MOP vs Bone Nuts

[Scotti Adams]

I know these two types of material offer different types of tone/volume. I couldnt make up my mind so mines coming with both types...its being set up with MOP but I will have the option to change out the nut with a bone one if I dont like it. Thoughts? comparisons?

[Chris Baird]

MOP is brighter. You also have to be a little more careful as they can chip out.

[Ken Sager]

I have a bone nut on my Pomeroy and it looks like it could chip pretty easily. Rich dark tone. My Collings MT2 has a MOP nut that looks like it could withstand quite a hammering. Very different tone. Brighter, maybe more focused, punchier but not louder.

I haven't switched nuts on either so I can't offer a straight A/B comparison on the same mandolin, and I'm quite certain the two mandolins would simply have different tonal qualities all else being equal so my input here is pretty useless (again). :-)

I'd be curious to know what you think after switching out your MOP with bone.

Best,
Ken

[sunburst]

I prefer bone.
It's easier to work with. I like the sound better, tho there's very little difference in sound, actually.
My bindings are usually ivoroid and the bone looks better to me instead of the contrast of the pearl.

[Scotti Adams]

..thanks guys..I really appreciate it...

[Keith Newell]

I prefer pearl to bone. About 80% of the instruments I have made I put pearl on. I do have a piece of Mastodon ivory that Im thinking of trying but for some reason it seems soft to me. Anyone else tried the ancient mastodon ivory?
P.S. I feel that during set up of a new instrument that I get less string sticking with pearl then I do with bone.
Keith

[Big Joe]

I've used both. On some mandolins I like the pearl better, on others the fossil ivory. The ivory gives just a bit more emphasis on the darker tones. It is less significant than the strings you use or the setup, but it is a factor. Each on the right instrument is perfect.