Long shot looking for this tailpiece.

[fscotte]

http://www.vintagemandolin.com/92randywooda5_1892.html

Perfect for my latest build, but Randy said he can't make them anymore. Ideas?

[mrmando]

Yeah, I asked Randy about one of those for my Wood F5 and got the same reply. Your best bet is to buy an old Randy Wood mandolin and swap out the tailpiece ...

[Jim Garber]

Do you just like the look of that (I do!) or is there some functionality that appeals to you? I would think you could find an artisan to copy that, perhaps a jeweler?

OTOH, I found this almost 7 year old thread with complaints about how hard it was to change strings. The last post was by one player who took his off. Maybe she still has it.

[Marty Jacobson]

You can definitely make something like that. It's not that complicated. Anyone with a CNC mill could make you one, and local machine shops don't charge too much if you can supply the CAD. Cost goes down if you buy 5-10 or more. Probably less than $100 apiece.

[fscotte]

I guess I don't know too much about metalwork. Who can make this with gold finish? Is there a place online that makes custom tailpieces?

[MikeEdgerton]

Take a look at this thread.

[pops1]

You can have it made of brass or any material and send it out to have it plated. I have had tailpieces I made chrome plated in the past.

[j. condino]

Lots of people buy whole instruments just so they can swap out a special vintage fitting or two and then resell them. I've done it many times just for the case; 'gotta thing for old tweed....

[Don Grieser]

I had one of those RW tailpieces that broke. YMMV.

[Jim Garber]

My suggestion: check with Marty Jacobson to see if he would do the CAD/CNC work. He is an ace at this stuff.

A couple of views of the tailpiece for the future archaeologists who may read this thread:

[mrmando]

Get a 3-D printer!

Make me some Lyon & Healy repro tailpieces while you're at it.

[Marty Jacobson]

No, thank you! I always charge way too little and spend way too much time on this kind of thing.
Actually, that's true of everything I do. :-)

[Ivan Kelsall]

The time spent in programing a cutter path,not to mention any holding any fixtures / drill jigs etc. that might be required would i think, be prohibitive regarding cost for a one off.
Did Randy Wood machine them himself,or did he (as i suspect),have them made to his design ?. If it's the latter,could he give you the maker's details to that you could contact them ?. Also,if he's ''not making them any more'',what is he using on any new build ?,
Ivan

[mrmando]

Well, my Wood has just a standard 2-piece Gibson-style tailpiece. I have considered replacing it with a James, but haven't done so yet.

[fscotte]

Well like I said its a long shot. I contacted Mr Dean but he said he can't mold it, and Randy no longer makes tailpieces. No biggie however, thx for the suggestions.

[Marty Jacobson]

Wes, what if you made your own base out of brass, and made the string guide blocks out of ebony? Could look very nice, and you could do it all with a jewelry saw.

[barry k]

I have one......contact me , we will negotiate

[JeffD]

OK so this is an extravagant solution. I had a similar problem in an industrial setting. We had the part, which was in Europe, scanned into a 3D scanner. We printed it out here, and used the result to make a mold for the shape, that we then cast in metal.

OK I know, but still its a nerd's delight.

[DHopkins]

Check the classifieds

[Jim Garber]

No, thank you! I always charge way too little and spend way too much time on this kind of thing.
Actually, that's true of everything I do. :-)

Sorry, Marty! I won't do it again!

[Jim Garber]

I have one......contact me , we will negotiate

Check the classifieds

No beating around the bush: here's the link to the RW tailpiece for sale.