No matter where you decide to take an acoustic guitar, playing in the subway or down to your local open mic night , you won’t need much to get your point across to an audience. The acoustic guitar is very portable. Try pushing a grand piano through town during rush hour to see what we mean. Actually... don’t. It’s just too frightening to contemplate. OK, acoustic guitars are brilliant. We’ve established that much. But some of you may wish that you were getting more tone and sustain from your acoustic. Did you know that by changing a few basic components you could transform your guitar from a decent sounding instrument into something more special? You didn’t? Well, you’ve come to the right place. You can of course add some magic to an acoustic guitar by using superior quality strings. So many guitarists compromise the tone and tuning stability of their instruments by using cheap guitar strings. Don’t be one of them. Choose your favourite gauge from the D’Addario range of top quality guitar strings. Each string set has an accurate description of its tonal properties to help you make the right choice. When you do, you’ll never look back. Strings aside, there is another area on the acoustic guitar that can be hugely improved by quality replacement parts. We’re talking about bridge pins. You thought they just stop the strings from falling out, right? Well, they do that too, but the material that your bridge pins are made from can make a huge difference to the tone of your guitar. They can also improve the appearance of your instrument. Here’s a guide to the different materials used in the manufacture of Planet Waves bridge pins to help you choose the correct pins. PLASTIC: Not all plastic pins are the same. The quality of plastics used in the manufacture of bridge pins varies greatly so choosing your pins wisely is essential. Pins made with soft plastics will become worn with each successive string change causing them to ‘pop out’ when you tune the string up. It’s very frustrating! Planet Waves uses tough ABS plastic in the manufacture of its pins so you can rest assured that they will keep on doing their job for years to come. Planet Waves injection-moulded ABS plastic bridge pins are available in black with ivory dots, ivory with black dots, or simple black or white. There’s one to suit every acoustic guitar. BOXWOOD: What’s boxwood you ask? For centuries this tightly grained wood has been used for decorative inlay work on craftsmen-built furniture. Not bad, huh? Boxwood is tough, which provides great sustain properties, while its beauty enhances the appearance of surrounding wood – in this case your precious acoustic guitar. Planet Waves boxwood pins are available with a genuine black pearl or turquoise inlayed dot, or without a dot for fans of understated beauty. EBONY. Ebony has been a favorite material of instrument makers for many centuries. It’s a very tough wood that is often used as the fingerboard material on expensive guitars. Ebony’s toughness produces a bright tone, in contrast to the warmer tone of rosewood, and the sustain it provides make it perfect for use as a material for bridge pins. Planet Waves ebony bridge pins are available in plain ebony or with a genuine abalone dot. True show-offs will love the genuine pearl or turquoise inlay models, and there’s a brass inlay edition for those looking for something a bit different. IT’S PIN VS. PIN! Choosing the pin material that’s right for you will be influenced by three factors: your budget, the sound you want, and the look that you want your guitar to have. Budget is easy – Planet Waves pins are affordable, no matter which style you choose. So, tone is next. If you like a mellow tone and need an increase in sustain, then the boxwood pins are perfect for you. Boxwood will provide a good snug fit in the bridge of your guitar, making great sustain possible. Although much cheaper, plastic pins also provide