Bone VS Tusq Saddle Recorded with same strings..to compare

[photomat]

 I just had some time on my hands, and I thought I would just see the difference, if any.  I was amazed  how much difference there was. I am not saying one is better than the other...just a comparison.

Here is the Bone Saddle on the FIII M/IS

Bone Saddle mp3 with EXP16


Here is the Tusq Saddle, same guitar and strings.
Tusq Saddle mp3 with EXP16



I like how the tusq is more mellow and the notes are more rounded and compressed, while the bone the notes are so crystal and clear and the trebles really shine while the bass notes seem narrower and a touch thinner.  I had seen a few posts of people talking about bone set ups, and Jim included a bone saddle with the FIII's, and I had never compared the two on the same guitar before.

I can't say which is better, but it is nice to know the change makes such a difference and what the difference is on this guitar. .  It gives me more options when I am trying to dial in my sound.  This is really my first guitar that I plan on using strictly for finger style (I usually strum and flatpick), and with the bone saddle and the wood combination, it sure meets the need of a responsive, loud, easy to play guitar with clear note and string definition and balance across all strings.

I thought I would share with you just for fun.  Everyone hears things differently.  Hope you enjoy the difference

The recording is with the MicroBR internal mic same placement aimed on the 12th fret.  All I did was loosen the strings, change the saddle and tune up.


Thanks again for taking a listen,

[Michael T]

WOW, huge difference. I thought the mids all but disapeared with the tusq. The bone definately has a glassier shimmer to my ear and very balanced increased volume across all the strnigs with a dramatic sustain increase. My personal pref is definately the bone.

[bluesman67]

Matt,

First...nice playing!  Next, what Michael said!   

[flatlander]

Wow is right! Thanks for posting that.  And I like your idea that either can be ok depending on taste or what guitar it's going on.

[BluesMan1]

   Proves why I always have my gits get a bone saddle & nut before I take them home. I can wait a couple of days. Normally.
     Jeff

[ncognito]

Matt--

It seems like the tusque tends to somewhat subdue any extraneous sound like finger movement  I do like how crisp the bone tone is.  I'll have to listen a few more times.  I often wonder what the responses would be if with a comparison test like this if you did't tell us which sound clip was bone and which was tusque until all the votes were in.

          DAVE 

[BenF]

Nice playing

The difference is quite astounding.  I got a BIG surprise when I put a bone saddle in my OM-03 last week.  Far bigger change than I expected.  It is good to be able to compare the two tracks though Matt.  I know my ears weren't deceiving me now!

[markyboy]

Wow! I might be going back to Tusq.. Sorry. I thought the tusq sounded a little less tinny.

[kwakatak]

Wow! I might be going back to Tusq.. Sorry. I thought the tusq sounded a little less tinny.

Yeah, it does sound tinny but realize also that right hand technique and the use of a pick or nails vs. bare flesh will also play a big part.

FWIW, I prefer the tusq soundfile better for your guitar, photomat, though as a rule I prefer a bone saddle on my OM-03R as opposed to the original tusq. I use bare fingers with little to no fingernails and to my ears the tusq was killing the tone of the guitar so off it came. I have no regrets, though when flatpicking it sounds a bit harsh. YMMV.

[prof_stack]

Okay Matt, I finally got around to listening to your clips.  Nice job!

What I heard is pretty much what I hear as different in the bone vs tusq on my LS-03R.  The tusq seems more balanced and filled-out while the bone sounds brittle and thin, in comparison.  I use plastic thumbpick and two metal fingerpicks most of the time and the FIII was bought for that reason. 

So I fight the conventional widsom that says "bone is better, period."  It costs more, so it must be better, right?  Well, not necessarily. 

Bone does look better, though.

[photomat]

Thanks, Prof_stack.

I am really liking the bone saddle now with my ej-16's I put on last week, for fingerstyle.  That is what I really got the guitar for.  With a soft touch, it is clear and crisp and loud, all the things that make it sound bad when strummed with chords, too crisp and individual strings too clear.

I played in our band this week with my Taylor GS Mahogany Cedar, and the sound guys asked why my guitar was so bright sounding.  Well Taylor had factory technicians at a local store, and since I play my gs so hard, it needed some tweaks.  They reset the neck, filed out the dents on the frets, crowned the frets, but in a new bone saddle to replace the old one since the neck was reset, and put on Elixir 80/20.  I usually use EJ-17's, but the brightness seemed to come from the new bone saddle, as i had used the  elixir 80/20 with my old bone saddle, and it was not so snappy.  Maybe bone takes a while to settle in, but I noticed almost the same harshness strumming the taylor as I hear in the FIII with it's bone saddle.

I am pretty sure the FIII M/IS is staying with EJ16 and the bone saddle and it will be used for fingerstyle, because it is becoming the most responsive (for me at least), easiest playing for that style, plus the voice of this wood combination is really growing on me.  (listen to Denis' fine youtube for a great example)

My FIII all Hog is coming this week, so more experimenting for me after I play it the way it comes for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for your input on how your guitar is coming along.  By the way, your playing with thumb and finger picks is so clean.  You would never know you were using metal picks, it sounded great last week!

[pennerblue]

thanks a lot matt-

this is a classic example of the utility of a forum for sharing REAL information.
the difference is surprising indeed.  i may try the same thing with my f3 hogtop and post the results as well.

i have tusq on my other two larries and am accustomed to it.  i have bone on my guild and like it.  i think i might prefer the tusq on the hogtop, we'll see...