Bone Saddle For My SWD?

[chocobay]

I've read a couple of comments suggesting that my stock saddle be changed to bone on my SWD. I raised the question at my local guitar shop and was asked whether my guitar was acoustic or electric. I told him it was A/E and his comment to me was that a bone saddle will not have any affect on an electric instrument. Does anybody have any further comment or advice regarding changing the saddle (and pins)? I should mention that this shop deals mostly with Martin guitars and doesn't carry but a couple of Gibsons...........maybe he's not that familiar with my guitar???

 

Chocobay

[BigKahune]

.

Some will say tusq is the desired saddle material for a A/E guitar and that's why a lot of A/E guitars come with tusq from the factory.

 

I've got a Gibson A/E that came from the factory with plastic bridge pins, bone nut, tusq saddle and a UST - a J-200. I wasn't satisfied with acoustic low end with the tusq saddle. I had Bob Colosi send me a bone saddle made for Gibsons and bone bridge pins. In my case, the low end sounds much better with the bone saddle/pins. It's not an expensive mod, so I would suggest you give it a try.

 

[EuroAussie]

My philosophy is that an acoustic guitar should first sound great unplugged, and hence it makese sense to make modifications that will ehnance the tone or playability.

 

When i bought my SWD it was to be primarily my main gig guitar, but in reality i spend the majority of time playing it unplugged. If i wasnt happy with the acoustic tone i would not have bought it.

 

With that in mind i also bought colossi bone saddle and pins to add to the bone nut it came with.

 

I could definitely hear an increase in clarity and projection, and for a resewood guitar which can go muddy easily that is a good thing.

 

Did it improve the plugged in tone, I dont know, maybe, but that tone come mainly from the pickup and fishman aura spectrum i use.

 

So if you will also play a lot unplugged then i would definitely recommend making this affordable upgrade. you can always go back to tusq if you dont like it..

[AnneS]

.

Some will say tusq is the desired saddle material for a A/E guitar and that's why a lot of A/E guitars come with tusq from the factory.

 

I've got a Gibson A/E that came from the factory with plastic bridge pins, bone nut, tusq saddle and a UST - a J-200. I wasn't satisfied with acoustic low end with the tusq saddle. I had Bob Colosi send me a bone bridge made for Gibsons and bone bridge pins. In my case, the low end sounds much better with the bone saddle/pins. It's not an expensive mod, so I would suggest you give it a try.

 

So stinkin' pretty!

 

I'm taking my J-100 in next week to have a Colosi bone nut and saddle put in. Question for you, BK: Did you have any issues/make any special adjustments with how the bone saddle makes contact with the UST? I understand that bone is softer and may not conduct vibration to the ribbon UST in quite the way the harder tusq material does, but I wonder what you--or others--have experienced in the real world.

 

Besides "Test it!!," is there anything else I should tell my luthier on this score? Thnx!

[EuroAussie]

I have one piece of advice Anne. When you get it from Bob, take it to a trusted Luthier and ask him to fit in properly and make it shine.

 

Thats what i did in each case and my luthier prepared it perfectly, as the saddle that Bob prepares is usually a little large so you can make final adjustments.

 

I would not want to try to shave and trim it myself, there are people much more qualified to this than me ..

 

So stinkin' pretty!

 

I'm taking my J-100 in next week to have a Colosi bone nut and saddle put in. Question for you, BK: Did you have any issues/make any special adjustments with how the bone saddle makes contact with the UST? I understand that bone is softer and may not conduct vibration to the ribbon UST in quite the way the harder tusq material does, but I wonder what you--or others--have experienced in the real world.

 

Besides "Test it!!," is there anything else I should tell my luthier on this score? Thnx!

[BigKahune]

So stinkin' pretty!

 

I'm taking my J-100 in next week to have a Colosi bone nut and saddle put in. Question for you, BK: Did you have any issues/make any special adjustments with how the bone saddle makes contact with the UST? I understand that bone is softer and may not conduct vibration to the ribbon UST in quite the way the harder tusq material does, but I wonder what you--or others--have experienced in the real world.

 

Besides "Test it!!," is there anything else I should tell my luthier on this score? Thnx!

 

Thanks Anne

 

Bob sent a set of instructions, and since I've been doing my own setups and adjustments for years, I did it myself. I happen to have a nice flat block of marble to which I taped some fine sandpaper (per Bob's instructions) then I held the saddle straight and took it down bit by bit until I had the height I wanted. Then I trimmed the width. Turned out great. No issues as the bottom of the saddle was perfectly flat - laid on the marble with a flash light behind it and no light showing underneath. Some would find it annoying to take some height off, set the saddle tune up and check the action, more than a couple times - for those it would be wise to get with a shop/luthier. If you can do without the guitar for a while, you can send Bob the saddle and he'll make an exact copy for you.

[drathbun]

I understand that bone is softer and may not conduct vibration to the ribbon UST in quite the way the harder tusq material does, but I wonder what you--or others--have experienced in the real world.

 

I don't know that Tusq is harder than bone... perhaps it is. But I thought the problem with bone and UST's was that bone isn't as even in density, therefore it has an unevenness when it comes to transfering to the pickup. It is probably this uneven density that makes bone sound better acoustically. To my ears anyway.

 

I love Bob's saddles. He polishes them up so purdy!

[MichaelR]

My philosophy is that an acoustic guitar should first sound great unplugged, and hence it makese sense to make modifications that will ehnance the tone or playability.

 

When i bought my SWD it was to be primarily my main gig guitar, but in reality i spend the majority of time playing it unplugged. If i wasnt happy with the acoustic tone i would not have bought it.

 

With that in mind i also bought colossi bone saddle and pins to add to the bone nut it came with.

 

I could definitely hear an increase in clarity and projection, and for a resewood guitar which can go muddy easily that is a good thing.

 

Did it improve the plugged in tone, I dont know, maybe, but that tone come mainly from the pickup and fishman aura spectrum i use.

 

So if you will also play a lot unplugged then i would definitely recommend making this affordable upgrade. you can always go back to tusq if you dont like it..

 

EA - Do you happen to remember what size pins you have for your SWD? Thanks....

[EuroAussie]

I'm afraid I don't have the faintest idea what size they are, sorry.