Re: Would tusq saddles be good on a electric?
This is interesting; string breakage results primarily from metal fatigue, so for the graphite to be reducing string breakage, keeping all other variables such as player attack and string gauge constant, the graphite must be returning less energy to the string at each resonant cycle, effectively acting as a resonance inhibitor...
That is ..SOUND REASONING...
As far as the physics goes, you summed it up eloquently. Doesnt need any more complication than that.
I am looking as I was considering Titanium saddles.
I already have a tusq nut in one guitar, am sold and about to put another one in another guitar and its my favourite so
I want to get the bridge happening.
Titanium has a hexagonal grain structure, is light and corrosion resistant.
THey will use it in joint replacements often.
THat said, the hexagonal structure makes it brittle and you cannot cold work it like steel as sharp bends will snap it.
Unless you use Titanium cotaed strings (such as Ernie Ball), you are fighting a stronger metal and the strings will lose being Nickel
the majority metal making contact and Ti essentially cutting it off at the bridge.
This is just from an engineering standpoint. I have not ever used Ti saddles but just your bit of research combined with what I already know,
is enough to make me drop that pursuit and look further at tusq saddles.
They are awesome at the nut yes.
The string makes contact at the nut, has the sharp edge ensuring the note rings then it touches only again at the saddle.
If it works at the nut, there is no tangible reason that tusq saddles will note provide similar sonic improvement and bring the benefit of greatly reduced string breakage as they stand to be the "less hard" material in that pair.
sorry for the long post, was thinking aloud really..