped out in the mids and lacking warmth

 

[Rex Rocker]

Haven’t tried with studs, but same experience for me when swapping other various parts on guitars. I’ve also recently realized I’m not a fan of titanium really. Seems to have better sustain, clarity and maybe definition, but so hollow, scooped out in the mids and lacking warmth

Hmmm.... I want to try some titanum saddles now. I love broad-sounding guitars with top-end sparkle and low end depth.

 

[braintheory]

Hmmm.... I want to try some titanum saddles now. I love broad-sounding guitars with top-end sparkle and low end depth.

Well you may possibly like it then. You will get stronger highs for sure, not sure if it’ll necessarily extend the lows the same ways though or not. I experimented on my Tele. First just a titanium back plate and I kinda liked it, then swapped out for an all titanium bridge, saddles & everything and it was just too much. Totally took away all the mids, warmth and even twang and all the characteristics that make a Tele what it is to me. Like the whole midrange spectrum got sucked out, but with just the backplate swap it wasn’t bad. I also tried once a titanium tail piece in one of my Les Paul’s, similar result. There is a nice increase in sustain and clarity though and somewhat more harpsichord like sound in a way

 

[thegame]

Haven’t tried with studs, but same experience for me when swapping other various parts on guitars. I’ve also recently realized I’m not a fan of titanium really. Seems to have better sustain, clarity and maybe definition, but so hollow, scooped out in the mids and lacking warmth

Experimentation is the key with hardware changes. How a given material reacts can vary tremendously. I didn't like titanium saddles on a TOM bridge for the reasons you state. I DO like Titanium insert blocks on a Floyd (seems to add definition without sacrificing body). Most surprisingly, I recently got some titanium Floyd nut clamp blocks for the corresponding Floyd nut and they decreased the extreme highs and lows, and added some mid focus, albeit subtly. I A/B'd a couple times to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me and the results were consistent and audible through the amp as well. So again, different materials act differently depending on which type of part is being replaced.

 

[thegame]

Seems like I'd want steel, then. Thanks!

Do you guys think it will make THAT much of a difference? It's just the studs. The strings don't come in contact with them.

The difference will be fairly subtle. A lot depends on how discriminating your ears are and/or how revealing the rest of your rig is. I might recommend against brass if you frequently adjust action or tail piece height as the softer brass material may pit or wear prematurely if adjustments are made under string tension, etc.

 

[braintheory]

Experimentation is the key with hardware changes. How a given material reacts can vary tremendously. I didn't like titanium saddles on a TOM bridge for the reasons you state. I DO like Titanium insert blocks on a Floyd (seems to add definition without sacrificing body). Most surprisingly, I recently got some titanium Floyd nut clamp blocks for the corresponding Floyd nut and they decreased the extreme highs and lows, and added some mid focus, albeit subtly. I A/B'd a couple times to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me and the results were consistent and audible through the amp as well. So again, different materials act differently depending on which type of part is being replaced.

Yeah, now that I recall from years ago, I did change the Floyd block on a Jackson SL2H I had to titanium and remember it being a pretty good improvement for it, but just didn’t like titanium in what I’ve tried with it in Tele’s or Les Paul’s so far. I don’t use or own any Floyd equipped guitars anymore anyway bc of their imo tone suck, so it’s not applicable to my use anymore

 

[psychodave]

Experimentation is the key with hardware changes. How a given material reacts can vary tremendously. I didn't like titanium saddles on a TOM bridge for the reasons you state. I DO like Titanium insert blocks on a Floyd (seems to add definition without sacrificing body). Most surprisingly, I recently got some titanium Floyd nut clamp blocks for the corresponding Floyd nut and they decreased the extreme highs and lows, and added some mid focus, albeit subtly. I A/B'd a couple times to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me and the results were consistent and audible through the amp as well. So again, different materials act differently depending on which type of part is being replaced.

I had Ti blocks, bridges, etc and it’s okay. Not my favorite. I do have the Ti Floyd string blocks and a big brass block.

I’d love to try a brass nut, I just refuse to pay so much for it.

 

[thegame]

I had Ti blocks, bridges, etc and it’s okay. Not my favorite. I do have the Ti Floyd string blocks and a big brass block.

I’d love to try a brass nut, I just refuse to pay so much for it.

A little titanium goes a long way and is enough. It's a spicy additive in most instances that can enhance a given guitar or easily ruin it if applied too heavily. I don't think I'd even be interested in trying a full blown Ti Floyd Rose unit, or any other all Ti bridge piece.

I'm not sure if they all did but I tried a Yngwie sig strat once with a brass nut and liked it. More metallic sounding than bone, ivory, etc but as brass is quite soft it was still very musical. Open strings had a unique ring to them which I liked a lot.

 

[braintheory]

A little titanium goes a long way and is enough. It's a spicy additive in most instances that can enhance a given guitar or easily ruin it if applied to heavily. I don't think I'd even be interested in trying a full blown Ti Floyd Rose unit, or any other all Ti bridge piece.

I'm not sure if they all did but I tried a Yngwie sig strat once with a brass nut and liked it. More metallic sounding than bone, ivory, etc but as brass is quite soft it was still very musical. Open strings had a unique ring to them which I liked a lot.

That’s what happened in my Tele. Pretty nice & different with just the back plate changed to titanium, but then the the bridge with everything on it also titanium ruined it for me

I’ve got 2 all aluminum EGC’s that I love. Some of my absolute favorite non-vintage guitars that I’ve played. Brighter than any wood guitar, but still very musical imo. And also have an all carbon fiber Etherial guitar with a stainless steel fretboard, but I think it’s a thin board with the rest underneath being aluminum. Either way, it’s also cool & unique. Both guitar are in some ways also more articulate/clear than my wooden guitars. Not for warmth or growl with them lol

 

[Rex Rocker]

The difference will be fairly subtle. A lot depends on how discriminating your ears are and/or how revealing the rest of your rig is. I might recommend against brass if you frequently adjust action or tail piece height as the softer brass material may pit or wear prematurely if adjustments are made under string tension, etc.

I don't adjust the tailpiece at all. I have it decked all the way down. My current bridge (Schaller STM) allows me to because the top of the saddle sticks very high up from the back of the bridge compared to other Tune-o's, and I leave it like that just for simplicity's sake. But I have marred tailpiece studs before quite easily, TBH.