Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

[Bludave]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

If tusq is just plain white graphite, then how come there is a black tusq? Wouldnt it just be graphite?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Nuts,_saddles/String_nuts/Black_Tusq_XL_Nuts.html

I was thinking that tusq was more a synthetic alternative to bone.

To be honest with you.... I am not sure whether my statement is accurate. The graphtech website does not say that Tusq is graphite, what it does say is it is a made of proprietary material(?) black Tusq is impregnated with Teflon so they would appear to be better for an electric guitar. not sure what they white is made from. I assumed it was graphite but I could be mistaken.

Edit: Email response from Graphtech!

Thank you for the email. Although our company was founded with the original designs in graphite (hence the name), we soon discovered that there was a much better option.



TUSQ is our own patented man-made ivory material, designed for maximum vibration transfer and increased harmonic content.



TUSQ XL & Black TUSQ XL is the same but with PTFE added (generic name for Teflon) as it is 500 times slipperier than graphite.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Best regards

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

I haven't tried many different materials, but I've never found a reason not to use a well-made bone nut fitted by a luthier to the particular guitar. For some reason, I like knowing that my guitar is made from parts of dead trees and animals.

 

[tonello]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

Graphite or bone would be my vote.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

Bone

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

I prefer Ivory; It's a pity you can't get Ivory blanks anymore.
My Acoustic has an Ivory one I cut and fitted after the "Plastic "one that was originally fitted, broke. I also have an Ivory one on my LP.
A bone nut on my Framus LP.
I haven't tried any graphite ones but Hollow nuts just don't work for me.
Not enough vibrational transfer into the neck.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

The Tusq blanks are about the best you can get IMO. Sound great, easy to work with, and more consistent than bone.

 

[schecterplayer]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

For electric, I'm using the graphite nut that came on the guitar. On my acoustic I've tried ebony, brass, and TUSQ, but I've been using bone for a few years now. Carving nuts and saddles is a blast.

 

[Ball&Chain]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

I prefer Ivory; It's a pity you can't get Ivory blanks anymore.
My Acoustic has an Ivory one I cut and fitted after the "Plastic "one that was originally fitted, broke. I also have an Ivory one on my LP.
A bone nut on my Framus LP.
I haven't tried any graphite ones but Hollow nuts just don't work for me.
Not enough vibrational transfer into the neck.

You can actually. That is unless over the rainbow in the land of oz is located outside the US. This is the same place I ordered my bone blanks.


http://www.guitarpartsandmore.com/?nav=products&cat=1&sub=4

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

That website is blocked for me, but if he's selling Ivory he better be careful, it's very illegal.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

The site reads "pre ban" legal ivory nut blanks.

Gotta say I have never tried ivory.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Preferred Guitar Nut Material?

TUSQ sounds close enough to bone to make me happy with the added benefit of being easier to work with (which translates into better setups).