TUSQ is an engineered polymer created by Graph Tech which is used for electric guitar and bass nuts on certain Ibanez models. It is also used for acoustic guitar saddles, although we're not aware of any stock Ibanez models which employ them.
TUSQ vs. bone
As its name implies, TUSQ is meant to mimic the properties of ivory (as in elephant tusks) or bone. Graph Tech claims that the material provides increased harmonics and sustain compared to bone. Another advantage the company touts is that since TUSQ is a man-made material it is consistent throughout, eliminating any soft spots that occur with natural material which can hamper the consistent transfer of vibrations to the guitar body.[1]
TUSQ XL friction comparison
Graph Tech produces two versions of TUSQ: the original TUSQ is available in either white or aged cream while TUSQ XL is offered in black or white. The primary difference between the two is that TUSQ XL is impregnated with PTFE (Teflon) to alleviate any binding as the string passes through the nut slot.[2]
Sources[]
- ↑ About Graph Tech TUSQ, Graph Tech, archived December 2022
- ↑ TUSQ XL nuts, Graph Tech, archived December 2022
