pimousso Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Hello forum ! I'm the happy possessor of a new Hummingbird original model (heritage cherry) and noticed that the saddle is bone. I've always heard and read that builders put tusq saddles on guitars with ust for consistency when plugged. This hummingbird has an ust, yet Gibson put on it a bonne saddle. So what to think now ? What am I missing ? Thanks for your clarification ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egoidealmusic Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 My new(sih) 50s J-45 has an UST and a bone saddle, and other than not totally loving the sound of a UST in general I haven't noticed any issues across strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pimousso Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 Yes juste like mine, so desn't that mean that the standard models have tusq for other reasons than the ust ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egoidealmusic Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I don' think so. I think they have tusq to make them more "modern," hence the name (note that all the modern models have tusq, all the originals have bone, I think). Tusq has a brighter, and I think more artificial sound. Some folks here will disagree vehemently, but I think most agree that bone is the way to go, even if you have a UST pickup. Just a more rounded, balanced sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Depends on the guitar and your preference. Most of mine have bone but I've replaced tusq with bone before only to go back to tusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, egoidealmusic said: note that all the modern models have tusq, all the originals have bone, I think Not true, the 60's original J-50 and J-45 have tusq saddles (and adjustable bridges). These models don't have built-in pickups however. I have the J-50 version and it sounds great, but I have never wanted to be like "most people". 🙂 https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Guitar/ACC26R79/60s-J-50-Original/Antique-Natural https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Guitar/ACCJ5F910/60s-J-45-Original/Ebony Edited January 17, 2022 by Boyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevendaymelee Posted January 18, 2022 Share Posted January 18, 2022 (edited) My 2021 Southern Jumbo has a under-the-saddle pickup and came with an uncompensated bone saddle. It sounds like out of this world... aside from the slight intonation issue from not coming with a compensated saddle lol. Edited January 18, 2022 by Sevendaymelee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 21, 2022 Share Posted January 21, 2022 Bone is significantly superior to Tusq to my ears. It’s harder wearing and much nicer to work with too. It can cause imbalance from string to string with USTs, but only if there are density inconsistencies in the bone used. I’ve found most pieces to be absolutely fine, and more issues are likely to occur due to an uneven saddle slot floor than the bone density. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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