#1
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Bridge beads?!?
So I ran across three or four varieties of these little items online -- it's a way to secure your nylon strings to the bridge without the customary tie. Who knew? Not me.
Your thoughts? I mean, besides the non-traditional look? I thought I might try them on my ancient beater Hondo, just for an experiment.
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A. Riley rebeginning after a long, long hiatus Ibanez Artwood Vintage grand concert acoustic La Patrie Motif parlor-size classical Cordoba Mini M travel-size classical Cordoba Guilele even smaller classical (so cute!) and Ohana SK20-S soprano ukelele |
#2
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Their main benefit is that they increase the string break angle over the saddle. If there's no need for that, i.e. your saddle is an adequate height, then I wouldn't bother.
I suppose they are easier to tie for the ham-fisted, but that's not their primary purpose IMHO. Cheers, Steve |
#3
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I gave bridge beads a try on a ukulele and a guitar I use to have.
I used the beads because I felt it would help save wear and tear on the bridge from the traditional method of attaching stings to the bridge. You may notice the guitar is showing slight wear on the bridge next to the bridge beads, from when the two previous sets of strings were tied to the bridge. Of the two styles of beads, I preferred the smaller sized beads that are shown on the guitar. Because the beads were a smaller size, it was a little more difficult for my clumsy fingers to thread the nylon string thru those tiny holes and tie off the string, but I favored the more compact appearance of smaller beads compared to the larger beads. If I were to ever get another nylon stringed ukulele or guitar, I would use those smaller bridge beads again that I found at https://www.stringsbymail.com/rosett...ack-13153.html
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Emerald 2016 X7 2017 X20 2018 X30 And four all laminate wood acoustic guitars |
#4
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A luthier friend of mine said they would add a lot of mass to the bridge--he didn't think that was a good idea!
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2012 Kolya Panhuyzen cedar/Brazilian |
#5
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> A luthier friend of mine said they would add a lot of mass to the bridge--he didn't think that was a good idea!
Adding much mass to the bridge wouldn't be a good idea, he's right, but these ties hardly weigh anything. |
#6
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I use the diamond string beads made by Rosette. They weigh almost nothing.
I don’t know how I lived without them! |
#7
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I like them, too. I've recently tired the newer low-profile ones. They're a bit better looking but in some ways are harder to string up. I also have my classical rigged for a twelve-hole bridge, but between the two I think the beads are more secure on the treble strings.
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1967 Aria Classical 1974 Guild D50 2009 Kenny Hill New World Player Classical 2009 Hoffman SJ 2011 Hoffman SJ 12 https://paulashley.weebly.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulAshley https://www.reverbnation.com/paulashley |
#8
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I know this is an older thread, but thought I'd comment here that LaBella has been using bridge beads (ball-end strings) for at least 57 years that I personally know of (I've been using them that long), without many complaints. They're very light weight.
Last edited by H165; 12-30-2019 at 11:51 AM. |
#9
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Another fan of Rosette Diamond beads, very lightweight and easy to use so I have them on my 3 classical guitars.
I can string the Rosett's quicker than the time it takes too lace the strings at the bridge traditionally and they don't slip. They look nice and tidy and I havn't had any issues at all with them. Good product IMHO.
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2023 Eastman AC422CE-ae Katoh DF69s |
#10
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I use bridge beads and have commented on this thread already but just now remembered a comment made about them by a classical guitar repairer. He'd not worked on a guitar that had them before and he told me that having them on made it much easier for him to unstring and restring the guitar while working on the guitar.
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1967 Aria Classical 1974 Guild D50 2009 Kenny Hill New World Player Classical 2009 Hoffman SJ 2011 Hoffman SJ 12 https://paulashley.weebly.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulAshley https://www.reverbnation.com/paulashley |
#11
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Quote:
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Barry My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: Last edited by TBman; 01-12-2020 at 01:37 PM. |
#12
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I highly recommend them. They certainly save time when changing strings. I estimate 5 minutes. I also believe it provides less wear over the years.
I use them on all my classicals. |
#13
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Bridge beads?!?
I also like them. I have had one experience that I will share. I used them on an Emerald X7 nylon. I was putting on Aquila Rubino strings. As i understand it, these strings initially had a breakage issue until the formulation was adjusted. Using the beads all the strings went on as expected except the high E string. It broke at the bead twice. I put it on without the bead and had no further breakage issues. I haven’t had this problem with other strings on other guitars.
Not sure of the significance but thought I’d share the experience. |
#14
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I’ve just bought a set prompted by my thread on ball end strings.
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Probably not really a doctor. |