Acoustic Guitar Bridge Pins: Proper Fitting, Materials, Problems

A Word About Bridge Pins

Fluted bridge pin vs. solid pin

Types of Bridge Pins

Fluted bridge pins have a groove cut in them which provides room for the string to pass between the pin and bridge.
Solid bridge pins require notches in the bridge to accommodate for the strings diameter.

Bridge Pin Materials Because the bridge pin material may effect the tone and sustain on some instruments, some may desire to experiment with different bridge pin materials. Apart from Ivory bridge pins which often carry a hefty price tag (usually over $100 a set), bridge pins are pretty inexpensive...normally between $5 and $25. Some of the most popular materials used are...

Wood- Ebony, Boxwood, Rosewood etc.
Bone - Fossilized Walrus Ivory, Mammoth Ivory, Bone
Plastic - Tusq®, ABS etc.
Metal - Alloy, Brass

Bridge Pins Sitting High

Fitting Bridge Pins When replacing or fitting new bridge pins I use either a 3° or 5° reamer which matches most bridge pin tapers. I don't prefer to leave them sitting high like those pictured above as our goal is to provide a secure fit and good coupling which will not detract from sustain.

Ball End Off String and Tip of Bridge Pin

Flying Bridge Pins? As the ball end of the string begins to wear the bridge plate a common problem is flying bridge pins. Have you ever tried restringing your guitar only to have the pins pop or fly out when tuning the string to tension? Usually, when a bridge pin will not stay put, wear on the bridge plate is allowing the ball end of the string to pull up and into the plate instead of locking itself against the plate, it could also be a very poorly fitting pin. If wear on the bridge plate is extensive a bridge plate veneer or plugs can help...more here. Another tip which is quite helpful in this instance is to bend a slight hook in the end of the string when replacing the strings. This small "hook" will help the string to catch the edge of the plate and avoid being pulled up into the plate. When the ball end of a string wants to pull into the bridge plate hole the bridge pin must then smash or wedge the string in the hole to prevent it's slippage. Ideally the ball end of the string hooks around the edge of the plate and the bridge pin holds it there. On an instrument without problems or excessive wear it is even possible to remove a few treble string bridge pins when it is strung to tension. Though I do not recommend it, it illustrates the physics.