Real Bone?

[L20A]

Ordered an Alvarez guitar with specs stating saddle is Real Bone. Is the saddle really Bone or a deceitful way to call plastic bone?

[jaymarsch]

I can’t speak for your specific guitar but I have owned 3 Alvarez guitars - 2 Artistworks and 1 Masterworks and I took each of them to a reputable tech for set ups. He confirmed that the nuts and saddles were bone as advertised in the spec sheet. These guitars were built between 2014 and 2016. I hope this info is helpful.
Best,
Jayne

[Andromeda]

I have 4 masterwork series Alvarez guitars. They are supposed to have bone nut and saddle. I've never had them authenticated but they all sound amazing!

[Denny B]

If you're not sure if a saddle is bone or not, take it out and tap it against your teeth...if you get a sharp "click" sound, it's bone...if not, it's some other material.

[Silly Moustache]

In a world of beef eaters, I think that there is quite a lot of bovine bone around, so doubt that it is an expensive product.

[aK_bAsh7]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

In a world of beef eaters, I think that there is quite a lot of bovine bone around, so doubt that it is an expensive product.

Shouldn't that be "Beefeaters" ? ;o)

[L20A]

I ask the question because
I have seen a few pins makers that call their plastic pins and saddles New Bone and Real Bone.
I just don't know What Alvarez uses in their Artist Series.

[boppy99]

Take out the saddle and put the tip in your mouth.
Bone is cool like a stone.
Plastic will just register as room-temperature.

[Misifus]

To put this another way, I’ve not heard of “Real Bone” used as a trademark for a bone substitute.

[davenumber2]

Originally Posted by Misifus

To put this another way, I’ve not heard of “Real Bone” used as a trademark for a bone substitute.

As far as I know “real bone” means it is really bone. “Nubone” is the brand name for a product made by Graphtech that is very similar to TUSQ. I haven’t heard of any others.

[Cibby]

Alvarez Real bone is real bone. I have a Masterworks MB60BG. I still had Bob Colosi make a saddle for it his are the best.

[gmel555]

Originally Posted by L20A

I ask the question because
I have seen a few pins makers that call their plastic pins and saddles New Bone and Real Bone.

Yep I understood what you meant....why not just say "bone"? In this case though I think it is bone and the addition of "real" is just over over the top. In their online description a sentence starts with "Real bone...", if it were a trademark/brand term the "b" in bone should also be capped. On Sweetwater the specs just say "bone". I think you're good.

[L20A]

After more investigation, it appears that the saddle is Bone and the pins are not.

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by L20A

After more investigation, it appears that the saddle is Bone and the pins are not.

My Alvarez came with rosewood pins and another with ebony. Glad that you were able to find out.
Best,
Jayne

[Brent Hahn]

My guitar tech/luthier says that most of it is water buffalo, fwiw. He prefers it not for the sound, but because when you work it with tools and generate heat, bone doesn't get soft or melty like the synthetics do.