Bridgepins, saddles, and the quest for perfect tone

[plaidseason]

I've had great results with Tusq saddles and bridge pins. I just recently moved to Tusq pins on my F44 and it really helped. The saddle is already bone, so I didn't touch that. But the new Tusq pins notably affected the sustain and volume. I have no idea why I kept using plastic all these years.

I went from the original saddle to a compensated Tusq saddle on my DV4 and it had a profound effect. It took a good sounding guitar and made it a great sounding guitar. I plan on switching to Tusq pins as well at some point.

I've used bone saddles with great results, but I've never used bone pins.

No matter what you choose, almost anything is an improvement on plastic.

-Chris

 

[devellis]

Plastic just doesn't hold up as well. The saddles develop grooves and the pins get all chewed up by the ball ends on the strings (unless your pin holes are slotted and ramped). I think the sound changes will vary from guitar to guitar (at least in my experience). I've never had a guitar sound worse with bone but they don't all necessarily sound better, either. I'm more skeptical about the tone effects of pin material but I'll admit that my experience with comparisons is pretty limited. So, I'll keep an open mind. Still, I dislike plastic for its fragility, irrespective of whether it sounds better or worse than bone or wood.

I'll echo people's endorsement of Bob Colosi. I've dealt with him and he's knowledgeable and helpful and stands behind his products.

One last observation. Based on a recommendation of a guy I took a few lessons from, when I'm dissatisfied with the action on a guitar, I now buy a couple of replacement saddles rather than messing with the original. This gives me an easy way to reverse the process and an opportunity to fit saddles with different heights that can be swapped, depending on weather, current playing style, alternative string gauges, or what have you. Having done this in the past, I'm convinced of its merit and will do likewise in the future. Messing with the original saddle is pretty much in my past at this point. Just something for people to consider.

 

[Rich]

Plastic just doesn't hold up as well. The saddles develop grooves and the pins get all chewed up by the ball ends on the strings (unless your pin holes are slotted and ramped). I think the sound changes will vary from guitar to guitar (at least in my experience). I've never had a guitar sound worse with bone but they don't all necessarily sound better, either. I'm more skeptical about the tone effects of pin material but I'll admit that my experience with comparisons is pretty limited. So, I'll keep an open mind. Still, I dislike plastic for its fragility, irrespective of whether it sounds better or worse than bone or wood.

I'll echo people's endorsement of Bob Colosi. I've dealt with him and he's knowledgeable and helpful and stands behind his products.

One last observation. Based on a recommendation of a guy I took a few lessons from, when I'm dissatisfied with the action on a guitar, I now buy a couple of replacement saddles rather than messing with the original. This gives me an easy way to reverse the process and an opportunity to fit saddles with different heights that can be swapped, depending on weather, current playing style, alternative string gauges, or what have you. Having done this in the past, I'm convinced of its merit and will do likewise in the future. Messing with the original saddle is pretty much in my past at this point. Just something for people to consider.

Excellent post, Devellis!

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I have a very nice hand made custom 1980 Yamaha L20A that came with 2 saddles.
One for dry weather and one for humid weather.
They were not bone though.
I used them for many years before I put a bone saddle in it.
It sounds a lot better now and with proper humidity, I don't need to change it any more.

 

[taabru45]

I just changed my strings, trying Martin 80-20 bronze mediums They seem just fine, but I am getting more volume and maybe more brightness..why? Well I lifted out the saddle which is tusq and very thin, and it wasn't level on the bottom ..more like a little bridge with not solid touching all across, so I leveled it out without taking any more off than was necessary, and and and now i know why it was quieter that I'd expected...so lets see what happens when these strings break in a bit...every little biddy thing you do to improve these guitars, somehow seems magnified..Seems a lot brighter, and louder already...so nice to discover these little details..the pins are horn, so now we'll see... Steffan

 

[Treem]

VEER ALERT!!!!!!!

I just changed my strings, trying Martin 80-20 bronze mediums They seem just fine, but I am getting more volume and maybe more brightness..why? Well I lifted out the saddle which is tusq and very thin, and it wasn't level on the bottom ..more like a little bridge with not solid touching all across, so I leveled it out without taking any more off than was necessary, and and and now i know why it was quieter that I'd expected...so lets see what happens when these strings break in a bit...every little biddy thing you do to improve these guitars, somehow seems magnified..Seems a lot brighter, and louder already...so nice to discover these little details..the pins are horn, so now we'll see... Steffan

BAM!!!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol: :lol: 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) MARTIN MARQUIS 80-20 MEDIUMS ON THE GV-52NT BABY!!!!! 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
WOOOO HOOOOO WEEEEEEEE!!!!!

The GV52 came with the factory plastic ones. But now will custom order some BONES!!!! 8) 8) 8)

CHEERS!!!

Treem 8)

 

[jcwu]

Cheers indeed! That's beautiful!!!

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Bone pins, saddles and nuts are the old standard of the industry, however, My feelings are Tusq is slightly superior, and definitely more durable.
I still acquire bone pins for My axes, but as the saddles begin to deteriorate, they are being replaced by Tusq pieces. Eventually, the nuts will be replaced with Tusq as well.

 

[taabru45]

Tusq nuts........not that IS something to look forward to... :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[singermcl]

Fantastic advice. Bone or tusq (don't you guys mean "tusk"?) from Colossi...just went to his website. Thank you!

 

[jcwu]

Fantastic advice. Bone or tusq (don't you guys mean "tusk"?) from Colossi...just went to his website. Thank you!

Tusk is elephant-made or walrus-made. Tusq is man-made.

 

[singermcl]

Tusk is elephant-made or walrus-made. Tusq is man-made.

Got it. Thanks. (sheepish grin).