Tusq Saddles? (Full Version)

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at_leo_87 -> Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 26 2009 20:22:58)

Hola!

Has anyone tried tusq saddles?

How does it compare to bone in terms of sound and which one do you prefer?



Anders Eliasson -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 1:38:46)

Do a search. Its been discussed many times.

I dont specially like tusq and prefer a good piece of bone



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 9:02:12)

alright, bone it is.

it's cheaper anyways. [:D]

but im having trouble finding a store that sells them.

thanks anders!



Aadi -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 9:04:21)

I don't know where you would find a pre-shaped bone saddle, if that's what you're after, but LMI (www.lmii.com) has no shortage of blanks.



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 9:09:09)

i'm okay with a blank. my saddle slot is somewhat on the wide side so i have to find a jumbo one. the one i have in right now (from the previous owner) is too thin and it's just wobbling around in there. i hope no damage is being done.



HemeolaMan -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 9:11:46)

wobbly saddles can cause the area in front of the bridge to cave in and the area behind to balloon out.

pick up a caliper too, those are helpful then measure to get the exact size.

the one for older martins (blank bone that is) should be high enough and thick enough and wide enough.



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 9:18:55)

quote:

wobbly saddles can cause the area in front of the bridge to cave in and the area behind to balloon out.


****. i think it already starting to do that. if i post a pic, do you think you would be able to tell?



kovachian -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 10:24:08)

Are there any pet food stores in your area? Ones around here carry bones for dogs. One of those could give you dozens of saddles.



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 13:14:05)

quote:

Are there any pet food stores in your area? Ones around here carry bones for dogs. One of those could give you dozens of saddles.


good idea! i've tried 3 places so far and no luck. might resort to a dog bone. What do i do? Boil it first?

It was impossible to capture it with my camera so I just drew black lines where the lines near the bridge are. They're on both sides. I hope this isn't a sign that it's been structurally compromised.



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at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 13:21:49)

You can see the saddle is slightly crooked. Is it okay if the strings rest on the bridge like this? If not, I might shave it down. I also might be getting in converted to a 12hole bridge. I think I would definitely need to shave it down then.



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GuitarVlog -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 13:28:50)

Do you want it even lower? There's barely any break angle and it looks like the strings are sitting on the saddle AND the bridge.

Anders might be the best person to give you some advice.



kovachian -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 13:47:34)

quote:

good idea! i've tried 3 places so far and no luck. might resort to a dog bone. What do i do? Boil it first?
There's probably as many ways to prepare bone as there are people doing it, but here's the way I did it, for an ooold Yamaha dreadnaught some years back: cut the bone into oversized saddle blanks and soak them in lantern fuel for 2-3 weeks to leech out all the fat. Let the blanks air dry for at least an hour. Bone with all the fat leeched out will be white, but not pure white but if that's the look that you want, then soak the blanks in hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes. Never use bleach to "bleach" bone! You'll regret it.

This is probably more hassle than what most people care to deal with, so they just buy from luthier supply stores instead. But if you don't mind having a bunch of spare saddles to sell, then it's the way to go.

Almost forgot to add, a quicker way to prepare bone:

1. Boil the blanks in water and a dab of dish soap.
2. Remove and let them cool down to room temp.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 two more times.
4. Air dry for an hour minimum.

Then take the optional step of soaking in hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes.



jshelton5040 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 15:03:11)

quote:

ORIGINAL: GuitarVlog

Do you want it even lower? There's barely any break angle and it looks like the strings are sitting on the saddle AND the bridge.

The break angle looks ok to me but you should shave a little wood off the bridge to make sure the strings only rest on the saddle.

Stewart MacDonald (stewmac.com) has oversize bone saddles.



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 15:31:56)

thanks for the explanation kovachian! i will try method 2 tonight!

quote:

The break angle looks ok to me but you should shave a little wood off the bridge to make sure the strings only rest on the saddle.


hi john,
i took it to a repair guy today and he said he can shave off a little but it will be hard to match the finish. should i tell him anything? what will happen if i leave it resting on the bridge? will there be damage?



jshelton5040 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 15:42:43)

quote:

hi john,
i took it to a repair guy today and he said he can shave off a little but it will be hard to match the finish. should i tell him anything? what will happen if i leave it resting on the bridge? will there be damage?


You only need to take the wood off the back side where the strings are touching. Because of the angle the amount of wood that would be exposed is very narrow. Even if it doesn't match it won't be noticible since it's next to the white saddle and under the strings. I have done it many times and never bothered to try to match the color and don't recall any complaints.

You won't do any damage by leaving it as is but it potentially will sound better if you shave the wood.



HemeolaMan -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 17:02:07)

doesn't look like theres much to worry about. i dont see any deformations



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 27 2009 18:42:56)

thanks for all the help!

i'll have it shaven down then. im probably going to get a 12 hole conversion as well.



at_leo_87 -> RE: preparing bone? (Jul. 28 2009 21:58:42)

quote:

Almost forgot to add, a quicker way to prepare bone:

1. Boil the blanks in water and a dab of dish soap.
2. Remove and let them cool down to room temp.
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 two more times.
4. Air dry for an hour minimum.


hey kovachian,

i've boiled them about 4 times so far. do you think it'll be good enough? it still feels a bit slick.

i've read that it's absolutely necessary to soak them in lantern fuel to degrease them or else the grease cause all sorts of havoc. but i dont really want to go through all that trouble.

here's what i got so far.



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at_leo_87 -> RE: preparing bone? (Jul. 28 2009 22:39:37)

.



kozz -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 30 2009 22:42:13)

quote:

i've read that it's absolutely necessary to soak them in lantern fuel to degrease them or else the grease cause all sorts of havoc


Hee At_leo-87, you seem to be working on the guitar [:D]
I also want to give it a try, but I think you should soak them. Glue is made from bones so I can imagine if you dont soak them, the bones eventually get glued onto your guitar with noticing it. But maybe I am wrong about this!



at_leo_87 -> RE: Tusq Saddles? (Jul. 31 2009 0:55:23)

quote:



Hee At_leo-87, you seem to be working on the guitar


i sure am! check out all the other stuff im working on.
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=113865&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

quote:

But maybe I am wrong about this!


i seriously hope you're wrong! lol. i boiled it in water and dishing washing soap. i just want to shape them and put them in. [:(]

if you want to give saddle making a try, i HIGHLY suggest you just buy blanks! it'll save you time AND money. lantern fuel is around 8-10 dollars. the dog bone was 3 dollars.



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