Bone Or Ivory

[Bobalouie3]

Reading the above posts really makes me glad I went with fossilized walrus ivory, well, that and the SOUND!!!  :lol:  

[hsojeel]

Sublro,
Don't think that just because someone has a differing opinion makes them bad it's just I thought he was talking about Bob Colosi, and well I was just trying to represent him.  I am sure it would be fine and dandy if we never saw ivory except on elephants, but the fact is that if it is gathered through legal means there shouldn't be a problem with it.  Is it okay to use bone?  Why?  Is it okay to use poor helpless fosilized walrus tusk?  Why?
What are you going to end up using? Plastic?  Do you get a good vibe from plastic.  I mean I really am not trying to be rude so don't start thinking that, I just wonder when it stops, and it could make others feel like they have done something bad by having an ivory saddle or nut.
But hey all comments are welcome but we have to have the freedom to express ourselves too.
your buddy
josh

[jimmyd]

I use a chicken leg. That way I have a snack handy when playing. :lol:  

[sublro]

But hey all comments are welcome but we have to have the freedom to express ourselves too.
your buddy
josh

absolutely -

I'm all for discussion, just dislike it when people get huffy so quick (not you). As to the ivory issue, perhaps a debate for another board.   :)

Anyway,  I'm going to give an answer to the original question since I don't want to totally hi-jack the thread here.  

I have both bone and TUSQ saddles for my D-03, which are slightly different heights, and I use them for winter/summer setups. On my D-03 they are pretty much indistinguishable, even after very careful A/B testing using digital recordings in my home studio. I understand that on some guitars the difference between bone and Tusq is more pronounced.

By the way, in case you're wondering, I'm not a vegetarian, so bone saddles to me just make better and more complete use of the cow!  ;)  

[poki]

something i've found in my life experiences is to some degree or another we all live in glass houses B)  

[sacredground]

Okay, I can't resist!

As it's been explained to me, bone saddles are made from cow bone because it seems to have consistent density. I cannot even remember anyone ever advertising elephant ivory in recent years--though I am sure it's possible to find it. The legitimate market uses all fossilized ivory (mamoth or walrus) that is documented thoroughly as to its origin. Go to http://www.guitarivory.com/ for some good info.

Now, onto my "scientific" comparison beween tusq, bone, and fossil ivory.  :o I took a completed saddle made of each and considered the claims made for each. (e.g. they all say that they have superior sound) Not having recording equipment to sample each saddle in the same guitar, I resorted to the time honored technique of tap-tone.

Just like luthiers tap pieces of wood to hear its "voice", I did the same with the saddles. Holding them horizontally over a formica countertop, I dropped each one (in turn) from the height of 2 inches with my eyes closed so I didn't have a bias. Here's what I found.

The tone or "ring" of each saddle had a different voice relative to one another:
Tusq...Alto with shortest duration "ring"
Bone...Tenor with medium duration "ring"
Fossil...soprano with the longest "ring" (definitely Elvish from Loth Lorien) :P

This seems to square with the idea that the bone and fossil saddles are known to sound brighter with better sustain.

Larrivee says that pound for pound Tusq is more consistent in density--e.g. transfers vibration more efficiently. IMHO, maybe we're not talking "better" or "worse" as much as what kind of tone we like.

Hope everyone is having an incredible holiday! :D  

[Randy_R]

cleanly transfering the vibrations from the string to the bridge is what the saddle should do. I'm not sure that adding anything in the middle is desirable, although I expect a case could be made for that.

[Imapickn]

FWIW......  The bone saddle I put on my OM-10 was about the worst thing I could have done to it's sound. It removed the soul from that wonderful instrument.  Needless to say, the Tusq saddle went back on within a few days...
My D-50, with bone, gained sustain, yes...... but it became too harsh and "metallic" and lost some of it's "woody" thump... That guitar is back to Tusq, as well....  Some of my Martins sound great with bone.... some don't... And my Taylors....... oh boy.... way too bright with bone.. (at least for my ears)

Point:... Bone is NOT always a better saddle..  ;)
Don

[ducktrapper]

I've gone with bone saddles on all my acoustics with good results. Some folks do prefer Tusq which is a fine saddle material.
I'm also against creating a market for elephant ivory. It doesn't make any better a saddle material and if it causes one elephant to die unnecessarily, it isn't worth it. Nothing against Bob. I'm sure his ivory is legit but still there's a demand being met that probably should be discouraged. My $.02.    

[poki]

i wonder if anyone makes saddles and nuts using deer antlers?  it seems like pretty hard stuff like bone but the deer shed them every year anyway so it's certainly more eco friendly.

[dbirchett]

The American (Roosevelt) Elk (Wapati) has an Ivory tooth on each side of his jaw. Has anyone every heard of a nut being cut from it. On the other hand, it may not be large enough.

[Randy_R]

We should special order a Razorback tusk nut and saddle for Zack!

;)  

[tim farney]

Yes.

[tim farney]

Ok, that was my smart-&** answer. Here's the real, pretty unoriginal one:

I think a case can be made for ivory, bone, tusq...even cheap plastic. The case for cheap plastic? Less mass sitting right on the bridge. The bottom line is saddles are pretty cheap (well...bone, tusq and cheap plastic are...). Experiment and let your ears decide.

My ears, in complete contradiction of another poster here, have decided that bone sounds a bit fatter and warmer then tusg...and my little Taylor Grand Concert loves it.

Tim