i ordered one for my D2H, most reports ive seen are that there not as harsh as bone can sometimes be.

I saw how your question got torn apart on the UMGF. That's too bad. You weren't trying to debate the legitimacy or ethics of ivory. Sometimes there is a downside to those high volume forums. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

I have FWI so I can't comment but I have heard good things. I guess you'll find out soon enough since it's on the way.

Matt

thanks, yes its getting to where you cant post anything there without problems.

Ivory will be a little more mellow sounding than bone. Ivory will wear down faster so you need to watch for that.

I've not tried elephant ivory, but fossil mammoth ivory is becoming more common and I made nuts and saddles for two guitars (vintage Martins, as it were). At the time, these had bone saddles and one had a bone nut; the other ivory, I think. I couldn't save the ivory nut -- just too badly worn out -- nothing to do but replace it.

What I have heard bears out what you read above -- the clarity and sustain are there, but the tone is a little warmer. I've become quite fond of the sound, and predict that if the elephant ivory sounds similar to the fossilized(and I'm told it does), you'll love it.

Be well,

Ken

I have a foszzilized mammoth ivory saddle on my Om1 koa and it is clearer and warmer sweeter ..better than bone..the Walrus is too bright and aggresive tone...

I fitted the FMI into more than 80 guitars..santa cruz, gibsons, martins, taylors and many more and still it works well..it needs 1 to 2 days to settle down after installation to get a nice tone...

Charity, I'm interested in what needs to settle down after installation? --thanks

quote:

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Originally posted by rocknrollrjm:
Charity, I'm interested in what needs to settle down after installation? --thanks

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ROCKNROLL,

I met personally and heard this from a wood merchant who sells wood to allied luthier and also Lakewood...

Wood breaths and moves...and once the saddle is fitted in like the ivory ...initially it may sound bright or very loose..so after a day or two...the guitar tone usually sound sweeter or better...

I have done this to about 80 guitars and normally tell these guys once the saddle is fitted in...initially and immediately you may not like the tone...but after hours or even days ..it may change...and this is true for many of the cases above..

I put EI saddles (from Bob Colosi) in my D-2HA and my Martin 000-15s and love the result. Compared to bone the sound is indeed warmer and less brittle or shrill. To put it a little more technically, EI will give you fewer upper partials (harmonics), so the sound is more focused. I haven't tried any kind of fossilized material in either of these guitars, so I can't comment on how they compare to EI.

This is a little off topic, while visiting the home of an orthapedic surgeon I noticed he had a whale vertabrae in a display cabinet. It was massive, probably over a foot tall when looking through the spinal cavity.

It got me to thinking we use bones from big strong animals; cows, mammoths, elephants, walrus, etc why not whale? They don't get much bigger or stronger!

Cheers