#1
|
|||
|
|||
Fossil ivory work?
I was thinking about trying a fossil ivory saddle on my Larrivee L-10 Custom, but it occurs to me that, being fossilized, ie, stone, it might be a bit trickier to grind it for final fitting or the apices for compensation or give it a polish. Seems like it might be rather brittle and easy to spoil...and it isn't exactly cheap.
Does regular sandpaper work with this stuff or would I need to use some industrial diamond-impregnated tool? How do you guys who are high-level pro luthiers handle this stuff? Incidentally, I was a bench optician for many years and used to grind bevels on glass spectacle lenses by hand to fit them into the frames, but this seems like a whole other level of careful-don't-mess-it-up! Thanks!
__________________
Larrivee L-10 Custom Larrivee DV-10K Larrivee L-03 Taylor 412K ('96) Yamaha LL16-12 (SOLD) PRS 'Studio' (SOLD) Rickenbacker 660-12 (SOLD) Fender USA Deluxe Strat Fender USA Roadhouse Strat Fender MIM/USA Partscaster Fender MIM Nashville Tele Kelsey Custom Hardtail Strat Fender MIM P-Bass |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.
__________________
John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) Last edited by JayBee1404; 04-27-2021 at 05:05 AM. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Yup. I was a geologist in a former life. What happens with an actual fossil is a process called replacement. That's when the actual organic matter is replaced by inorganic matter, rocks, minerals and so on. That is not what they are talking about with 'fossilized' ivory. That stuff is only about 5-20k years old typically but can be much older. IOW it's still bone though it's weathered and can take on colors from the minerals surrounding it as it was buried.
|
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I'm embarrassed to admit that I purchased one of these. It was essentially snake oil in my opinion. The inconsistency of the material really is not conducive to sound transfer. You are better off with a high quality bone saddle.
__________________
"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday." |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the clarifications on the material; when I hear the word 'fossilized', like most people I tend to think of stone but I see that, while there would be some mineral replacement/inclusion, it really wouldn't become actual stone after a matter of a few thousand years as opposed to a few million years.
I'm not too worried about inconsistencies in the material, as I plan to get this from Colosi if I really decide to go that way, and I know for a fact that he personally cherry-picks his pieces for this very reason and regardless of material. At a tangent to this...I wonder if actual stone has ever been tried as a saddle material. It would probably result in very bright tone, which could be a good or bad thing. Sure would look interesting and upscale, though...Malachite anyone? Lapis Lazuli?
__________________
Larrivee L-10 Custom Larrivee DV-10K Larrivee L-03 Taylor 412K ('96) Yamaha LL16-12 (SOLD) PRS 'Studio' (SOLD) Rickenbacker 660-12 (SOLD) Fender USA Deluxe Strat Fender USA Roadhouse Strat Fender MIM/USA Partscaster Fender MIM Nashville Tele Kelsey Custom Hardtail Strat Fender MIM P-Bass |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
My experience as well. Love them for pins though.
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
__________________
2018 Guild F-512 Sunburst -- 2007 Guild F412 Ice Tea burst 2002 Guild JF30-12 Whiskeyburst -- 2011 Guild F-50R Sunburst 2011 Guild GAD D125-12 NT -- 1972 Epiphone FT-160 12-string 2012 Epiphone Dot CH -- 2010 Epiphone Les Paul Standard trans amber 2013 Yamaha Motif XS7 Cougar's Soundcloud page |