Tusq Acoustic Guitar Supercharger Kit

[JimLowther]

Hey folks, I remember someone recently asking about Tusq saddles here
on the NG. Well, guess what--I received a letter from Acoustic Guitar
magazine that I am a winner of a Tusq Acoustic Guitar Supercharger
Kit. First time in a long while that I won anything, so I guess I am
grateful. Apparently this consists of a Tusq saddle coupled with a
set of Tusq bridge pins. I haven't received it yet (I had to mail
back in a form specifying which kit I needed). I have used Tusq
saddles before. Being a the hobbiest builder that I am, I like both
the consist density and other qualities of the product, plus is saves
me some time shaping a bone saddle. (Just my experience, but buying
bone saddles one at a time has not been the way to ensure you get a
good product.)

Just wanted to share my good fortune. (Now why can't I ever win a
Santa Cruz 000 model?)

Best wishes,

Dr. Jim Lowther

[Kevin Hall]

Jim;

You are right about buying bone blanks one at a time for sure. To be
practical, you buy them a gross at a time which drastically reduces the
price to the point where you can discard any which are porous or otherwise
unsuitable.

In a working shop a decent stationary belt sander is essential, and once
you have that the time spent shaping raw blanks is reduced to the point
where it doesn't cause any problem.

For a hobbiest who may only need to make or fit a saddle a couple of times a
year, Tusq offers a reasonable alternative but once you get quick at
shaping good bone blanks there's no real reason to mess about with pre-fab
synthetics. The operative word of course is 'good' when referring to bone
blanks. ;-)

KH
"JimLowther" <JimLo...@aol.com> wrote in message
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[David Hajicek]

Kevin:

How do you hold the bone blanks so that you aren't also sanding down the end
of your fingers? I've done that. The funny thing is that it doesn't hurt
until AFTER it starts to bleed. ;>)

Dave Hajicek

"Kevin Hall" <timbe...@webhart.net> wrote in message
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[Kevin Hall]

That can be a problem, especially if you fingerpick with your own nails.
After you've done enough work with tiny parts like nuts and saddles on the
belt sander, you get used to it and tend not to do any digital customizing.
The big trick is to learn to let go of the piece if it grabs the belt.
Natural reaction is usually to try to hang on to the piece by gripping it
harder, but of course if you do that and the belt has hold of it you will
drag your pinkies into the abrasive.

It sounds and looks more dangerous than it is. In a shop where you may have
to make and fit a couple of dozen saddles and/or nuts in a day, the
stationary belt sander is absolutely essential in order to make those jobs
pay.

After a while, you get so you can put the correct radius on the top of
saddle or nut by eye, only using the template as a Q.C. check. Students
and apprentices tend to be amazed by that the first time they see it done,
but it's just a matter of lots of practice on a very simple operation.

KH
"David Hajicek" <haj...@skypoint.com> wrote in message
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