I have a Gibson Thunderbird Studio 5-string and I am looking to replace the nut. Most folks recommend bone-- I have no doubt this is an excellent material.

However, I've also heard of people using aluminum instead.

I play with a big, clangy tone. Think somewhere between Geddy Lee on Vapour Trails, and Justin Chancellor (Tool) on 10,000 Days.

Any feedback on the differences in tone I can expect depending on the material (bone, brass, aluminum-- what have you), and perhaps which one would best suit my interests will be much appreciated!

+1, I am also interested in this. I was planning on putting in a bone or graphtech plastic but the more I spent time working on my bass the more I thought of making a nut out of wood as well, Rosewood, Purple Heart, Bloodwood or Jatoba thats what I have around the shop, all of them are hard as nails, and most upright basses I see use wooden nuts. But I would like to learn what else is there to use and why.

I replaced the nut on my jazz bass with TUSQ material by Graph-Tech. It's great stuff. It made a big difference. Seems to transfer all of the sound much better than bone or metal. It's man -made to simulate ivory, and I use the TUSQ bridge saddles on my Gotoh bridge also. I really am impressed with it.

I would go with a brass nut for a "big clangy" tone. Definitely brighter IME/IMHO.

SUPPOSEDLY: the softer the nut material the warmer the tone. There are different types of bone too. White to dark. Bone lands somewhere in the middle for me. Depending on the type of bone. The TUSQ stuff is good too. Also, you can go with a wood nut too. Some builders have had success with different woods. I liked the sound of a ebony nut I put in a Jbass.

Good luck

MOP nuts all the way!

the nut only aides tone on open notes, so it can be quite inconsequential for most.

If you must have a metallic material, Brass is quite common, and more durable than Aluminum. Tusq is always good, Bone, MOP, Ivory, horn are all acdceptable for a good bright tone on open notes.

To throw some life in an old thread here, a combination of bone/brass, or ivory/brass, would there be any reason for using that?

My Ibanez musician original nut was some plastic material, and a brass plate glued together and I got quite curios on if the combinations mentioned would be of any reason at all?

D.Don