Bone Nut and Saddle in SA

ET-Phone-Home

Hey guys, just a quick question, where is the best place to get a bone nut and saddle installed onto my Epiphone acoustic?
Somewhere in the JHB area.

Also do you know of any stores selling Tusq products? Andy Mcgibbons use to stock lots of the stuff
but since his gone I have no idea where to look.

Thanks guys, much appreciated ?

Ray

Gee there must be a thousand places to get it done. Go to Music Connection the okes there have excellent reputation. As for Tusq I'm watching here and I'd like to know prices to see if it's cheaper than ordering from USA.

Keira-WitherKay

speak to costafix on the forum ... i know he does that kinda thing , and he has worked on one of my jazz box's and is highly recommended
also JD custom which is the repair shop in matshall music woodmead, they just replaced a nut on a brand new archtop i bought fron em......also great work ........ and i guess the list goes on..... but the above 2 i have used personally and the work has been great

Warren

JD at Marshall Woodmead swapped out the saddles and nut on my Takamine acoustic for Tusq stuff. Can't remember what it cost in total, probably around R1k (for the parts, labour and some work on the frets etc.).

Bob-Dubery

Bone has its down sides. It can be very inconsistent. I had a bone nut & saddle cut for one of mine from a warthog tusk. Which is a bit of work & you'll pay for it. You shouldn't have to look too hard for the Graphtec bits. An alternative is the All Parts bits - same stuff, just repackaged.

I think there is a slight tone difference with bone, but it is not as superior to Tusq as Tusq is to cheap plastic.

Right now my recommendation is to see Jed at Music Connection. He's set up both my acoustics recently - including a new saddle for the Larrivee.

Wizard

Stewmac is advertising these as their latest idea:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts/Slotted_Unbleached_Bone_Nuts.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=467

Bob-Dubery

I found this site.
http://www.guitarsaddles.com

Your set up guy will fall in love because the work he has to will be reduced. Downside is that there's no email address for enquiries. You gotta phone the number given and ask for Bob. Which might be OK if you can work out the time zones and then be awake whilst Bob is in the office.

ET-Phone-Home

Hey guys and girls, wow thank you so much I didn't expect so many replies so quickly ? thank you so much for the extra info as well regarding Tusq vs Bone and the inconsistencies of bone. You guys rock. Will check out all those recommendations. If I may just ask one last thing, if you know of a shop that sells Tusq products like Andy's use to please let me know, would really appreciate it.

GaryMac

I got a bone saddle and bridge pins for my Larrivee and a bone saddle for my mates Taylor from Bob Colosi at guitarsaddles.com.
Vey helpful guy and very quick service.

He has saddles and nuts made from a number of different materials at different prices.

Think a plain bone saddle was $ 20.00 when I got them a few months ago.
Bit of sanding and smoothing required to adjust the height of the bridge to your taste.

I would recommend him.

He gets great reviews on a number of acoustic guitar forums as well.

Cheers

GaryMac

Bob-Dubery

ET Phone Home wrote: Hey guys and girls, wow thank you so much I didn't expect so many replies so quickly ? thank you so much for the extra info as well regarding Tusq vs Bone and the inconsistencies of bone. You guys rock. Will check out all those recommendations. If I may just ask one last thing, if you know of a shop that sells Tusq products like Andy's use to please let me know, would really appreciate it.

I don't know who the distributors are, but Music Connection usually have Tusq in stock, as well as the aforementioned All Parts.

ET-Phone-Home

Thanks Bob, will find out soon if Music Connection has end pins they can sell me over the counter. I know everyone has their own opinion regarding end pins and everyone to their own but I really have noticed a difference changing from plastic to tusq. Haven't tried bone or brass, but would love to try these though. On my Walden it made a bigger difference than my Michael Kelly N60, but both still sound better ?