wanna see em

[John Bertotti]

Hey Sunburst have you got pics of the tailpieces you make. And anyone else, please share your styles and maybe even the thoughts about how and why you created them. I think my favorite, so far as appearance, has been the Orrico. I have been looking for somthing even more gothic and have thought of trying my hand at casting but gotta finsh the mando first.
I have one other quetion and that is why not adjust the intonation at the tail piece?
Thanks John

[sunburst]

John,
I had an ad running in the classifieds 'til it expired. I don't want to use this public forum to advertise my product, but here are some pictures. I'll try running another ad.
I wrote an article about why I decided to make my own tailpiece. It was published in Guitarmaker Magazine issue 47 (the mandolin issue). I can send you a copy if you'd like, just send me your Email.

[sunburst]

another

[sunburst]

another

[sunburst]

and one more

[sunburst]

As for intonation, that can only be done at one end of the vibrating length of the string. Either the bridge or the nut.

[John Bertotti]

Doh at the bridge or nut, yea I get it, just had one of those stupid attacks. (typing this as My cranium travels at hi velocity towards the desk top!) Thanks my email is reesaber@mac.com John

[OlderThanWillie]

Here's the Orrico tailpiece that Greg Boyd sells --

[Mark Simcox]

Hi Sunburst, I would love a copy of your Article. Any chance you might send me a copy?
Thanks

[Keith Newell]

Here are a couple of mine.
Keith Newell
http://newellmandolins.com

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Sunburst:

I read your article in Guitarmaker (I'm a member of GAL and ASIA). Nicely done! After reading all you went through to design and manufacture the thing I hope you're breaking even now. Or better yet, making a profit. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Nice design though. I like it a lot.

Greg

[mandofiddle]

Here's the Orrico tailpiece that Greg Boyd sells --
Has anybody used this tailpiece here? Opinions?

[sunburst]

Mark,
I'll be glad to send the article next week when I'm back home. It's in the computer at home.

Dru, I don't know if I'll ever make money with the tailpieces, that wasn't really the goal. I just wanted something I couldn't get anywhere else for my own mandolins. I figured there might be others that would like them too, so I put them on the market. The "economy of scale" in manufacturing leaves me with more than I can use anyway.
Thanks for the kind words!

[french guy]

That's mine , piece of brass , work well .

[peterbc]

Sunburst,
Do you get slippage problems? It seems some of the hooks aren't very big. I did notice some are pulled to the outside, but it looks like the outside D and A courses might be tempted to jump off. Does it change the sound at all? They look quite delicious and a nickel one would fit my mandolins style... (don't tempt me!)

Peter

[sunburst]

Peter, I haven't had any slippage problems, nor have I heard from anyone using one of these having slippage problems.
I've had reports of sound changes from people that changed to these from other tailpieces, and I've had reports of no sound change when switching. Of the people that heard a difference, some liked it better and some didn't like it as well. I think it depends on the mandolin, what kind of tailpiece it's replacing , and what you want to hear.

[Mark Simcox]

Thanks Sunburst, I look forward to receiving it. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Michael Lewis]

Custom order

[P Josey]

Michael, that is one classy tailpiece. Now for the obvious question, " What about the strap" ?


Paul Josey

[Michael Lewis]

If you order a mandolin I will be happy to put a strap button wherever you choose, on the mandolin. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[sunburst]

Michael, Do you do your own engraving?
That's a nice coherent design, BTW!

[Michael Lewis]

I'm just learning the basics of engraving, as you can tell if you look closely. #Hey, it's hand made. #(that's what we #all say when some one points out a flaw). #I've been doing my own pearl engraving for several years, but only in the last couple years have I really tried to engrave metal. #Like anything it takes practice. #For my fancy stuff like the D'Angelico tail pieces I send those out to pro engravers, but for my mandolins I try to keep it in house.

By the way John, I think your tailpieces are gorgeous.

[duuuude]

"flaw" he says, that's what gives it the personal touch Michael, looks great to me!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif