Why Micarta And Not Tusq For Bridge Saddle Of New Expression System?

[otis66]

Tusq is a brand name. Micarta is also a brand name. Both Micarta and Tusq can be a man made substitutes for bone/Ivory.  Tusq and Micarta can be made to what ever specs you want. I just checked the specs on the Taylor web site an I am still seeing Tusq for the nut and saddle. Where can I find these new specs with Micarta bridge and saddle?  I can remember 16 years ago, when  I bought my first Taylor 410, people did not think much of Tusq.

[KenGL]

Tusq is a brand name. Micarta is also a brand name. Both Micarta and Tusq can be a man made substitutes for bone/Ivory.  Tusq and Micarta can be made to what ever specs you want. I just checked the specs on the Taylor web site an I am still seeing Tusq for the nut and saddle. Where can I find these new specs with Micarta bridge and saddle?  I can remember 16 years ago, when  I bought my first Taylor 410, people did not think much of Tusq.

The nut is Tusq but find reference to the Micarta bridge-saddle here:

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/516e-fltd

Regards,

KenGL

[dangrunloh]

I was told that Bone would work ok but Tusq did not work well with the new system at all.

That makes a lot more sense than the notion that Taylor picked Micarta because it was cheaper.  The wholesale price differential is probably very little. If Tusq was better, Taylor LTD buyers would not flinch at an increase.

--dan

[KenGL]

My dealer was contacted by Nate, the Taylor Sales Rep for the Northeast, who said my on-order 2013 Taylor 516e FLTD won't roll-off the Taylor line until November 26, 2013. That means it will be perhaps the end of the first full week in December before it arrives at my dealer and into my awaiting GAS hands! Lusting until then!

Regards,

KenGL

[mgap]

A bit of a delay, bummer.  Just keep in mind your UTGF friends are behind you, and want to support you how ever we can.   

[MexicoMike]

"I suspect that Taylor made the switch because 1) Micarta is cheaper than Tusq and 2) in their listening tests, no one could tell the difference."

There you go! 

Bone is excellent BUT one piece of bone is different than another piece of bone so it's not consistent.  I have been replacing saddles/nuts on my guitars for 30 years and have regularly heard two "identical" bone saddles sound completely different; I have never heard two identical Tusq saddles sound different.  I would assume, since micarta is also man-made, it would be just as consistent as Tusq.

FWIW, I found the oem Tusq to sound better to my ear on my 414ce than two different bone saddles.

[KenGL]

MexicoMike,

Thanks Mike for your advice. I'm going to play my 516e FLTD for a while after I get it and hear how I like the factory-installed Micarta saddle. I may try the Tusq and the bone saddles later.

Regards,

KenGL

[brianv4]

Received my BTO koa recently.  ES2, bone nut/saddle.  Has a serious issue with string balance but only when plugged in.  After an in depth conversation with Taylor, bone is too inconsistent to effectively use with the new ES.  Micarta was chosen because it works best with the piezo elements of the ES2.  All new guitars with the ES2 will have micarta saddles.  I'm awaiting a custom maple GA with micarta saddle and bone nut (was told since the nut doesn't directly interact with the ES it won't have any effect on the plugged in strng balance).