steve davis - Posted - 05/14/2012:  15:59:56

I've always been a tinkerer and wanted to see what one of my new Silver Creek guitars might sound like with a Tusq nut and saddle.

My guitar playing pals have been praising the tone from this material.

Just getting one of each was going to cost over $25 ,but Stewmac has a good deal on multiple orders so I got 6 sets for about half price and if I like the way the rosewood one comes out ,I'll set up one of the mahogany 160s.

I love how these guitars respond to tweakings.I'm trying to learn as I go without harming the things.

So far,so good.

Sultans of Claw - Posted - 05/14/2012:  19:55:00

I still like good old cow bone, though  I've not tried the Tusq material yet.  I do have some Corian pieces that I'm itching to try for nuts, though. 

Edited by - Sultans of Claw on 05/14/2012 19:56:48

steve davis - Posted - 05/15/2012:  09:38:01

I have a bit of fine tuning to go,but am very pleased with the tusq nut and saddle on my D170.

un5trung - Posted - 05/15/2012:  14:31:15

I have Tusq on my Larrivee parlor, and I can't say I'm fer or agin.  It works --

raybob - Posted - 05/15/2012:  22:05:38

I have a Tusq replacement nut on my Godin 5th Ave. My luthier put it on to give the strings a bit more spread, the factory nut was also too high. It's very nice now, and the new black nut looks better on this guitar than the white one it came with.  As far as tone improvement, it's hard to say. I'm happy with it.

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 05/15/2012:  22:44:02

quote:

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Originally posted by raybob



I have a Tusq replacement nut on my Godin 5th Ave. My luthier put it on to give the strings a bit more spread, the factory nut was also too high. It's very nice now, and the new black nut looks better on this guitar than the white one it came with.  As far as tone improvement, it's hard to say. I'm happy with it.

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 Different nut materials make very little  -if any-  real difference in tone.

The amount of vibration transmitted through the nut that travels down the neck and eventually becomes sound is miniscule compared to the energy delivered through the bridge, and the nut material could only effect the tone of the open strings in any case.

Once a string has been fretted, the portion between the nut and the fretting finger doesn't vibrate worth mentioning; so what you're hearing is the combination of the bridge and the fret at which the string is stopped.  Not the nut.

~Pete

Edited by - Deaf Lester Crawdad on 05/15/2012 22:54:38

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 05/15/2012:  22:52:44

quote:

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Originally posted by un5trung



I have Tusq on my Larrivee parlor, and I can't say I'm fer or agin.  It works --

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There's no perceptible tonal difference between old-fashioned bone and Tusq anyhoo.

They're both roughly the same weight and density, and the saddle on an acoustic flat-top serves as much as a pivot-point that allows the top to rock back and forth as it serves as a simple support/sound transmitter as on a banjo.

It's sort of like the Jeff Gordon steering wheel cover that's supposed to make your car 20 MPH faster through the corners...

~Pete

steve davis - Posted - 05/16/2012:  03:41:55

It seems to sound similar to bone(I replaced the saddle,too.

I think the nut makes a difference because I've tried nut materials that I didn't like the sound of.

I don't know why that is...it just is.

Put a brass or lignum vitae nut on a banjo.You'll here quite a difference.





If for no other reason than the smell while cutting,I'll take tusq.

Edited by - steve davis on 05/16/2012 03:43:10

Sultans of Claw - Posted - 05/16/2012:  05:06:26

Call me weird, but I kind of like the smell of bone when I'm working with it.  It seems like the trade-off for the depth of color that you get when it polishes up.

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 05/16/2012:  10:47:09

quote:

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Originally posted by steve davis



I think the nut makes a difference because I've tried nut materials that I didn't like the sound of.

I don't know why that is...it just is.

Put a brass or lignum vitae nut on a banjo.You'll here quite a difference.

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No, you won't.    

I went through just about every different nut material possible clear back in the late '60s just to see what differences there might be between them: pearl, bone, plastics, abalone, brass, dural aluminum, and various woods.   The only one that made an honest difference -one you could really hear- was brass.

Because of the much increased mass it added a bit of volume and sustain, but again, it only does so on the open notes.

Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 05/16/2012:  10:54:19

quote:

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Originally posted by Sultans of Claw



Call me weird, but I kind of like the smell of bone when I'm working with it.  It seems like the trade-off for the depth of color that you get when it polishes up.

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 I don't mind the smell, but I've had two or three customers turn pale and leave the shop when I'm cutting bone with a Dremel tool.

Seems the smell and sound suddenly reminds them of their last trip to the dentist.

~Pete