Monteleone-style tailpieces

[billbo]

I have an A style with a traditional tailpiece. How would changing to a Monteleone-style tailpiece affect the tone? Seems like the weight and rigidity may help. Any opinions?

[cutbait2]

Roger Siminoffs new book says it does.

[Lane Pryce]

It did on a Quartz KF I once owned. Lp

[August Watters]

Seems like I hear lots of conflicting opinions about this. For every mandolin player who switched to a heavy cast tailpiece and got better sustain, tone and resonance, seems like there's another who did the same and lost bass response and projection. All I can guess is that it affects different mandolins differently -- or maybe the results depend on technique and style? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Same can be said of builders -- some believe the heavy cast tailpieces help; some are equally convinced tailpieces need to be light for optimal tone.

Anyone else?

August W
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Lane Pryce]

Let me add to my previous post. When the tp was added I also had a new bone nut,fret dressing and setup preformed. Was more than likely a combination of all of the above. Sustain had the best improvement followed by tone. One thing for sure; I had to dampen the strings below the bridge before I could play a decent chop. Did the improvements offset the cost of the tp? No way, but it sho wuz purty. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif Lp

[GBG]

I have a regular old Gibson-type tailpiece on my F model. I'm going to get a solid tailpiece in a couple of of weeks. My friend does NOT like the heavier solid tailpieces and thinks they dampen the tone. Anyway, I guess the only way to find out how they work is buy one and try it.

[Steven Stone]

The mass of a tailpiece is only one aspect of its sonic effect on a mando.

I think the break angle of the strings and the amount of down-pressure created by the bridge may be even more important. Some bridges sit much closer to the mando top than others and exert more downpressure. This has an effect not only on the sound but, perhaps more importantly on the feel and string resistence when you fret and pick.

[Ken Berner]

I have installed solid cast bronze tailpieces on three mandolins and have found that the added mass has deepened the tone to some degree on all of them. The Weber tailpieces are heavier than the Allen original; the Monteleone and Orrico appear to be heavier than the first two, but I have not used them. They all serve their collective purpose of easy string changing, but I don't know that any claims are being made for tonal improvement. You might contact all of these makers and request weights of their tailpieces.