Is a bone nut a worthy upgrade?

santacruzom · #1 03-18-2006, 06:27 PM

I'm thinking about having the plastic nut on my Lakland Joe Osbourn replaced by a bone nut, but it's a pretty pricey upgrade. Is it worth it? Can you actually hear or feel the difference, or is the advantage simply one of better construction and longer life?

RevGroove · #2 03-18-2006, 08:01 PM

My new tech just put a bone nut on my fretless, replacing the plastic one, and then I had him do the same for my fretted, replacing the brass nut...definitely an upgrade on both...and it wasn't that expensive, like $65 for that and the setup....so like, $30 for the nut, parts and labour.

SBassman · #3 03-18-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevGroove

My new tech just put a bone nut on my fretless, replacing the plastic one, and then I had him do the same for my fretted, replacing the brass nut...definitely an upgrade on both...and it wasn't that expensive, like $65 for that and the setup....so like, $30 for the nut, parts and labour.

Yeah, but, can you now really hear a difference?

RevGroove · #4 03-18-2006, 08:19 PM

Not really fair to say, because I changed strings and electronics at the same time...I have another 4 string that I'm going to have it done to, so I'll do a comparison after that. I think the denser material does have a positive effect on the tone though...

barthanatos · #5 03-18-2006, 09:11 PM

I talked to Rob Allen about putting one of these on the bass he's building for me, and he was not a fan. He said because the bone is natural, it is going to have inconsistencies in it (i.e. not uniformly dense or whatever), and that a synthetic nut is the better way to go (in terms of tone).

But meh... let your ears guide you, I guess.

ElBajista · #6 03-18-2006, 09:21 PM

I replaced the shoddy plastic nut on my SX in with a Tusq nut. I also replaced the bridge and the strings at the same time, so it's hard to say if it improved tone. I know for a fact that it helped with a dead-string problem I had, because the previous nut wasn't properly cut. The dead-string problem is fixed, and I'm satisfied.

Overall, I don't think there is much tonal difference between nut materials.

keyboardguy · #7 03-18-2006, 11:18 PM

The ONLY time you might notice a difference is when you play an open string. All other times your 'nut' is your finger on the fret....

So why bother?

Mike

agreatheight · #8 03-18-2006, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barthanatos

bone is natural, it is going to have inconsistencies in it (i.e. not uniformly dense or whatever), and that a synthetic nut is the better way to go.

+1 Synthetic or Graphite over bone.

greenboy · #9 03-19-2006, 09:19 AM

Graphtech's Graphlon or Tusq nuts are superior to bone for tonal consistency and sustain. Take a look at their website - they even have some comparison graphs.

wpkg · #10 10-19-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keyboardguy

The ONLY time you might notice a difference is when you play an open string. All other times your 'nut' is your finger on the fret....

So why bother?

Mike

+1

makes sense to me!

workdaddy · #11 10-20-2006, 12:01 AM

gotta love bone! and i do disagree with rob allen. not that bone itself adds "tone" to an instrument, but it certainly doesn't take any away. bone is just a nice touch on an instrument, classy. probably more of a traditional thing. because of its toughness, the slots stay true longer and wont pinch strings over time the way some synthetics can.(especially b and high e strings on electric guitar). plus, its relatively easy to work with and buffs out nicely, though it can be very brittle.

Turnaround · #12 10-20-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workdaddy

plus, its relatively easy to work with and buffs out nicely, though it can be very brittle.

Really stinks when you machine it though.

Trevorus · #13 10-20-2006, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by workdaddy

gotta love bone! and i do disagree with rob allen. not that bone itself adds "tone" to an instrument, but it certainly doesn't take any away. bone is just a nice touch on an instrument, classy. probably more of a traditional thing. because of its toughness, the slots stay true longer and wont pinch strings over time the way some synthetics can.(especially b and high e strings on electric guitar). plus, its relatively easy to work with and buffs out nicely, though it can be very brittle.

Finally someone touches on the best reason for changing to a hard nut, synthetic OR natural. Plastic nuts can deform under pressure of the strings, and mess up your tuning. That's the biggest reason for me.