Are the brass wraparound / stoptail posts a tonal improvement or cosmetic thing?

[opnoob]

A quick search of the forum didn't bring up any results but I’m sure it must have been discussed here. Would changing the standard wraparound posts on my SE Hollowbody to brass make any appreciable difference in tone?

In a relatively short time I’ve seen so many PRS with the brass posts that the look has really grown on me, I really wasn’t sure when I first saw them!

I'd be interested to hear a back-to-back comparison. My gut feeling is that in a blind-test, I doubt you would be able to tell the difference. Brass is a generic term for some sort of zinc/copper alloy and is not particularly hard and just like other alloys, theres many different versions of it with different properties. Its relatively malleability would probably produce a slightly warmer tone at the expense of sustain compared to something like high-carbon SS. My guess.

 

[alantig]

It was a selling point for @Bowtiefanatc

A NGD pic we'd all like to forget!

For me, the NGD pic wasn't really an issue.

That video where they authenticated it, though...

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

I did the same mod on my SE245 and the locking tuners with unplated brass posts, both gave a pleasant tonal change.

Well, the brass studs do look cooler... They might even sound better ...

But one thing they did for sure... Is that they eliminated the forward bridge "lean" the stock posts have (perhaps from the stock posts having a wider gap in the pocket where the bridge slips in)

And heck, they were only $15 bucks when I put 2 sets in my SE Hollowbodies

Followed Mr Rubra's advise

PS: Make sure Mr. Mann sends you the METRIC threads, which for some reason are coarser than the
"english" ... ( and the posts should be dimpled on the bottom, the wrong ones have a flat bottom) ...

Per John Mann :The Metric studs should have a small center drill mark and the face of the thread end.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Well, the brass studs do look cooler... They might even sound better ...

But one thing they did for sure... Is that they eliminated the forward bridge "lean" the stock posts have (perhaps from the stock posts having a wider gap in the pocket where the bridge slips in)

And heck, they were only $15 bucks when I put 2 sets in my SE Hollowbodies

Followed Mr Rubra's advise

PS: Make sure Mr. Mann sends you the METRIC threads, which for some reason are coarser than the
"english" ... ( and the posts should be dimpled on the bottom, the wrong ones have a flat bottom) ...

Per John Mann :The Metric studs should have a small center drill mark and the face of the thread end.

Not the best angle to see, but I don’t remember there being much lean with the original studs -

 

[watelessness]

This one?

so that's NOT buckle rash?

 

[Alnus Rubra]

so that's NOT buckle rash?

It could cause a rash!

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

Not the best angle to see, but I don’t remember there being much lean with the original studs -

Look at it from the side ... See if the bridge does not tilt towards the neck a bit ...

 

[rockinrabbit]

Someone said(I read?)(Paul maybe) that the brass inserts in the wraparound bridge brought out the high mids, whereas the plain aluminum is more the low mids.

 

[DISTORT6]

Someone said(I read?)(Paul maybe) that the brass inserts in the wraparound bridge brought out the high mids, whereas the plain aluminum is more the low mids.

I’d go with one of each and have ALL the mids!

 

[rockinrabbit]

why not?!?!

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Look at it from the side ... See if the bridge does not tilt towards the neck a bit ...

Yeah that’s the point I was making. With the original studs there was no discernible lean.

It’s quite a bright instrument, acoustically. The brass studs and tuner posts just seemed to give it a little more of something.

It may all be in my head. But to me it was an improvement and as I’m the one playing it, that’s all that matters (in this instance).

 

[John Mann]

I'd be interested to hear a back-to-back comparison. My gut feeling is that in a blind-test, I doubt you would be able to tell the difference. Brass is a generic term for some sort of zinc/copper alloy and is not particularly hard and just like other alloys, theres many different versions of it with different properties. Its relatively malleability would probably produce a slightly warmer tone at the expense of sustain compared to something like high-carbon SS. My guess.

You are totally wrong! No offense intended.... but if one can not hear the difference between aluminum, brass, steel and zinc diecast, I would venture to say you are tone deaf and should probably not enter into these discussions.

No material is better tone-wise than another... they are just different.
Yes, it's true that different alloys of the same family of material sound different. Think of it as "a bit more or less of this or that"

In broad terms:
Steel = more high end (brighter)
Brass = more mid range / fatter
Aluminum & Zinc Alloys = neutral (compared to steel or brass)

Just sayin' ...

 

[John Mann]

Someone said(I read?)(Paul maybe) that the brass inserts in the wraparound bridge brought out the high mids, whereas the plain aluminum is more the low mids.

Nope... just the reverse!

 

[John Mann]

BTW... I am in the process of making some prototypes of mall Brass versions of my #2300 Intonatable bridge.
Just because I am curious how they will sound

 

[rockinrabbit]

That's interesting. I'll bear that in mind. I'm not in a position to make any comparisons, but it's good to know. Thank you for the information. Is the aluminum any harder than the brass? Seems it might be because the aluminum wraparound bridge on my SE Standard does have better sustain than the Vela,,,something which I was attributing to the Pickup,,,albeit it may well be a combination of both.
Perhaps that IS a comparison, but I'm dealing with more variables than make it easy, LOL.

It's the guitar in my Avatar.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

so that's NOT buckle rash?

More like Mooseknuckle Rash

 

[opnoob]

You are totally wrong! No offense intended.... bit if one can not hear the difference between aluminum, brass, steel and zinc diecast, I would venture to say you are tone deaf and should probably not enter into these discussions.

No material is better tone-wise than another... they are just different.
Yes, it's true that different alloys of the same family of material sound different. Think of it as "a bit more or less of this or that"

In broad terms:
Steel = more high end (brighter)
Brass = more mid range / fatter
Aluminum & Zinc Alloys = neutral (compared to steel or brass)

Just sayin' ...

Please reread my 2nd last sentence.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

I am by no means a "youngster", and I come to these discussions as a "Hi-Fi Audiophile" (where plenty a Kool Aid is consumed " ,and theory bought into) ...But even now at advanced age ... I could clearly hear the difference between the stock SE molded bridge (steel) ... And What I call the "All Brass Killa Dilla 2040N Bridge" (John, where's my royalties for naming rights ! ) .

I asked for (and paid extra) to get unplated brass saddles in my all brass bridge (even intonation screws), and once installed, the 85/15S pickups I had already replaced in another CU24 ... suddenly sounded less bright and "skinny". More rich in tone and texture, while not losing there basic "smiley face" EQ, with extended highs and bass. They are still in the guitar.

Now a more "advanced" pickup may sound "better", but if you really want to hear what is in your guitar, you gotta change the bridge first . There is no loss or waste of funds here, as you may find that your old "bad" pickup, may actually not be all that bad. And if you do invest in more the expensive pickups, you will maximize their performance.

A lesson learned as an audiophile ... Clean up the source components first. Stuff down stream only sounds as good as what you feed it.

Now John did tell me I was nutz to insist on unplated brass saddles , but his Bud Paul , goes around scraping the platings off saddles where they contact the strings ... so hey ... (The Power of KoolAid!)

 

[Lewguitar]

I'd be interested to hear a back-to-back comparison. My gut feeling is that in a blind-test, I doubt you would be able to tell the difference. Brass is a generic term for some sort of zinc/copper alloy and is not particularly hard and just like other alloys, theres many different versions of it with different properties. Its relatively malleability would probably produce a slightly warmer tone at the expense of sustain compared to something like high-carbon SS. My guess.

I suspect you would be able to feel a difference if you were holding the guitar and playing it yourself.

If someone else was playing it? Maybe. Maybe not.

But what's important is for YOU to like it when YOU are playing it.

Not when you're listening to someone else playing it.

 

[opnoob]

I suspect you would be able to feel a difference if you were holding the guitar and playing it yourself.

If someone else was playing it? Maybe. Maybe not.

But what's important is for YOU to like it when YOU are playing it.

Not when you're listening to someone else playing it.

I think so too. Would also depend on if your making comparisons back-to-back in the same setting. Playing the guitar yourself would certainly be helpful compared to just listening to the audio.