below is the step by step comparison of brass and ebony bridge pins, and light and
medium strings. (Please note, alot of these observations are made as a beginner)


- Already have D'Addario EXP 16(PB, coated, light gauge) and ebony pin, wanted more
bass from either brass pins or Bluegrass strings(PB, light-medium gauge).


Brass Pins + Light Gauge Strings
- With existing PB light strings, I loosen the strings and replaced the ebony with brass.
First impression: Some bass improvement. Sound is less rounded, more in your face,
kinda flat. Decided to let it settle for 10 minutes.

- Back after 10 minutes with the mentality to not expect it to sound like Ebony. Second
impression: Every string is abit louder but on the gingy side, you hear more of the string
metal sound rather than the top wood sound. When strummed, each note in the chord
stay distinct, more noticable longer. Okay, want to do a 2nd comparison with Ebony.

- D string poped at the tuner end. son o@#%@!. Okay no biggy, I guess why not try the
Bluegrass strings (light gauge treble strings, medium gauge bass strings) with brass pin,
and see how much bass with this combination.


Brass Pins + Bluegrass Strings
- So brass pin + Bluegrass strings(D'Addario EJ19). First impression: The move from
light gauge(EXP16) to light-medium(EJ19) is very noticible. Much so than the difference
between Ebony and Brass pins. The treble stays bell like while the bass is well
balanced(as oppose to too soft before). However, the gingy sound of brass pins can still
be heard. Still not comfortable with it, time to try Bluegrass strings + Ebony pins.

- D string poped again!!! SOB!!!!!! I guess its the way I wrap them around the tunner.
(I make only at most one revolution around the tuner, so very little strings are there).
It looks as if the inner core of the string was stressed too much and snapped both times.


Ebony Pins + Medium Gauge Strings
- What to do....got a set of D'Addario medium(EXP 17, PB, coated, medium). Never tried
medium before, first time for everything. My god, the amount of pressure medium strings
exerts can be felt as I turn the tuner (I have a Larrivee LV-02 which should handle medium).
After 2 string pops and never had I tighten strings this much before, I was almost affraid
the medium strings will put too much pressure on my guitar neck.

- First impression with medium gauge strings + Ebony pins: The Bass I like from the
Bluegrass is still there. The treble is more noticable especially strummed, not good.
Its like the light PB strings when I started, only louder with the medium. Also, it takes
more finger strength to (1) pluck/vibrate medium gauge strings, and (2) to more pressure
needed to keep the strings from buzzing. But doesn't take long to get use to (adapt in a
few minutes). However, the change back to Ebony pins replaced the gingy sound with
a warmer, more rounded, abit sweeter sound.


Conclusion
- Phospherous Bronze, Light-Medium gauge strings + Ebony bridge pins
on a Grand Auditorium size guitar = balanced bass and treble with warm, round sound.


Well, there you go. After a couple set of costly coated/nonecoated strings and 2 hours,
I finally found the right sound for my guitar. What is that you are about to say? What
brand of strings did you just suggest? oh nooo....no one tell me anymore things to tweak
for another 6 month! I see your mouth moving, but I'm not listening...lalalalaalalalalalalala
:P  

Can't get along with either brass or ebony pins, they both seem to me to suck the treble out of a guitar; prefer high-quality plastic, or better yet, CAMELBONE!