Tomthebaptist
Well-known member
I would like to replace the nut and saddle on my Kamaka HF-3 with bone. Am looking for a good luthier to make them for me. Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Tom
Thanks,
Tom
I just had this done by Acoustic Vibes in Tempe, AZ...
I just had this done by Acoustic Vibes in Tempe, AZ...
I would like to replace the nut and saddle on my Kamaka HF-3 with bone. Am looking for a good luthier to make them for me. Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Tom
Did you notice a difference?
I’ve done that job myself on cheaper Ukes and it isn’t that hard to do. However yours is an expensive instrument (circa $1500?) so I can quite see that you’d want a perfect job done by a professional - think it will cost you quite a bit though. When I checked the SUS site I see that this model Uke is fitted with a bone nut and a bone saddle, I wonder whether they have made an error or whether the spec has changed?
Every time I’ve fitted a bone saddle and nut it’s made a noticeable improvement over Nu-bone and the like. However I’m puzzled as to why an expensive Uke might need these changes, I’d had expected the material used to be perfectly suitable. I’m wondering whether anyone has approached Kamaka about any aspects of the change or the work.
I thought Kamaka used bone but guess not.
Thanks to everyone for your input. I decided not to swap out the nut and saddle for bone. I prefer bone, but I do not want to pay for the switch. While there may be high tech plastic alternative to bone which may be more consistent than bone, the reason it is used is to cut cost. It’s a cheap alternative. That’s my opinion which is worth about as much as a turd on a brass door knob.
Tom
It’s a cheap alternative
It might be worth dropping an email to Kamaka and asking them what the HF-3 nut and saddle are made of.
Their top models may use bone nuts and saddles. If so, they may allow you to purchase a set.
I'm pretty sure they use TUSQ compensated made specifically for them - but yes, you can purchase them directly from Kamaka. I have.
@Kenn218 If you call Kamaka, please post what you find out.
Here's a photo of the underside of a new Kamaka saddle.
It appears to be synthetic; and does not appear to be TUSQ as there are no markings.