Dobro mandolin tailpiece?

[EdSherry]

I have a Regal/Dobro mandolin from the 20s. #Unfortunately, metal fatigue set in and the trapeze tailpiece snapped off where it bends going from the top to the side. #Any suggestions for repair or replacement? #Thanks in advance.

[Paul Hostetter]

Elderly sells the Johnson tailpieces which are pretty close to the Nationals.



Trapeze tailpieces have a hinge, which is something I've never seen on a Dobro mandolin. I assume you mean the standard National type.

They also had those rather yucky Bell Brand things as standard equipment for awhile.

[EdSherry]

Thanks, Paul. I'll check it out. -- Ed

[Jim Garber]

My National mandolin had the same problem. I sent it to Harry Eibert, an excellent luthier in upstate NY (email: hfe2@TWCNY.RR.COM), and he was able to weld it so it is now stronger than it was originally.

This was a few years ago and there was no where in the universe a person could find a repro.

Jim

[EdSherry]

Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the suggestion. -- Ed

[Paul Hostetter]

Ed, if you want to have the original brazed, there's a shop in Redwood City that can do it. And replate it afterwards. The name escapes me right now, but Frank Ford turned me onto them many years ago and I'm sure you could get that referral. I wasn't sure which kind of tailpiece you were talking about.

[EdSherry]

Thanks, Paul. #I'll ask Frank. #

You're right, the Dobro tailpiece is like the Nationals (no hinge).

Since the Johnson one is $10 from Elderly, I'll probably go with that, at least temporarily. But the original one does have the Dobro logo engraved on it, which is nice. -- Ed