Bone vs Ivory saddles

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pacowannab

Posts: 35
Joined: Mar. 3 2008

Bone vs Ivory saddles

Will changing the saddle from bone to ivory make much of a diiference on a "high end" flamenco guitar?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2008 1:59:14

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to pacowannab)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pacowannab

Will changing the saddle from bone to ivory make much of a diiference on a "high end" flamenco guitar?

I think bone has a more transparent sound than Ivory and this is to say that it requires less energy to translate sound to the bridge and top. Perhaps translucent is a better word but then ivory has a solid translation that can give a good sound that can help to make less string noise.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2008 9:27:13

ChiyoDad

Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to Tom Blackshear)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Blackshear
I think bone has a more transparent sound than Ivory and this is to say that it requires less energy to translate sound to the bridge and top. Perhaps translucent is a better word but then ivory has a solid translation that can give a good sound that can help to make less string noise.

Hello Tom,

In your opinion therefore, bone is better-suited for a very responsive top?

Maybe you could elaborate?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2008 13:23:34

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to ChiyoDad)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChiyoDad

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Blackshear
I think bone has a more transparent sound than Ivory and this is to say that it requires less energy to translate sound to the bridge and top. Perhaps translucent is a better word but then ivory has a solid translation that can give a good sound that can help to make less string noise.

Hello Tom,

In your opinion therefore, bone is better-suited for a very responsive top?

Maybe you could elaborate?

What I mentioned above is about all I know, with using bone and ivory. Phenolic material, maybe not spelled right, has a certain brightness to it but I like bleached cow bone since it is not a rare material and can suit the sound just fine. What ever the material you use, it can only be credited by its content if you compare it with other examples.

Each guitar may require different materials, and it really should be tried to find the best example for what you want. I tune my guitars with the cow bone saddle and nut.

And I didn't mean to imply that it makes the top more responsive but that it takes less energy to move the sound from the saddle to the bridge and top. Even with better tranference, there is still a point of top movement that has to take place. Perhaps it's better to look at this as a frequency change. It's something I hear with my senses, not something I can explain with science, like Al Carruth.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2008 14:10:15

pacowannab

Posts: 35
Joined: Mar. 3 2008

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to pacowannab)

Thanks for the reply, r Blackshear. As you probably know, I own one of your Reyes copies. It is a joy to play and I adore it. It compares favorably with any Reyes guitar I have heard recorded. I can't speak highly enough of it. I was simply curious as to what an ivory saddle would do to the sound.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2008 20:09:00

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to pacowannab)

I have made saddles with both materials and I cant hear a diference. Seriously, bleached cow bone is a very good material. Buy lots of it and use the open pored pieces for other issues.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2008 0:07:16

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to pacowannab)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pacowannab

Thanks for the reply, r Blackshear. As you probably know, I own one of your Reyes copies. It is a joy to play and I adore it. It compares favorably with any Reyes guitar I have heard recorded. I can't speak highly enough of it. I was simply curious as to what an ivory saddle would do to the sound.

I'm glad you like it. I've tried just about every conceivable type of saddle material there is to get the sound right and there are some pretty good alternatives but the traditional way is ivory or cow bone; for the most part.

Since I tune the guitar along the line with what material is used, it normally has no down side to the tone. The tonal adjustment falls in line just right.

But it's not just one aspect or part of the guitar that makes the difference but every little facet coming together to make the whole instrument.

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Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2008 6:39:50

pacowannab

Posts: 35
Joined: Mar. 3 2008

RE: Bone vs Ivory saddles (in reply to pacowannab)

Thanks also, Anders. I have always appreciated your taking the time to answer my questions. I am still looking forward to the day I can try (and probably buy) one of your guitars. Ricardo holds them in high esteem, so they must be great (you know how biased Conde players are! - Ha, ha.) Cheers!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 1 2008 18:52:24