NY Albertan Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 I joined the forum for this topic. I found a late 60s Val Dez acoustic (made by Landola Guitars, in Finland - they also made the Espanas). It's a V66 model, sort of a mix between a Martin 00-18 and a Harmony Sovereign H1260. Serious crazing and checking on the top , back and sides , but no cracks thru the wood. I love the sound of this rosewood adjustable saddle. I am wondering does anyone else love this sound? It's so dark, woody, raw. Totally unique. I know this is a purely subjective question, and most don't like the sound. I also know Philadelphia Luthier has the adjustable bone saddles for Gibson's, which will fit into the saddle slot of my Val Dez. I'll order one, regardless, but why are so many so negative about these rosewood saddles? Looking forward to any and all responses, and discussion.
bobouz Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 I currently have two instruments with the adjustable saddles, and have owned two others. One came with a rosewood saddle, but I replaced it with an original '60s ceramic saddle. To my ears and for my style of playing, the ceramic saddle produces a more ideally responsive & percussive tone. It does indeed seem that most folks prefer a ceramic or bone saddle (Tusq is also available), but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the rosewood saddle if the tone you're getting is satisfying to you. Play it & enjoy!
Boyd Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 I have the original on my 1965 J-50 and also like it. But it is certainly a different sound from what people associate with modern Gibsons. It also isn't as loud as my other Gibsons.
NY Albertan Posted July 5, 2019 Author Posted July 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Boyd said: I have the original on my 1965 J-50 and also like it. But it is certainly a different sound from what people associate with modern Gibsons. It also isn't as loud as my other Gibsons. What material is the nut on your J-50? Is it bone? I'll assume the same, of the bridge pins...
zombywoof Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 If you ever get a chance to read the "Wit * Wisdom of Woof" you would find he likes ADJ saddle bridges on flattop guitar with tailpieces over guitars with fixed bridges. I have no intention of swapping out the ADJ saddle bridge on my '61 B45-12. I agree with Leo Kottke that this setup does everything for the 12 string an archtop does for a 6 string. I, in fact, prefer the original rosewood saddle over bone or tusq. The ADJ saddle wrap around bridge on my late 1950s Kay K-24 though is not long for this world. If you want to know why behold the beast in all its glory,
NY Albertan Posted July 5, 2019 Author Posted July 5, 2019 45 minutes ago, zombywoof said: If you ever get a chance to read the "Wit * Wisdom of Woof" you would find he likes ADJ saddle bridges on flattop guitar with tailpieces over guitars with fixed bridges. I have no intention of swapping out the ADJ saddle bridge on my '61 B45-12. I agree with Leo Kottke that this setup does everything for the 12 string an archtop does for a 6 string. I, in fact, prefer the original rosewood saddle over bone or tusq. The ADJ saddle wrap around bridge on my late 1950s Kay K-24 though is not long for this world. If you want to know why behold the beast in all its glory, Wow! That's quite a set up! Mine's more like the J50 above, though the saddle sits straight, not angled. One other thing on your Kay, I have on mine - limited break-angle, on the strings; the bridge pins sit quite far back, on the bridge. Made that way. Mine also needs a new nut. so I am very curious what material Gibson used, for the nut. A bone nut with the rosewood adjustable saddle seems like it might be the best combination I can get.
Boyd Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 1 hour ago, NY Albertan said: What material is the nut on your J-50? Is it bone? I'll assume the same, of the bridge pins... The nut is very white, never really gave much thought as to what it's made of. The bridge pins are plastic replacements (Antique Acoustics? Don't remember). Here are the originals, do you think they actually needed to be replaced? 😁
NY Albertan Posted July 5, 2019 Author Posted July 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Boyd said: The nut is very white, never really gave much thought as to what it's made of. The bridge pins are plastic replacements (Antique Acoustics? Don't remember). Here are the originals, do you think they actually needed to be replaced? 😁 Wow - that almost looks like a ceramic nut. I've seen rosewood nuts on older guitars. I am thinking a bone nut would sound good, with the adjustable rosewood saddle - but I can't find much online about the but material on these old Gibson's, with the adjustable rosewood saddle.
62burst Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 4 hours ago, Boyd said: The nut is very white, never really gave much thought as to what it's made of. Interesting. Having a look at the zombie thread that NY Albertan dug up, , Old Cowboy and el Capitan were talking about seeing brass saddles. . . reminded me- a little white paint missing from your nut. . . is that metal showing through; maybe brass? (oh, cool. new forum does not number replies in a thread)
bobouz Posted July 5, 2019 Posted July 5, 2019 Both of my '66 Gibsons have a very white nut material. Personally, I wouldn't worry about this point too much in terms of overall tone. Either bone or tusq should work fine.
Boyd Posted July 6, 2019 Posted July 6, 2019 22 hours ago, NY Albertan said: Wow - that almost looks like a ceramic nut. Just had a look and tried scratching it with my pocket knife. I think you are right, it feels hard enough to be ceramic. That never would have even occured to me before!
E-minor7 Posted July 6, 2019 Posted July 6, 2019 Helo and welcome - ceramic saddles are a passion here. I got 3 goin - 1 in the 1968 SJ (which came with rosewood) - 1 in the 1963 SJ and 1 one in the 1963 J-45. Would find it hard to live without that spezial sound, but switching to rosewood for certain recordings is not taboo. Actually sat one down in the 63 SJ not so long ago - just to check. No, , , the fragile white clay suits that old square much better. .
NY Albertan Posted July 7, 2019 Author Posted July 7, 2019 2 hours ago, E-minor7 said: Helo and welcome - ceramic saddles are a passion here. I got 3 goin - 1 in the 1968 SJ (which came with rosewood) - 1 in the 1963 SJ and 1 one in the 1963 J-45. Would find it hard to live without that spezial sound, but switching to rosewood for certain recordings is not taboo. Actually sat one down in the 63 SJ not so long ago - just to check. No, , , the fragile white clay suits that old square much better. . So you've used the ceramic nut with he rosewood saddle? I wish Philadelphia Luthiers made ceramic saddles. My intention is to get a replacement adjustable rosewood and bone saddle, and try both. The saddle in this Finnish Val Dez/Landola is in pretty good shape. The guitar is so easy to fingerpick - and the sound is mellow, but pronounced, if that makes sense. I don't have to dig in hard to get sound out of this guitar. What a fun find! But it's nice to have this forum to bounce all this new-found rosewood saddle excitement around a bit.
NY Albertan Posted July 7, 2019 Author Posted July 7, 2019 Here's the sam guitar I am talking about in this thread - just as a reference (not my guitar, of course); https://www.maffosguitars.it/en/shop/chitarre-acustiche/landola-v66/ Note the saddle.
E-minor7 Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 8 hours ago, NY Albertan said: So you've used the ceramic nut with he rosewood saddle? Eeehhh, , , how did a nut enter the picture ?!
Boyd Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 50 minutes ago, E-minor7 said: Eeehhh, , , how did a nut enter the picture ?! Look at the posts above. ... On 7/5/2019 at 2:09 PM, NY Albertan said: Wow - that almost looks like a ceramic nut.
E-minor7 Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 29 minutes ago, Boyd said: Look at the posts above. ... Yup - but my comment clearly is about saddles/inserts.
NY Albertan Posted July 7, 2019 Author Posted July 7, 2019 I am still having difficulty finding the specs for the nut material used on these adjustable rosewood saddle Gibson's. But thanks for all the comments - a good discussion.
E-minor7 Posted July 7, 2019 Posted July 7, 2019 7 hours ago, NY Albertan said: I am still having difficulty finding the specs for the nut material used on these adjustable rosewood saddle Gibson's. But thanks for all the comments - a good discussion. Nut material matters quite a lot - either you sense it or you don't. I experimented heavily after receiving my 1963 J-45, which needed wider spacing. Carved bone, horn, ultra-light plast, , , and ended finding something close to the original : a nylon-like blank-block flown in from China. Kalamazoo used this on many guitars; not sure when it started and stopped. Or if it was featured on electrics and fx mandolins as well.
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