Bridge Bone Beads Review
3June 19, 2011 by Tim
What is not having to tie your strings to the bridge worth to you? Is it worth $11? For me it is not, but for some I can see this being a great product. The Bridge Bone Beads set that I received from Rosette Guitar Products came in a while ago and I finally had time to install them. I am lucky that I have 2 sets of almost identical ukuleles to try them on.
I put the white set on one of the Tall Grass Bamboo ukes (The non-port hole one) and the other I put on one of the Eleuke acoustics. If you expect them to do anything to sound then do not buy these, 
they made no noticeable difference in sound, but….they seemed to change the tension or feel of the strings. I think the sharper angle that the strings come in at makes the strings feel like they are tighter. Makes sense. On a banjo you see that some have an extra piece that hold the strings down, this is done to add tension behind the bridge. Same kind of thing happens when you use these Bone Bridge beads, or any other bead that makes it so you don’t have to tie the string to the bridge. Here is a post of what my friend Andy uses.
- Andy’s Pearls
I can’t pan this product, nowhere does it say it will improve tone or sound, and I see how it can improve response since the strings have more tension on them. Otherwise it delivers on the quickest string change, and it is easier to change strings. Adding unique visual character? I think it looks like the ukes have teethe, especially the Tall grass with the white ones. Beyond that it does its job holding the string to the bridge with the added bonus of not having to tie a single knot. Also a lot of thought went into the product. They shave down the side that faces the soundboard so it will not buzz, and it is made of a known material that will not kill the sound, bone.
I use to play guitar before the ukulele took over my life, and I am a pack rat. I saved the little beads that were on the ends of the strings I used. I now use them when I string any of my tie on bridges. Others have used nice round pearls or other bead to do the same thing. Cheaper by a long shot. A few cents per string compared to a few dollars per string, but the DIY methods you need to tie knots to hold it in place. Both ways work and have their pros and cons. it is a matter of what you think it is worth to you.
Where to Buy Them.
http://www.southcoastukes.com/stringuide_files/BBBs.htm
Weird thing is that you save $1 if you buy them with strings.
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Ukeeku.com 
Interesting. I have been known to use random beads from my craft box when stringing a uke–especially when stringing a baritone for re-entrant tuning. Takes the stress off the bridge for the C string or something. You can get pretty snazzy if you want to. I don’t think I would purchase this product, though. The beads look clunky, though it’s not a bad idea. What about trying a crimping bead? PS beads also come in handy if you have a broken nut or bridge. Just pop one on and feed the string through it. It will save your tail till you can get to a luthier.
Have to say that I think BridgeBoneBeads are an EXCELLNT idea. Now first, uke players typically change their strings less than a “typical” daily-plyaing guitar player. But when you change them, tye-on bridges are cumbersome w/the small guage strings AND have you noticed the indentations the strings make over time? The mechanics change as well w/tie-on vs. the BridgeBones as you noted. The strings “break over” the bridge at a steeper angle since the string isn’t countering some of that “break angle” y pulling up via the loop under the string. I have a set on my Kala “Might Uke” & they look GREAT & the origina factory strings had already started gouging the bridge tie points. I will be putting a set on my LoPrinzi tenor this week & will likely put them on my G-String uke later this month. I agree that they might be a bit overpriced, but the design is ingenious & make for much easier string changes.
I just put BridgeBoneBeads on a tenor I have, which involves passing the strings through the soundboard and tying off inside the uke, like many guitars do. I really like these beads. They are actually quite small in relation to a tenor size uke at any rate, and they are much easier to get right the first time (ever have your little knot slip??). I don’t see $11 as an insurmountable obstacle: it’s a one-time purchase.