Threshold material
Plastic thresholds These are installed on the vast majority of guitars - from cheap Chinese replicas to expensive signature guitar models . The plastic threshold is cheap and its sound properties are satisfactory , as are its service life , durability , and appearance .
However , plastic wears out and gets scratched relatively quickly , and production defects are often found in it . This is offset with higher quality plastic which has a greater margin of safety and durability .
Other types of plastic In the guitar industry , there are specialty polymer blends such as TUSQ , NuBone , and carbon .
These materials differ from plastic in that they imitate the properties of bone thresholds quite well , and in some respects they even surpass them . Soft , pliable , and at the same time very strong and durable .
Graphite High-quality and expensive graphite saddles increase sustain , while cheap ones can reduce it due to poor manufacturing since the material is quite specific and capricious .
The main feature of the graphite nut is its improved sliding properties , as a result of which the strings in the grooves of the nut are automatically “ lubricated ”.
Graphite thresholds also look stylish due to the dark gray color of the material itself .
Brass and other types of metals The most durable and strong saddles that allow you to achieve a special sound . Metal saddles make the sound bright and sharp , and can add colour when playing under overload .
Bone Perhaps the most popular type of material for thresholds . The bone nut should be considered the historically accurate version of this guitar design element . It was traditionally made from cattle bone .
The sound of a bone nut is as balanced as possible - it does not make the sound bright and dull at the same time . Bone , like graphite , allows the strings to slide easily in the grooves , making bone nuts ideal for tremolo or Floyd Rose guitars .
Ivory An extremely rare and exotic nut material . The production and sale of ivory are banned in many countries around the world , but you can still find old instruments with ivory nuts on the market or purchase fossil ivory ( that is , the bone of an animal that died of natural causes ).
How to choose a top sill ?
When choosing a nut , take the type of instrument into account ( electric guitar , bass guitar , acoustic , 12-string , etc .) and the gauge of the strings used .
It is also worth considering the parameters of the guitar :
• The radius of the neck and fingerboard
• Neck width
• Fret height .
When choosing a nut , it is necessary to choose a nut strictly in size or a little larger to be able to more accurately fine-tune the nut to fit the instrument .
The threshold has a few parameters - length , height , width , and material .
Sometimes , it is more expedient to purchase a blank for the saddle , and then fine-tune it yourself and make cuts for the strings .
How to choose a bottom sill ?
The nut has a greater influence on the sound of the instrument .
Several parameters depend on the correct installation and selection of the saddle - the presence or absence of unwanted overtones , undertones , and vibrations . With a high nut height , a string bend may be observed at the point of contact between the nut and the string , which will lead to its breakage .
When choosing a nut , you should rely on the size of the mounting hole in the guitar , as well as the width , height , and length of the nut .
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