Bone Saddle and USP

[Taylor Martin Guild]

What are your opinions about how much good a bone saddle does on a guitar with a USP?
Does the pickup hold back much of the sound that a good bone saddle could offer without the USP?

For years, I had a USP on my Martin D-35.
I removed it several years ago, and as I recall, the sound was a little better with the USP removed.

The 2006 D55 that I just bought, has a USP installed and I'm not sure what material the factory saddle is made from. [bone/tusq?]
If it isn't bone, I wonder how much better the guitar will sound with a bone saddle.
I guess that there is one sure way to find out, isn't there.

 

[taabru45]

How does it sound now? and plugged in?....Those Guild guys do a pretty good job...I hear... I bought a set of Daddario bluegrass strings top 3 light, bottom 3 mediums...like them a lot...Might try getting a good sound with different strings...its hard to do I know! after all its a Guild. :wink: Steffan

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I haven't got it home yet.
I'll be plugging it into my Crate Acoustic Amp when I do get it home though.

 

[pickoid]

I have a bone saddle and a Fishman Matrix USP in my Taylor 510. To my ears, the acoustic tone was noticeably improved by replacing the original tusq saddle with bone. I really couldn't say how it affected the plugged in tone, that wasn't really a big concern to me. Knowing you are wanting to play bluegrass on this guitar, I would definitely go with the bone saddle.

 

[Appalachian Blues]

I made a bone saddle for Buford 10-15 years ago to replace the original, worn out one. Last year, I had Rick at Guitar Guys (Heath, Ohio) install a Martin Thinline USP. I really never noticed a difference in tone or loudness after it was installed. Having the USP certainly is an improvement over the soundhole pu's I went thru. I had everything from a Shadow purchased in the early 80's, a Bill Lawrence that just quit, and a Dean Markley woody. Of the 3, the Shadow was the best and it still works, though I had to remove the pole piece for the B string, way to loud.

 

[gilded]

TMG,

1) I am not an expert, but I have heard learned people say the following:

A good bone saddle (in comparison to tusq) would sound better to most listeners acoustically.

Still, tusq saddles have a 'consistent density'. Bone saddles don't, which in turn relates to the possibility of loading issues on an under-saddle pickup-equipped guitar.

Inconsistent density > inconsistent loading > means certain strings will be less loud than they should, in comparison to the overall balance of the other strings.

2) My '07 D55 came with a USP (Dtar, not Fishman) and a bone nut. It sounds plenty loud.

3) Guitars almost always sound better (acoustically) when you take the USP out, but I bet you're gonna like your D55, a lot, just the way it is.

4) I have a Crate 125D. It seems designed to filter out the 'quackiness' of a piezo USP. I think you're going to have a winning combination there, TMG.

Good luck!!

gilded

 

[Jeff]

TMG,


4) I have a Crate 125D. It seems designed to filter out the 'quackiness' of a piezo USP. I think you're going to have a winning combination there, TMG.

Good luck!!

gilded

I had an undersaddle PU in my Classic & decided to change to a glued under the bridge piezzo. Pretty good improvement on the PU sound, however I'm unsure if removing the USP & replacing the saddle with bone made any discernable difference in the acoustic tone.


Gilded,

Tell us more about the Crate 125D. I played one a couple weeks ago one at Rosevear's Music in Aberdeen. It was a consignment asking price $395 might have been 349 ??) Didn't have much time so I didn't get to know it very well. The wife liked it well enough she called back a few days later to buy it. Consignee had picked up the amp & disappeared.

Surely does come in a handsome cabinet.