TUSQ for Adj. Saddle??

[anthonyc007]

(Now that we are up)

 

 

Has anyone with a 1960's Gibson with and adjustable saddle ever replaced it with one of these:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tusq-Gibson-Adjustable-Saddle_W0QQitemZ350029120490QQihZ022QQcategoryZ101977QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

And if so, did it make any discernable difference to your ears?

[tedkul]

From what I know, there have only ever been 4 saddles included on original Gibson adj.s

 

1. Original ceramic from the early sixties.

2. Original rosewood from the late sixties.

3. Original corian saddles on reissues from late nineties early zeros.

4. Original tusq saddles on reissues from mid-zeros.

 

I've experimented with all of them and can't hear a difference between the corian and tusq (you can tell the corian from the tusq in that the corian begins to yellow after a couple of years, whereas the tusq seems to retain it's color). I personally prefer the ceramic insert, but the corian and tusq are clearly louder and more closely approximate what most would consider a "good" acoustic sound. I've heard tell that people have had good results with custom-carved bone inserts, but if you're going to go to that extreme, you're probably better off having a luthier carve you a proper rosewood/bone insert that will resemble a more traditional saddle (like this one).

 

 

Personally, I love the chungk sound of the ceramic (and even enjoy the more mellow tones of the rosewood).