Sitedrifter Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Since my new J200 was actually in a showroom, it got played over the past year and new strings were added. I noticed on the D &G string part of the saddle it is a little too grooved for my taste. No issues with sound and intonation is spot on but the wear will eventually have a negative effect. I purchased a bone saddle from Bob Colosi as well as a OEM TUSQ saddle (to trial wy fitment skills) and look forward to getting the bone saddle on at next string change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Yeah, the bone saddle is the way to go for me also. To my ears the tone is warmer and more mellow, not quite as crisp. Get us some pics and audio files if you have the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I have a J 200 Standard, I changed the saddle from Tusk to ivory, made it sound a little brighter to my ears, I'm now having the nut changed from Tusk to bone and the tuners from Rotomatics to Keystones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 . I was just commenting on bone in another thread, so throw in here. . I have a J-200 that came with a bone nut, tusq bridge and plastic pins. Sounded great amped, but acoustically I thought it was muddy in the mids and not enough clarity in the highs. I switched to all bone (Colosi) and acoustically, to my ear, the muddiness was gone and the highs clear; and amped it still sounds great. I think you've got a good move going. Good luck. . B) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 Don't get me wrong, I love TUSQ stuff in fact their picks are the best. But because this tusq saddle is worn in, I just want another and wanted something that will last longer, hence the bone saddle. If it sounds better as a result, awesome, if not, then I either go to tusq to match the nut or (most likely) change the nut to bone to match the saddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ritchie69 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I switched to bone saddle too on my J200 Custom, but I must say that the tusq works better on UST equipped acoustics, in terms of string balance issues. With a new saddle, remember to always check the saddle bottom for flatness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 I switched to bone saddle too on my J200 Custom, but I must say that the tusq works better on UST equipped acoustics, in terms of string balance issues. With a new saddle, remember to always check the saddle bottom for flatness. Amazing that you said that about UST equipped acoustics. My 5* talked to me about adding a bone saddle for me and he said he has bone for acoustic and bone for acoustic electric as he stated there could be balance issues. The bone saddle I will install myself to the same height as the OEM saddle which was sanded a bit (height wise) for a better action. Glass table and 600 grit sand paper will do the leveling trick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 What I don't get is why a Colosi bone saddle costs twice as much as a pre-shaped Gibson bone saddle from most other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 What I don't get is why a Colosi bone saddle costs twice as much as a pre-shaped Gibson bone saddle from most other places. I have wondered this also. But then again customer service has a price and I've never once read anything negative about the guy. Peace of mine it's worth a couple of quid maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 14, 2013 Author Share Posted October 14, 2013 What I don't get is why a Colosi bone saddle costs twice as much as a pre-shaped Gibson bone saddle from most other places. Can you point me to pre-shaped Gibson bone saddles? I found some at stewmac but pre-shaped is a bit of a stretch since they are very over sized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 Strange a virtually new saddle would have visible grooves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I bought a nicely shaped bone saddle off some guy on eBay for like $12 last year. I have nothing against Colosi products. They are probably excellent and as somebody noted customer service you can count on is worth paying a little more for. I am just a cheapskate. I do like because I do figure they will not wear as quick as other materials. I have never heard one sliver of difference though in sound between tusq, bone and plastic saddles. If you are talking about dumping a metal, rosewood, or ceramic saddle that is a different story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 You can often get the Colosi saddles cheaper - he has blemished ones. I recently bought one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Strange a virtually new saddle would have visible grooves. The one J200 I purchased (it was made this august) and sent back had grooves in the TUSQ saddle. I assume TUSQ is just a fancy plastic and with high tension on the strings, it immediately cuts into the saddle. Bone is harder so it may take longer but for my J200 I now own, it was a showroom model and test played over the past year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 You can often get the Colosi saddles cheaper - he has blemished ones. I recently bought one. I would not put a blemished anything on this beautiful guitar of mine. The way I look at it, if a guitar cost me 3k, then a $25 blemish free saddle is not much to spend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I think one of the reasons people like tusq is it is easier to shape than bone or hard plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 I switched to bone saddle too on my J200 Custom, but I must say that the tusq works better on UST equipped acoustics, in terms of string balance issues. Tusq is a very consistent material, while bone is not in density. This can potentially effect the UST's balance from string to string. That said, experimenting with saddles is still cheap fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sitedrifter Posted October 15, 2013 Author Share Posted October 15, 2013 Tusq is a very consistent material, while bone is not in density. This can potentially effect the UST's balance from string to string. That said, experimenting with saddles is still cheap fun! Sure will be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ritchie69 Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 1381856673[/url]' post='1438146']Tusq is a very consistent material, while bone is not in density. This can potentially effect the UST's balance from string to string. True! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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