Opening a can of worms...

[AeroUSA]

Originally Posted by MaurysMusic

This makes me want to try something along the same lines. Carve a custom bone saddle from a blank. Non-compensated. Cut it down the middle (between the D and G). String the guitar with 2 Gs, one in each of the D and G nut slots (and pin holes). Bass side would be a tall saddle half, no UST. Treble side would have a UST under it and that side of the saddle would be sanded to acheive uniform break angle.

Unless you want to try it for me?

No way buddy but have fun!

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

I wonder if the time I had an Anthem installed and it ‘ruined’ the tone was possibly because the guitar went from a high bone saddle to a low tusq one and that got in my head... that’s why I did the experiment.

Absolutely. The test was great but comparing two completely different saddle materials with different heights is a big difference already. Have you ever tried a tusq and bone saddle without a UST just to compare how the materials differ? There’s quite a difference to be honest. The tusq people will say it’s like bone but it’s not. On top of that, I have found that even the slightest change in action results in a huge tonal difference.

When I had my anthem sl installed, I took it to a luthier (a very good one) and he switched from the original tusq saddle to bone and also lowered the action as it was a bit high. When I got home I hated the unplugged tone. Two things were making the difference. One, the lower action and two, the bone was bringing out too much high end in my guitar.

I totally agree that a ust will impact tone but I think it’s so small that no one would ever notice. The change comes from the action not being matched perfectly. I also feel as though the harder matrix ust doesn’t really change the tone at all. It acts like a shim.

[6L6]

If you have a K&K installed, no effect on unplugged acoustic tone.

[MaurysMusic]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

No way buddy but have fun!

lol. I have 100 new guitar photos to shoot, edit and upload. Maybe tomorrow

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by AeroUSA

I wonder if the time I had an Anthem installed and it ‘ruined’ the tone was possibly because the guitar went from a high bone saddle to a low tusq one and that got in my head... that’s why I did the experiment.

Maybe. I hate when my action is too low. I don’t want to fight the guitar, but I like to be able to dig in and not have anything buzz. I think my guitars sound better set up like that even when played softly. Maybe it’s the break angle.

[MrErikJ]

Originally Posted by 6L6

If you have a K&K installed, no effect on unplugged acoustic tone.

There it is.

[martingitdave]

We've discussed this before, but my previous conclusion was that there was some dampening or change in tone from the UST on the low end. That said, I always felt the electronics that were adhered the the guitar top were much more influential in dampening the sound. Good test!

[James May]

I could hear a difference between the two sample sections, but I attribute it to differences in how the guitar was played. It doesn't take much variation in attack to make the tone seem brighter or duller.

Another variable is that resting your arm over the top as you play certainly damps some of the top plate bass response. I use John Pearse armrests on all my guitars to eliminate that, though for amplified playing it is not necessary helpful as it increases feedback susceptibility.

I think it is really hard, though not impossible, to design a test for this premise of how an UST may or may not affect unamplified tone. There are a lot of variables that are hard to control. And let us not forget how fickle the ears are.

[The Kid!]

Originally Posted by 6L6

If you have a K&K installed, no effect on unplugged acoustic tone.

There are a few that fit that criteria, and in my opinion, sound even better.