Tusq vs Bone Challenge On-Line Shootout

[danerada]

I JUST changed out my Tusq saddle for a Colosi bone in my D-09.  Noticeable difference, and the bone is definitely better.
It was a pain to shape the stupid thing though.

I did teh same thing with my D-09 about 7 months ago. It really did make a difference. I am very happy with it, but you are right...it was a pain to get teh shape just right.

[aschroeder]

Those clips are ridiculous. A single strum to judge the difference in sound? I know that's how I test out guitars. I walk up, strum them once, and then buy them.

I have used both bone and TUSQ saddles. They do sound different, and there is no right or wrong answer. But in every case, bone always sounds better to my ears.

Bone is denser than TUSQ. One quick way to tell is by sanding them down. TUSQ sands down very quickly, but bone takes some time.

[Randy_R]

I'll point out that density does not necessarily equate to good sound. If it did, people would make saddles out of lead.

neither does density equate to hardness.

[lleo]

Picking the samples the way they are, I prefer the bone sound. It's mellower and rounder. The Tusq sounds brigher, louder and with more sustain. But! Keep in mind that the bone, just to make an example, might sounds good on a guitar and bad on another one. For example: pick a Martin and a Gibson. They sound practically the opposite: bright and loud the first, dark and softer the second. Mounting a Tusq on Martin would only increase the volume and the already high trebles. In other words it would be to multiply its characteristics. By other hand, mounting it on the Gibson, it would to upset a little its classic "in the tube" sound.
Also, alot depends on the strings. So the sample it's good but it must get picked up for what it is.

[leftync]

sounds to me like they hit more strings on the second strum.

that said, i replaced tusq with a colosi bone saddle and i think it sounds better. like the others said, it's a big pain to do it, but it does sound better.

[sigurdd48]

Different strokes (strums?) for different folks.

I have a new OM-03MT, came with TUSQ, ordered a colossi bone saddle to try. The guitar is new, so it might not be justified to judge tone
After running the bone for a few weeks, I thought it was starting muted (maybe this is the round tone people describe). I switched back to the TUSQ and like the brighter louder tone a bit.
Was second guessing myself, so I switched back to bone. No, it sounds nice enough but sort of like it was holding back. Switched back to Tusq.

The MT may be playing into the nature of the tone and which material transmits it better

I rekon I"ll be doing this for the next several years.
I also rekon that as the axe opens up, I will try other saddle options

[drathbun]

I picked the Tusq (of course) but bone is definitely better in my L05.

[prof_stack]

I have a new OM-03MT, came with TUSQ, ordered a colossi bone saddle to try. The guitar is new, so it might not be justified to judge tone After running the bone for a few weeks, I thought it was starting muted (maybe this is the round tone people describe). I switched back to the TUSQ and like the brighter louder tone a bit. Was second guessing myself, so I switched back to bone. No, it sounds nice enough but sort of like it was holding back. Switched back to Tusq

Wow, that's about exactly what I did on my (now owned by Cybernator) L-03MT.  I kept thinking that bone must be better but my ears weren't buying it for that axe.

[sunburststrat]

One strum is not a good way to make a comparision. espcially since they're not even at the same velocity. Sample A is clearly strummed softer and quicker. In Sample B it is blatently obvious that they dig in and take their time, that last string is lagging so far behind. The strummer may have even missed a few bass strings in sample A. Blah, sales gimics.

I agree!  That was my first impression.