View Full Version : Ivory bridge and nut
pickinBob
Mar-23-2004, 11:00am
After talking to Kurt and reading alot about ivory I got a bridge with the ivory saddle, an ivory nut and pick. This is all fossilized wallrus ivory by the way. I got the bridge fit and the nut installed and I am very impressed with the results. Tons more sustain on fretted and open notes. The tone is much clearer and crisp. More distinct. Volume seems to be much more pronounced also.
I have a Morgan Monroe MMS-4 which has a spruce top with sycamore back and sides.
Has anyone else had this experience.? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Who did the set-up? When you say "saddle", would that mean the entire upper piece of the bridge is fossilized walrus tusk or is it wood with a tusk insert? What did the entire conversion cost?
pickinBob
Mar-23-2004, 2:08pm
The saddle has the ivory insert, the bridge material is all ebony.
ivory saddle and bridge (http://huskyacoustics.com/huskivor.htm)
I did the setup myself after studying the bridge setup and nut making from Frets.com
fitting the bridge feet (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Mandolin/FitBridgeFeet/fitfeet.html)
making a new nut (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Setup/NewNut/newnut1.html)
I read through the instructions about 10 times and got a couple of special tools and just did it. The nut didnt come out perfect but it works well and I can live with it for a long time, until I really need to get another one.
The cost is normally about $190 I think. Check with Kurt at Husky for sure. I won the whole setup on ebay for $145 I think. It was shipped promptly and packed well.. Kurt was great to deal with.
Was it worth the $, I think so and would do it again for sure. Before the new setup, the G and D were just mediocre. Now I have a nice sounding G and the D is very good also.
Has anyone used an ivory saddle on a Breedlove Quartz? I have the KO model.
Ken Sager
Mar-23-2004, 3:03pm
I put one of Kurt's ivory Brekke inserts on my Weber Bitterroot with very favorable results. Kurt had already slotted it, so it just slid into place. It gives a little more volume and a lot more pop to go with the mahogany richness that was already there.
Best,
Ken
John Flynn
Mar-23-2004, 4:51pm
Has anyone used an ivory saddle on a Breedlove Quartz? I have the KO model.
Jomando on this site, who is an excellent mando luthier, fitted an ivory bridge on his Cascade, which is the higher priced version of the KO. He may want to chime in himself here, but he told me he was very pleased with the result. I have played it also and was impressed. The mando is very loud and the notes are very "crisp."
pathfinder
Mar-23-2004, 4:59pm
I did the same with my Weber Big Sky. Kurt's insert added more volume and brightness than was there before. #It took two minutes to loosen off the strings, slide the insert into the saddle slot and tune 'er back up.
Couldn't be happier for $90-$95, and shipping from Alaska was very prompt. #He's a great guy to deal with.
thunderplucker
Mar-23-2004, 7:39pm
Thanks Bob for the positive feedback on my work. #
GBG, #I have sold about two dozen bridge saddles to Breedlove owners and have had great success with all of them. #I just did a set-up on a quartz and a cascade in the last couple of weeks. #I was really impressed with the tonal change in these mandolins. #The tone got much clearer with good separation of notes and certainly added volume. #These Breedlove mandolins have really surprised me. #They have great tone and have great fast action. #Thanks again for the great feedback folks. #If anyone would like to check out my products, go to www.huskyacoustics.com. #Thanks!