Not satisfied with bone bridge saddle

[Porkchop]

Hi all - I just had my Gibson J-150 set up and since the factory bridge saddle was cracked, I had it replaced with a bone one. I had heard that these were the best, and I expected more volume, more brilliance, and better sound in general. To me it sounds uneven in frequency response in comparison to the old one, which says "Fishman" on it. I have been using Gibson phosphor bronse strings and I'm fairly happy with them, but the technician put on Martins, which I have also been happy with in the past. But now the guitar seems a little dull. Any ideas?

 

Thanks

[min7b5]

I change out my saddles every other month or so. I

[JasmineTea]

When putting a new saddle on a guitar, the tech has to loosen/tighten the strings many times to check the hight of the strings. Usualy he breaks a string or two in the process.

If he's anything like my tech, he only keeps one brand of string at the shop (he's not a dealer, he's a repairman) and when he breaks one from the set I give him, he replaces it with one of his- a different brand.

Could be your tech broke a string or two and replaced them with whatever was handy. Try your brand of strings.

[Prozak]

Originally posted by Porkchop Hi all - I just had my Gibson J-150 set up and since the factory bridge saddle was cracked, I had it replaced with a bone one. I had heard that these were the best, and I expected more volume, more brilliance, and better sound in general. To me it sounds uneven in frequency response in comparison to the old one, which says "Fishman" on it. I have been using Gibson phosphor bronse strings and I'm fairly happy with them, but the technician put on Martins, which I have also been happy with in the past. But now the guitar seems a little dull. Any ideas? Thanks

 

 

I was over at the Breedlove groups discussion at yahoo and one guy said he preferred the way tusq sounded as opposed to bone. I put in a walrus ivory saddle in my Larrivee and I have to say the tone improved. So my guess is that bone is not inherently better. What works best will depend on the guitar, and what your ears prefer. Over at the Larrivee forum one guys said he thought the tone improved when he upgraded his saddle to bone on one guitar, but on his second he didn't notice any difference.

[Porkchop]

I forgot to mention that the tech didn't cut a groove on the saddle for the strings. They just lay where they're supposed to by tension. (?)

[GN-Nick]

Any change you make to a guitar will be just that....a change.

Every guitar is different. Everybody's ears are different. Strings are different. Humidity, build quality, room acoustics are all different.

Anyone who tells you bone sounds better than anything else, do yourself a favor and shoot him.

Bone may sound better, then again plastic may too.

Tusq might, but Corian could improve your sound even more.

Bone could make your guitar sound like crap. So could plastic, corian, fossilized walrus ivory, or pteradactyl claw.

Two people listening to the same guitar after the change may say "It's much better" and "I liked it better before"

Bone is not better, it's different.

Listen and trust your own ears.

If you don't like it now, change it back.

[Mr Handman]

Well that isn

[GN-Nick]

Mr Handman is correct, I mispoke a bit....

Bone is certainly better at transfering energy.

However, that may not be the response you are looking for.

For instance, you have a maple guitar that is bright, so you may not want bone. You may be happier with plastic.

Yes I know, I know, but I'm speaking theoretically. Plastic usually isn't your best choice.

I have perhaps a dozen guitars, maybe two of them have the same kind of strings.
The same kind of strings often don't sound best from guitar to guitar.

The same holds true for the saddles. A couple of my guitars have micarta, some bone, some tusq. How did I choose? I listened.

Whenever you get a new saddle made, get a couple in different materials. You can change them when you change strings or when you want a slightly different sound.

[Porkchop]

Originally posted by Mr Handman Is your new saddle TIGHTLY fit? I mean so tight that you could lift the guitar up by the saddle. Yep, that is how tight you want it. Absolutely NO slop what...so

[Mr Handman]

WHAT?