Bridge pin

A tapered peg that holds the ball end of a string inside the bridge of a steel-string acoustic guitar.

On a pinned bridge the string is threaded through a hole in the bridge plate and its ball end is trapped under the bridge pin, so the pin must seat firmly without being forced. Bridge pins are made in a range of materials, and because they sit in the path of the string they subtly colour the tone, though the difference between materials is far smaller than marketing suggests. A pin that is too loose allows the string to creep, and one that is too tight can crack the bridge.

Example: Restringing an acoustic dreadnought involves pushing each string into the bridge with its bridge pin before winding it at the headstock.

Bridge pin

See also