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Just as metal guitar strings can grow dull over time due to factors like wear and tear and humidity, nylon ukulele strings will also get old over time, and that will affect your sound.
But for some ukulele players, changing the strings seems like a daunting task.
Luckily, Fender’s new line of California Coast ukuleles boast a no-tie bridge that allows you to re-string your uke without cutting or complex knotting.
Many ukuleles use a tie-bar bridge that requires you to thread the string through it from the side closest to the sound hole, and then looping that end around and around the string to make a complicated knot (sometimes called a “classical tie”). It’s a process that could take 20 minutes to the untrained hand.
Fender’s Rincon, Montecito, Zuma, Seaside and Venice ukuleles have convenient slots in their bridges that significantly cut down the time it takes to re-string.
All it takes is a small knot at the very end of the string to mimic a ball that one might find on metal guitar strings and pull it through the bridge.
“It’s a top-loading bridge. You still do have to tie a knot, but you don’t have to actually wrap it around the tie block and do the whole loop it twice and pull it through,” said Fender Acoustic Product Manager Rodrigo Ibieta. “Once you have your simple knot, you just put it through the bridge like you would with most guitar bridges.”
Changing your strings is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to breathe new life into your ukulele. The new strings will undoubtedly sound more sprightly and active, not to mention make it more comfortable to play.
“Strings eventually get tired. The more you play them, you might not see physical wear, but they won’t hold their tune as well and won’t sustain as long,” added Fender Acoustics Vice President of Product Development Brian Swerdfeger. “The best way to improve the sound and feel of your ukulele is to change your strings.
“And If you can tie a knot, you can re-string your ukulele easily with this bridge.”
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