What's the difference in hardware material?

[oipunkguy]

I don't think this has been talked about much on here. Most of us know that most Mosrites used aluminum or brass hardware. But was other metals used as well? Zinc, or nickel maybe? I'd be curious what some of the experts on here has to say about the topic.
And what's the differences to using different metals. Does one metal sustain more then another, what's the difference in tonal response, etc. Did some models specifically have one type of metal hardware for a reason over another? What say you Mosrite fans

[Veenture]

From a practical point of view my GUESS would be that Semie used whatever was most convenient or at hand at any given time during manufacture and depending on other (financial?) circumstances; i.e. no scientific rocket stuff thinking here...with all respect. I'll be corrected soon enough if things are otherwise.
I think it's been said before here on the Forum that using harder/denser materials make for better(longer) sustain...

[KRamone27]

I know brass and aluminum were used. I think brass more so than aluminum.

[oipunkguy]

some of the fillmore parts I have are much lighter then my american made mosrites parts (bridge, string guide nut, etc) and I can tell the american stuff is brass, but I only own american mosrites from the early 70's. I've heard that the original slab body ventures two had aluminum bridge plates, while the actually bridge was brass.
some Les paul players say that the good stopbars had to be very light weight, and the old ones were made from zinc or aluminum.
On a stratocaster, the tremolo block has been made from everything from copper to zinc, to a resin case, so there has to be something to this.

[Mr. Bill]

I think it depends on which parts you are referring to.

I think that all of the early Vibramutes and bridges were cast aluminum.
The '60s Moseley trems all seemed to be die cast Zinc, with steel bridge plates and steel rollers or brass saddles.
I've seen some later Vibramutes that were chrome plated brass.

Most of the nuts/spacers I've seen were plated brass. I don't recall ever seeing an aluminum one.