My Tacoma D-55 Bridge Pins Are Not....

[Jake The Loafer]

:evil: I purchased my Tacoma D-55 about 2 years ago from one of the members on the board. No need to mention names. I think it is an '07. All the specs state that the bridge pins are bone. I hate to change strings so I just finally put on a new set. I can tell ya, mine are the same old crappy plastic pins & not bone. This kinda pisses me off :!: Maybe the bone pins were kept for his Westerly D-55, I don't know. I wish they were bone, but being out of work, I can't afford jack crap @ present.

Just had to vent.

 

[cjd-player]

I was not too impressed with the bone pins on my '07 Tacoma D-55.
They did not look like bone. Not polished, very dull.

Have you tried the hot needle test to confirm that they are indeed plastic?

 

[jazzmang]

Hans may want to correct me here if I'm wrong, but Tacoma started using bone saddles and pins in 2007, if I'm not mistaken. So if your D-55 was a 2007 model (starting with serial number TK), you are correct. Anything before that, it had plastic from the factory.

The guitars with SNs starting with TI and TJ that I have did not come with bone saddles or pins. The TK SNs (and anything later than 07) have bone saddles and pins. Tacoma moved to using the larger sized saddles when this change occured too, if I'm not mistaken.

2006 Tacoma D-55:

2007 Tacoma F-50R:

These were just my observations, and of course I could be totally wrong!

 

[chazmo]

Jake, no problem in the venting, but I don't think it was until some point in 2007 when they switched over from plastic with an abalone dot to bone without.

[edit: I see jazzy said pretty much the same thing... My 2006 (TJxxxxxx) has plastic pins]

 

[chazmo]

By the way, Jazz, my 2006 F-512 has a larger saddle but has plastic pins. So, this was not exactly coincident, nor was pin change immediately at the start of 2007, I don't think.

 

[jazzmang]

By the way, Jazz, my 2006 F-512 has a larger saddle but has plastic pins. So, this was not exactly coincident, nor was pin change immediately at the start of 2007, I don't think.

That makes sense. Maybe it was slowly being trickled out through the end of 2006 but mostly happened in 2007? :?:

 

[Graham]

Have you tried the hot needle test to confirm that they are indeed plastic?

The hot needle goes into the pins, not your eye right Carl. Arrrgh!

 

[Jake The Loafer]

:evil: I purchased my Tacoma D-55 about 2 years ago from one of the members on the board. No need to mention names. I think it is an '07. All the specs state that the bridge pins are bone. I hate to change strings so I just finally put on a new set. I can tell ya, mine are the same old crappy plastic pins & not bone. This kinda pisses me off :!: Maybe the bone pins were kept for his Westerly D-55, I don't know. I wish they were bone, but being out of work, I can't afford jack crap @ present.

Just had to vent.

I know plastic when I see it, you can see where it came out of the mold. My SN is TI217002, so what year does that date to. I always thought is was an '07 but may be wrong. Maybe Hans will pop in on this one. It still sounds damn good but I would like something harder than plastic for this & my DV52 which is a killer also.

I need to find work. Been almost 9 months since I lost my sign store after 20 years & there sure ain't a RN shortage around here. Hell, the new grads can't find work.

 

[jazzmang]

Sorry to hear about the hard times, Jake. Its hurting us all.

If your SN starts with a TI, its a 2005 model, which is why it didn't have bone pins or a saddle.

 

[cjd-player]

Have you tried the hot needle test to confirm that they are indeed plastic?

The hot needle goes into the pins, not your eye right Carl. Arrrgh!

Hey, it wasn't explained to me very well when I first tried it.
You know what those guys over at AGF are like. :evil:


It also helps to not hold the hot needle with your fingers. :shock:

 

[Jake The Loafer]

Sorry to hear about the hard times, Jake. Its hurting us all.

If your SN starts with a TI, its a 2005 model, which is why it didn't have bone pins or a saddle.

Thanks for the "date" :lol: I guess I'll edit my list & change it to '05 from '07

 

[6L6]

I'm sure we're all really pulling for you, Jake!

I've been in the same spot several times in my life and, like me, you WILL survive the downturn and end up in a better position for it.

KEEP THE FAITH!

6

 

[dreadnut]

Yeah Jake, hang in there, bud. I've been unemployed since Dec. 4 of '08, but somehow that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Hard to see it when you're in the middle of the situation though...

I would recommend a not very expensive solution to your string pin issue - Tusq pins. I have the presentation style black pins with abalone dot in my DV-52, great tone and killer looks. And I got them on line for less than $15 a set. I have the exact same in my D-25, but white. The presentation style pins look nicer, I think, and they fit perfectly in my Guild dreads

 

[Frosty]

Jake, I believe you are referring to the D-55 you purchased from me. I can assure you that the ONLY things that were changed on the guitar was a replacement saddle (the original from the factory did not fit well) and the action at the nut lowered. All else stock. Your accusation, which comes from being uninformed, and the resulting anger you have brought upon yourself is misplaced and unfortunate.

You have in your hands one of the best sounding Tacoma D-55 guitars I have ever come across. I hope it continues to bring you joy and remains an inspiration to your music.

 

[jgmaute]

Yeah Jake, hang in there, bud. I've been unemployed since Dec. 4 of '08, but somehow that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Hard to see it when you're in the middle of the situation though...

I would recommend a not very expensive solution to your string pin issue - Tusq pins. I have the presentation style black pins with abalone dot in my DV-52, great tone and killer looks. And I got them on line for less than $15 a set. I have the exact same in my D-25, but white. The presentation style pins look nicer, I think, and they fit perfectly in my Guild dreads

Hey Dread, sounds like a nice gift for my '87 D55 next time I change strings. Can you let me know where you got them? thanks jm

Jake...keep the faith..I know it's hard, I even wrote a song about it last year when I was up to my neck in challenges, some of the lines:
with the storm comes the power
with the wind comes high seas
though the waves grow and tower
He brings calm, I find peace

Trust and faith can be fair-weathered friends
all is fine till the rain
fear and doubt can surface again
losing more than you gained

the road you're on will lead to a better place; it just may be a lot longer than you hoped or planned jm

 

[Jake The Loafer]

Dread, what are the presentation style Tusq pins you speak of. Come to think of it now, I did buy a set of Tusq pins, white w/ abalone dot on Ebay a couple of years ago. I can't remember if they are slotted or not. I put them in my DV-52, but those strings ain't been changed since then either. They fit but I think they don't go down quite as deep as they should. I plan to change them this weekend also. Last weekend Ifinally put on a new set om my Yamaha APX 20D which is a stereo model & not made anymore. You can flip a switch & get either Mono, strings 6-5-4 from right speaker, 3-2-1 from left or they can be split so 6-4-2 come from right & 5-3-1 from left.

I know Tusq sells so many things, so how do you know which are the right set for a Guild?

I thought there was a so called RN shortage, but here in B'ham it is not so. We had one hospital go bankrupt last Nov., before I closed the sign shop, & many of those RNs were taken in by the other hospitals. I guess being 62 & out of nursing for 21 years id hindering me also. I took a RN refresher course in Feb which was $500 & still can't the time of day from these snotty little recruiters. :evil: I have over 100 apps. saved on my PC & have 4 damn interviews. They always find someone who is better qualified. UAB, which is the biggest teaching hospital here, has 0 RN positions posted on the website. :shock:

 

[6L6]

Jake,

Have you paid into Social Security? If so, you can start collecting right now. For folks fully paid into the system, you're money ahead to start collecting at age 62 unless you live past the age of 80.

Wonder if Tusq pins would make a difference in the tone of my '06 D-55? I like it so much now that I don't think I'll mess with it.

6

 

[Jake The Loafer]

Jake,

Have you paid into Social Security? If so, you can start collecting right now. For folks fully paid into the system, you're money ahead to start collecting at age 62 unless you live past the age of 80.

Wonder if Tusq pins would make a difference in the tone of my '06 D-55? I like it so much now that I don't think I'll mess with it.

6

6, if I go for SS, I'll get about $1k/mo. If I wait 'til 66 I'll get about $1500. I need at least $2500-$3000.00 monthly to live. I have very little money in IRA & have already taken out $5k in June to keep paying bills. I went to the Dr the other day & he told me that I was eligible for disabilty due to all my problems. 4 low back surgeries, bad knee & now he tells me I'll probably need new hips one day. Disability would give me around $1500/mo. With a house note & everthing else I need to pay for, I don't know how I could survive on that little money. My'98 Expolorer needs a transmission/tourqe convertor & I need about $7-10K worth of dental work done. I'm paying $400/mo for my BC/BS medical so it adds up pretty darn fast. I also need to eat. I don't know what the hell to due

My'05 D-55 sounds great with the plastic pins also. I may go w/ Tusq but I'm counting pennies now & donm't want to sell my guitars. They mean to much to me & I would never be able to rebuild at this point. I sure wish I still had my store. I had some good perks & made a decent paycheck each week. I may look into the disablity thing since the doc said I could always go back to work. having nothing to do is so damn boring.

 

[capnjuan]

:evil: I purchased my Tacoma D-55 about 2 years ago from one of the members on the board. No need to mention names. I think it is an '07. All the specs state that the bridge pins are bone.... I can tell ya, mine are the same old crappy plastic pins & not bone. This kinda pisses me off :!: Maybe the bone pins were kept for his Westerly D-55, I don't know. I wish they were bone, but being out of work, I can't afford jack crap @ present. Just had to vent.

I know plastic when I see it, you can see where it came out of the mold....I always thought is was an '07 but may be wrong... l'd like something harder than plastic for this & my DV52 which is a killer also.

Thanks for the "date" I guess I'll edit my list & change it to '05 from '07

Jake, I believe you are referring to the D-55 you purchased from me. I can assure you that the ONLY things that were changed on the guitar was a replacement saddle (the original from the factory did not fit well) and the action at the nut lowered. All else stock. Your accusation, which comes from being uninformed, and the resulting anger you have brought upon yourself is misplaced and unfortunate. You have in your hands one of the best sounding Tacoma D-55 guitars I have ever come across. I hope it continues to bring you joy and remains an inspiration to your music.

My'05 D-55 sounds great with the plastic pins also.

Hi Jake; so, what you've said here is that you forgot what year your guitar was, you can't tell bone from plastic, you think the original plastic pins you got from Frosty are just fine, and all is good. Which means Frosty didn't short-change you.

 

[Jake The Loafer]

"Hi Jake; so, what you've said here is that you forgot what year your guitar was, you can't tell bone from plastic, you think the original plastic pins you got from Frosty are just fine, and all is good. Which means Frosty didn't short-change you.

Sorry to hear that it's going badly but that doesn't excuse mistakenly pissing on people's good names."

Well, like I said in my post I didn't mention anyone's name & wasn't planning on it. It was Frosty who got on here & put in his 2 cents which is his 1st amendment right. I sent him a PM to try & make amends after he posted that he sold it to me. He could have done the same instead of telling all that he sold it to me. I wasn't out to slander anyone. So, I would just let it go :!:

Oh, I can tell bone from plastic but looks can be deceiving untill you have the whole pin out. I was just under the impression from all the Guild specs that all Tacomas came w/ bone pins & nuts, but I was wrong.

Anyway, all is well, the guitar sounds great with new strings on it as I have been playing it w/ same strings as when I received it. I never meant to piss anyone off & at least I know what date it was made which I tried to find out when I bought it. I quess that I could have posted the SN to be sure but I just haven't been looking at this board much.

Now it is time to change strings on my DV-52 which does have a set of Tusq pins in it.