Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

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Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

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cadam5150

Post subject: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:09 am

Walnut

Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 9:53 am
Posts: 30
Location: Singapore
First name: aDAM
Last Name: cHAN
City: Singapore
State: Singapore
Zip/Postal Code: 323108
Country: Singapore
Focus: Repair
Status: Amateur

Hi,

This is part 1 of a 2-part series of my attempt to debunk and clarify the myths surrounding guitar saddle materials. Hope you will benefit from reading. The link is below.

http://cadam7777777.blogspot.com/2012/01/saddle-materials-for-guitars-part-1.html

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Regards
aDAM

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Ken Mitchell

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:42 pm

Cocobolo

Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:58 pm
Posts: 316

Thanks for posting that, Adam. I've concluded through my own experience that the more expensive materials are not always the best sounding, for a given instrument. I've removed bone saddles on several guitars, and replaced them with softer, less elegant materials, to improve the tone (to my ear).

For me as well, tone is NOT always better with (fill in your rare, expensive material).

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

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Mark Groza

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:02 pm

Koa

Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:51 am
Posts: 1310
Location: Michigan,U.S.A.
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

I had great results useing African ebony for the nut and saddle. It also has a maple fretboard. It's the best sounding dread to date,go figure idunno

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cadam5150

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:05 am

Walnut

Great stuffs! Nut and saddle made from wood!

I will probably experiment with Macassar Ebony!

In my part 2, I will present the elusive relationship between material acoustic properties and tonal characteristics. Hope it can offer enthusiasts a clearer comprehension to this subjective topic.

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aDAM

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Tai Fu

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:42 pm

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:55 pm
Posts: 3820
Location: Taiwan
First name: Tai
Last Name: Fu
City: Taipei
Country: Taiwan
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro

I wonder what about an ebony bridge with an integral saddle, you know just carve a raised portion in the right place as saddle.... beehive

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

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dpm99

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:21 am

Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:27 pm
Posts: 313
Location: McKinney, TX
First name: David
Last Name: Morris
City: McKinney
State: TX
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

I'm looking forward to your next one. I will note that I'd love to get a nice walrus baculum (look it up) at some point, just so I could make nut blanks to sell to guys that play metal. I bet there's money in that. I'd love to hear what you have to say about metals (particularly brass) as a material. I've been considering it, simply for the sake of having an easy string ground.

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David Morris

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Tai Fu

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:28 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:55 pm
Posts: 3820
Location: Taiwan
First name: Tai
Last Name: Fu
City: Taipei
Country: Taiwan
Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro

dpm99 wrote:

[clap]

I'm looking forward to your next one. I will note that I'd love to get a nice walrus baculum (look it up) at some point, just so I could make nut blanks to sell to guys that play metal. I bet there's money in that. I'd love to hear what you have to say about metals (particularly brass) as a material. I've been considering it, simply for the sake of having an easy string ground.

I think for metal players you need human bone... especially for those who likes Cannibal Corpse.

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dpm99

Post subject: Re: Saddle Materials for Guitars Part 1

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 2:05 am

Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:27 pm
Posts: 313
Location: McKinney, TX
First name: David
Last Name: Morris
City: McKinney
State: TX
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

$12 for a metacarpal here:

http://www.boneroom.com/bone/humanpost.html

I think that would be about the right size for a nut.

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David Morris

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