tiki_ink
Well-known member
I want to replace my stock bridge pins on my Kanilea K-1T. Can I just use guitar size bridge pins or does anybody have suggestions? Thanks. :shaka:
Hey noobie,
I'm a noobie too. I'm no expert, but not a bad question. Whether or not a uke has bridge pins is up to the manufacturer. Most ukes do not have them, but, Kanile'a in particular solely uses them in their production ukes. I don't know if it is their trademark, but it is definitely recognizeable. I am sure there are a few other costum uke builders that use bridge pins also. Thats my 2 cents.
Stackabones: you do tie a knot. At the end of the nylon string, then it catches into the slot in the bridge. The pins themselves don't hold the string in (case in point, you can take out the pin and the string stays put -- the string itself fits into the slot/groove in the bridge).
I put Stew Mac pins on my Lanikai LK-1s a few days ago and love them. They're the snakewood unslotted ones with abalone dot, and I especially like how they match the abalone in the fretboard. And I SWEAR I've noticed an improvement in the tone of the instrument!
On Stewmac.com, there are Koa Pins but these are unslotted, does it still work fine ?
On the Kanile'a (s) the unslotted ones work just fine. I have had to shape a few of them with some 400 grit to get them to seat perfectly.
Remember that wood swells and moves so if it they go in tight and the instrument is dry and then you humidify you might have trouble getting them out.