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Bone Saddles in 1960 LP?

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
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Aug 2, 2001
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So, prompted by this thread, I finally dug out my old t-o-m with "bone looking" saddles.

normal_DSCN5136.JPG


normal_DSCN5140.JPG



These are on a nickel, no wire tune-o-matic. I lightly filed the grooves but detected no "bone" smell. I did the same with a bone saddle blank, and immediately detected the smell.
So, if they aren't bone, what are they? :hmm
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
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That looks like a material that was used a lot for engineering fabrication back then. I'm going to try to remember the name of it... I seem to remember it as type of Lexan or something. At General Atomics where I used to work, that stuff was used for everything. Blocks of it were cut and drilled into spacers and insulators and such to make various apparatus.

PCB.jpg
 
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TM1

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Jun 27, 2003
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TW: those aren't bone. It's a synthetic with fibre. I've seen some old Gibson nuts like that from the early `60's. Like I said in the other post, check page #149 in the A.R.Duchossoir book. I should have a couple sets by the weekend. I know a guy who's guitar has the initials "PG" got the first set on Sunday up in Seattle.
 

TM1

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I have no interest in these other than just my own personal curiosity:
ECCollinsBone-O-MaticBridge.jpg
 

mingus

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:hmm

My Bone-O-Matic looks nothing like that.

:worm
 

RAB

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Mar 17, 2005
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yes, not bone...it is as someone noted a synthetic material with a clear "grain" or pattern visible under close scrutiny or magnifying glass...
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
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Aug 2, 2001
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Delrin was what I have heard also, but according to Wikipedia the delrin plant was constructed in 1960 in Parkersburg Virginia.
Seems a bit of a stretch that Gibson was getting t-o-m saddles right after they opened the first factory.

So, does anyone have any evidence of an actual bone saddle, from 1960?
It appears we still do not have that evidence.
Perhaps the info was incorrect, and was refering to delrin, which might seem "bone like" at the time [considering the grain]?
And maybe the year 1960 is off by one or two years?


Anyone have verifiable bone saddles that are original from that time period? :hmm
 

Kap'n

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Jan 2, 2002
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Ryton (PPS) has a similar look and feel. No idea when it was first made.
 

TM1

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bonesaddlesghighcontrastcloseup.jpg

1960 LP Std. s/n# 0 8875 Inked on number BTW.
bonesaddlesg2.jpg

* Manufacturer: Gibson
·*********** Model: Les Paul Standard
·*********** Case: Hard
·*********** Color: Cherry
·*********** Condition: Excellent
·*********** Description: NOW SOLD - This is possibly the earliest known example of an SG/LP Std with an inked on serial number that is lower than some 'Bursts! It features PAF pickups and bone saddles - yes bone - not nylon before you say the saddles are changed. Unfortunately it had been previously Grovered and later suffered a bad headstock break at Manchester Airport. The serial number is 0 8875 so know you know.
 

BobbyS

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Oct 9, 2001
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Interesting topic to say the least. As Ganz and TW (and the rest of us) know nothing else smells like bone. Phew...
 
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