OT--Inner bark Mammoth Ivory for Guitar???...

T

Trick

Joined
Mar 3, 2001
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I have an acoustic guitar that I need to make a nut and saddle for and want to use ivory. That is what good guitars had back in the day. Well, there is a guy on ebay that sells inner bark (and I see now after I typed this he sells outer also) mammoth ivory nut and saddle blanks pretty cheap. But the thing is, it is way cheaper than he sells the real deal elephant ivory for. So that has to mean something. But it could also just be the colors maybe because they are not "ivory" colored? I will put a link at the bottom.

My question is for you guys that has experience with the stuff, is it hard and dense like the outer fossilized mammoth ivory or regular ivory? That is where ivory gets its tonal properties from, being so hard and dense. I don't mind the colors. In fact, I think it be rather cool to have mammoth ivory just because. But I would spend the extra $10 for ivory if y'all thought it would be best.
Thanks!
Ric

Outer bark on ebay

Inner bark on ebay

Elephant Ivory on ebay
 
Hey Trick- if I understand things right... mammoth Ivory isn't Ivory - it's a chemically changed 'fossil' which means the original chemical makeup has changed over time as mineralization occurs in the process of fossilization (all the original stuff gets replaced by minerals present in the ground)... so it no longer has the qualities of Ivory I think a guitar would need... Now, I only collect guitars as I'm not much of a player, but I think, if it didn't affect the tonal quality of the neck, that mammoth ivory may look good as inlay on the fretboard...

I hope someone more knowledgeable chimes in as I think this is a pretty good question... Imagine a nice old Gibson with bluegreen mammoth inlays... :eek:
 
Thanks! Glad I asked! That makes sense. I will go for the real, pre-ban ivory that they sell on there.
I actually wanted to make guitars before knives. So guitar making is on my list of things I would like to do sometime. I am sure that you could make some really swell inlays, binding, tuning knobs, etc. from left over chunks of ivory from knife making.
How about a quilted maple top, translucent blue finished f-hole archtop with blue mammouth ivory bindings, bridge and bridge pins, tuning buttons, inlays and strap buttons? Oh yea, and a rosewood headstock overlay with mammouth inlays. :eek:
 
Don't ever think otherwise, mammoth ivory is REAL ivory, not mineralized or fossilized. It can be called fossil ivory but that comes only because of its age, not because of any property change. Frank
 
The concern I'd have with ancient ivory after looking at those fotos on ebay would be the effect of the cracks. Number one, they may not hold up to the tension. Number two, they will have some effect on the resonance, which would sure suck if it negatively affected the tone, and worse if it buzzed. Regular ivory is, of course, an old standby.

You familiar with the Scott Chinery collection of blue archtops he commisioned before he passed? The guitar you described sounds like it should have been included.

Personally, though it's plain jane black, I sure do like the graphite composite nut like on my PRS. Had an acoustic, a Koa-sided Alvarez Yairi, that had a graphite nut and saddle. That thing had wonderful tone, and marvelous bass.
 
The reason the price for the elephant parts is higher is with the ban the pre act supply legal ivory is short and it is selling for about twice that of mammoth ivory. Unless there are cracks through the saddle the mammoth should be as strong as elephant. I sold a lot of mammoth to the guy that had the contract with Martin. I believe thy still use a lot of mammoth on some of their high end guitars.
 
joeshredd said:
Hey Trick- if I understand things right... mammoth Ivory isn't Ivory - it's a chemically changed 'fossil' which means the original chemical makeup has changed over time as mineralization occurs in the process of fossilization (all the original stuff gets replaced by minerals present in the ground)... so it no longer has the qualities of Ivory I think a guitar would need...
Click to expand...

It all depends on what mammoth ivory you get ....I have worked with mammoth just as solid as elephant ivory but also some that was so weatherbeaten it would crack if you looked at it funny....BUT...no matter how you turn it....mammoth ivory is still ivory....it is still organic...not really changed much....old yes...chemical changed...hm...I would not say so...as I understand it the colors ARE from minerals...but colored ivory can still be just as dense and strong..it depends more on how the ivory has been preserved from the weather, water etc...
 
Frank and Anso...

Thanks for the clarification - apparently that was another class I must'a slept through...

And no matter what - I sure as heck would love a chance to play a guitar so decorated... Man, can't seem to get enough of that blue Ivory...
 
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