Saddle
Anatomy & Gear
The thin strip on the bridge that the strings rest on, setting the string height at the body end.
The saddle is a thin, curved strip (usually bone, plastic, or Tusq) that sits in a slot on the bridge of the ukulele. The strings pass over it, and it serves as the endpoint of the vibrating string length at the body end (the nut is the other endpoint).
The saddle's height directly affects the ukulele's action (string height). A higher saddle means higher action, which requires more finger pressure but may reduce buzzing. A lower saddle makes playing easier but can cause buzz if too low.
The saddle also affects intonation and tone transfer. A well-fitted bone saddle transmits vibrations more efficiently to the soundboard, resulting in better volume and tone compared to cheap plastic saddles.
Put this into practice with Pocket Uke's free tools