Our 4 Materials
Our products are offered in the following 4 materials.
1)Bone - White and Vintage Oxen Bone
2) FMI - Fossil Mammoth Ivory
3) FWI - Fossil Walrus Ivory
4) PBE - Pre-ban Antique Ivory
On the natural features, variations and deviations found in these beautiful materials:
It is best to note that different ivories and bone render differing qualities and nuances of sound tone for any instrument and, also, each instrument is unique. It is not possible to say that one material gives a better sound over another material but rather it is best to say that each material renders a different sound. You and your Luthier need to consider what material will work best in the particular instrument you are working with. Here are some guidelines for you to consider:
Bone is a material with greater density than the ivories however it has been woven by nature differently with an open pore structure. The open pore structure does not allow the sound to transmit evenly to the soundboard, and, in the process of transmitting the sound, renders out harsher tones accompanied by a "tinnier" sound. Some instruments need these properties and qualities in the nut and saddle and our oxen bone has been well received in the guitar world and chosen by several leading manufacturers who purchase monthly quotas from us for their production. Contrary to popular belief the bleached bone and the unbleached bone render the same sound; neither is superior to the other. The bone we sell meets USDA health requirements for use in America - an important consideration if you are considering the purchase of parts from overseas shipped directly to you without verification that it has been treated in accordance to USDA standards to kill anthrax, mad cow disease, etc..
The ivories have a closed pore structure and the pores are filled, by nature, with a gelatin type material. This is what gives ivory its' tactileness - there is a pleasant feel to the touch of ivory whether ancient fossil mammoth (FMI) or pre-ban ivory (PBE). Due to the closed pore structure of ivory and its density this material renders out the brightest sound with the greatest clarity. The pre-ban elephant ivory is harder than mammoth ivory, in most cases, and renders what most folks discern as a clearer sound. The mammoth has the blessing of rendering a softer sound and imparts that much needed warmth to an instrument that is too harsh with other materials or where the player wants a softer sounding instrument. One needs to exercise caution when considering mammoth as the softer sound can, with some instruments, be a "muddier" sound. We recommend pre-ban ivory (PBE) for our US customers and bone for our overseas customers. Mammoth should be purchased by folks who have that rare instrument that is just too harsh and needs brought back from the edge.
In conclusion, many luthiers and players are under the false assumption that the density of the material alone will determine the best sound qualities they are seeking in an instrument. Should this be the case then iron or lead nuts and saddles would be the rage. The best sound qualities are a combined function of density and natural material weave. The bone, with greater density than ivory, has a natural open pore weave that allows many luthiers to prefer ancient or pre-ban elephant tusk ivory where the weave allows for better transfer of sound to the instrument. Ivory gives your guitar greater clarity, sustain and brightness.
Please note the above information pertains to nuts and saddles. Bone pins are equal in tonal quality to FMI or PBE pins. With pins it is important to get away from plastic, wood or horn and to go to either bone or ivory. All of our pins are made in the USA by the same man - the workmanship on the bone pins is the same as on the ivory pins and the bone pins are a fraction of the price so we recommend them. Bone pins are for folks who want an economical way of getting a good looking pin that has great acoustical properties whereas the FMI or PBE pins are for folks who want that same great acoustical quality and also want a really great looking set of pins with the warmth and beauty of ivory.
1)Bone - White and Vintage Oxen Bone
2) FMI - Fossil Mammoth Ivory
3) FWI - Fossil Walrus Ivory
4) PBE - Pre-ban Antique Ivory
On the natural features, variations and deviations found in these beautiful materials:
It is best to note that different ivories and bone render differing qualities and nuances of sound tone for any instrument and, also, each instrument is unique. It is not possible to say that one material gives a better sound over another material but rather it is best to say that each material renders a different sound. You and your Luthier need to consider what material will work best in the particular instrument you are working with. Here are some guidelines for you to consider:
Bone is a material with greater density than the ivories however it has been woven by nature differently with an open pore structure. The open pore structure does not allow the sound to transmit evenly to the soundboard, and, in the process of transmitting the sound, renders out harsher tones accompanied by a "tinnier" sound. Some instruments need these properties and qualities in the nut and saddle and our oxen bone has been well received in the guitar world and chosen by several leading manufacturers who purchase monthly quotas from us for their production. Contrary to popular belief the bleached bone and the unbleached bone render the same sound; neither is superior to the other. The bone we sell meets USDA health requirements for use in America - an important consideration if you are considering the purchase of parts from overseas shipped directly to you without verification that it has been treated in accordance to USDA standards to kill anthrax, mad cow disease, etc..
The ivories have a closed pore structure and the pores are filled, by nature, with a gelatin type material. This is what gives ivory its' tactileness - there is a pleasant feel to the touch of ivory whether ancient fossil mammoth (FMI) or pre-ban ivory (PBE). Due to the closed pore structure of ivory and its density this material renders out the brightest sound with the greatest clarity. The pre-ban elephant ivory is harder than mammoth ivory, in most cases, and renders what most folks discern as a clearer sound. The mammoth has the blessing of rendering a softer sound and imparts that much needed warmth to an instrument that is too harsh with other materials or where the player wants a softer sounding instrument. One needs to exercise caution when considering mammoth as the softer sound can, with some instruments, be a "muddier" sound. We recommend pre-ban ivory (PBE) for our US customers and bone for our overseas customers. Mammoth should be purchased by folks who have that rare instrument that is just too harsh and needs brought back from the edge.
In conclusion, many luthiers and players are under the false assumption that the density of the material alone will determine the best sound qualities they are seeking in an instrument. Should this be the case then iron or lead nuts and saddles would be the rage. The best sound qualities are a combined function of density and natural material weave. The bone, with greater density than ivory, has a natural open pore weave that allows many luthiers to prefer ancient or pre-ban elephant tusk ivory where the weave allows for better transfer of sound to the instrument. Ivory gives your guitar greater clarity, sustain and brightness.
Please note the above information pertains to nuts and saddles. Bone pins are equal in tonal quality to FMI or PBE pins. With pins it is important to get away from plastic, wood or horn and to go to either bone or ivory. All of our pins are made in the USA by the same man - the workmanship on the bone pins is the same as on the ivory pins and the bone pins are a fraction of the price so we recommend them. Bone pins are for folks who want an economical way of getting a good looking pin that has great acoustical properties whereas the FMI or PBE pins are for folks who want that same great acoustical quality and also want a really great looking set of pins with the warmth and beauty of ivory.
