bone or ivory

[Sellars]

Hi,

I just have a new (old) mandolin, and I was wondering whether the nut and saddle would be bone or ivory.

How can you tell the difference between these two materials?

[sunburst]

If you can't see the characteristic ivory pattern in the surface, especially ar the ends, you may not be able to tell without a DNA test.

[Gavin Baird]

If you use a high power Loupe, you should be able to identify the growth lines in Ivory..g

[mandoman15]

If the nut is true bone, when you press it to your tounge it will feel "sticky"...or so i've read http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif