What bone is that bone saddle or nut?

[Glennwillow]

Well, this discussion has been fun!

- Glenn

PS: I was wondering if anyone had tried Wookie bones. The shipping costs would probably be a killer, though.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Well, this discussion has been fun!

- Glenn

PS: I was wondering if anyone had tried Wookie bones. The shipping costs would probably be a killer, though.

The guy who played Chewbacka in the most recent Star Wars films is a former professional basketball player so the bones should be OK.

[NotALuth]

Some claim to get good results using deer antler for both nuts and saddles. As they shed their antlers annually the animal doesn’t even need to die to be able to acquire some.

[M Hayden]

Some years ago I decided to try treating my own bone for nuts and saddles.

TL;DR It worked but it’s cheaper to buy it.

The amount of work to prepare bone well is not trivial. Boiling them is the start; they then need to be soaked and re-soaked in Coleman fuel (white gas) until they’re clean. No matter what you’ve read, that takes longer than planned.

Then, when cutting them up, there are almost always pieces that need more degreasing - more Coleman fuel soaking and time.

A little bleach or hydrogen peroxide, once degreased, makes them white. Too much soaking and the surfaces look chalky. Too little and they’re splotchy-colored. Somewhere in there is the setting to get it just right.

It’s satisfying but it’s a lot of work for something that is relatively inexpensive from forum suppliers.

[H165]

More vital camel info:

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11284

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

So, they're not made from the bones of banjo players? Hmm.

Oh that it would be true..... I hear they taste like out of tune chicken.

Not sure if bird bones ( ostrich) would’ve worked well but I’ve never tried.
Tastes like chicken.... I’ve used deer antler and it’s very hard. Tastes like venison. Store bought blanks are extremely reasonable. I did the deer antler only because
I wanted to try it. But the labor involved in any of these bones to saddles projects is
more than I would want to do again. There is enough labor involved in store bought blanks.
Definitely a labor of love.

[Steve DeRosa]

I know there's a song in there somewhere...

[brianmay]

Originally Posted by Aura

Given the pressure applied within their jaws I can believe that. Tricky to get hold of an alligator though...

Especially if it's alive, it may well object . . . I'll stick with the Chinese cow

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by NotALuth

Some claim to get good results using deer antler for both nuts and saddles. As they shed their antlers annually the animal doesn’t even need to die to be able to acquire some.

Deer antlers are essentially compressed hair. While some might claim good results using those for guitar bridge saddles and nuts, every post I've read that was written by someone who'd experimented using antler for those parts expressed disappointment - usually severe disappointment.

By all means give it a try if you're so inclined, but don't expect much.


whm

[Wade Hampton]

Matt wrote:

Originally Posted by M Hayden

Some years ago I decided to try treating my own bone for nuts and saddles.

TL;DR It worked but it’s cheaper to buy it.

The amount of work to prepare bone well is not trivial. Boiling them is the start; they then need to be soaked and re-soaked in Coleman fuel (white gas) until they’re clean. No matter what you’ve read, that takes longer than planned.

Then, when cutting them up, there are almost always pieces that need more degreasing - more Coleman fuel soaking and time.

A little bleach or hydrogen peroxide, once degreased, makes them white. Too much soaking and the surfaces look chalky. Too little and they’re splotchy-colored. Somewhere in there is the setting to get it just right.

It’s satisfying but it’s a lot of work for something that is relatively inexpensive from forum suppliers.

As with many things, it comes down to the question: "How much is your time worth?" Of course, that basic rule of time-conservation and self-preservation gets suspended when we enjoy doing things as a hobby, but degreasing old bones doesn't seem to rank too high on anybody's list of favorite things to do!


whm

[Tony Burns]

Do you really think it makes that much difference ?

[frankmcr]

Some horns are kind of like hair - rhino horns are like that, I think - but antlers, as found on whitetails for example, are indeed bone. (One source: http://www.suwanneeriverranch.com/WTinfoIantlers.htm )

Elk antlers are used for pistol grips, I know (as per this guy http://www.sackpeterson.com/models/aboutstags.html ).

Not that any of that means antlers would be great nuts/saddles. Maybe it's hard to work small pieces of antler precisely?

[Wade Hampton]

Frank, maybe I'm thinking of moose antlers, then. But I can say that the majority of posts written by people who tried using deer antlers for nuts and saddles have always expressed disappointment in the tonal results. I can't recall anyone who's tried it ever saying that it was a great choice for that purpose.


whm

[frankmcr]

And then there's mother of pearl, which is still used to make nuts from, although I don't know if any guitars come with MOP nuts as a standard feature these days.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by Tony Burns

Do you really think it makes that much difference ?

Personally, I think "maybe". Consider this:

AGF Member posts that he or she is not happy with the sound of a guitar. Pretty soon somebody will suggest replacing the saddle made out of Material A with one made out of Material B (which might, or might not, be bone).

Wouldn't you get a different sound if you replaced a saddle made out of Bone A, with a Bone B saddle that is significantly harder and denser - or softer and less dense?