Martin 000-15 nut/saddle upgrade???

[DC2]

I have a 15 year old 000-15 that is most likely going in for some repairs later this year. While under the knife i am looking to upgrade the nut and saddle. What material, other than bone, have you used on solid hogs? I like bone, but i am wanting to hear about other options such as fossilized ivory, Buffalo horn, etc.

This is an older pre “M” model with a synthetic nut and saddle.

[pagedr]

Most of the vintage all hog Martins (17 series) had ebony nuts, might be interesting to try that out with your 000-15.

[Cool555]

At 15 years old, I think your 000-15 would sound great with any materials that are used for nut & saddle.

My vote is to get an unbleached bone nut & saddle.

[John Arnold]

Most of the vintage all hog Martins (17 series) had ebony nuts, might be interesting to try that out with your 000-15.

I put an ebony nut on my 000-15S. It is a 'fundamental' (warmer) sound, with less overtones and sustain. I used a bone saddle, which seems to be a good combination on the all mahogany guitars.

[sublro]

I would go bone - i just got a 000-15m a few months ago after about the 5th time over the past few years picking one up in guitar center and saying “dang, Martin just nailed it with this design” - it is such a lovely instrument, just in its stock format - bone seems to bring out a nice warm tone and a surprising amount of volume - if they ever went to a 1 23/32 nut it would then be (for me) perfection.

[catdaddy]

I have a 2007 Martin J-15 and replaced the tusq saddle with bone. Ended up going back to the original tusq saddle. The bone saddle didn't sound as good. Sometimes an "upgrade" isn't an upgrade. Of course, YMMV.