Gilchrist Tailpieces

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 3:02pm

I really like these. Is there any way to get these without getting a gil itself? I'm interested on putting them on my mandolins.

**MikeEdgerton** · Mar-01-2009, 3:08pm

You mean tailpieces that say Gilchrist? Do the tailpieces you are asking about look like this?

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 3:13pm

Yeah, I don't want them to say Gil but I don't really mind. the ones he has on his mandolins with the screw things on the top.

**MikeEdgerton** · Mar-01-2009, 3:25pm

That I haven't seen, maybe an owner will post a picture.

**Jim MacDaniel** · Mar-01-2009, 3:36pm

Here is a link to one with pics, recently sold at Greg Boyd's.

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 3:40pm

Yeah, That's it. Do you know where to get them?

**ninevah** · Mar-01-2009, 3:43pm

It's not the best picture. This one hails from 1997.

**Potosimando** · Mar-01-2009, 3:49pm

Gilchrist used to sell them directly, without the name on them (I don't know if he still does). I have had both this one (the Gil tailpiece) and James, and I prefer the James, although both are very nice, and both make it easier and quicker to change strings.

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 4:09pm

For some reason I like these more than a James tailpiece.

**sunburst** · Mar-01-2009, 5:27pm

The Gilchrist tailpieces I've worked with have round posts for the string loops. I've had several string loops slip on the hooks. Unless the Gil tailpieces have changed, that makes Bill James' tailpieces better, in my mind, because they have squared posts for the string loops and that keeps the loops from slipping.

**Gail Hester** · Mar-01-2009, 5:56pm

You can buy them directly from Steve if the timing is right, plain Silver only unless you have a Gil.

**AlanN** · Mar-01-2009, 6:06pm

The posts on mine sport idents in which the loop sits. Never have had 1 loop pop off yet, and it's been 10 years of re-stringing.

**sunburst** · Mar-01-2009, 7:12pm

I haven't had any pop off, just tighten like a noose so the string wouldn't tune, followed by failure of the string loop. These were instruments I was setting up and loosening and re-tightening the strings. It may not happen as often in normal use.

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 7:36pm

Can ya get them in gold?

**MikeEdgerton** · Mar-01-2009, 7:54pm

Yes, the James Tailpiece is available in gold as well as silver. The link above was in gold. Here it is again.

**Joe Parker** · Mar-01-2009, 8:07pm

I've yet to have one slip or come off on my Gil.I have a Duff with the James unit and it works great,too. I admit to being partial to the finish on the Gilchrist tailpiece,shiny versus matte on the Duff. The small screw allows for adjusting the damping of the strings against a felt pad on the underside of the Gil cover.The James uses rubber bands under the strings that require the angle of the tailpiece be adjusted in relation to the heighth your bridge in order to provide full damping.YMMV.

Joe Parker

**Gail Hester** · Mar-01-2009, 8:52pm

James tailpieces come with a number of options including a shiny finish.

**man dough nollij** · Mar-01-2009, 9:00pm

Gail, what are the covers made of on those? I had only seen the matte ones, and only in pictures. They look like aluminum, but I'm thinking that would just get scratched to bejeezus right away.

**Mandolin** · Mar-01-2009, 9:29pm

I mean are the gilchrist tailpieces available in gold?

**mandroid** · Mar-01-2009, 9:39pm

Get it in 'whatever' [ the difficult part ] then get it gold electro plated .

longer it stays in the plating bath with the current on , the thicker the plated layer ..

James uses a bronze casting , I read here , then they are finished by CNC CAM .

**Gail Hester** · Mar-01-2009, 11:21pm

Gail, what are the covers made of on those?

James uses a bronze casting , I read here , then they are finished by CNC CAM .

As I understand it, they are bronze and then plated with sterling Silver. The shiny one pictured is Silver then hand engraved.

I mean are the gilchrist tailpieces available in gold?

When I bought Silver tailpieces from Steve he also oftered them unplated in bronze so that you could have it done however you want. I'm not sure if he gets them in Gold but give him a call. He is very approachable and a very nice man.

These are so shiny that photograghing them is near impossible but here goes. Silver hand engraved James, Gil plain, Gold hand engraved James.

**Greenmando** · Mar-01-2009, 11:40pm

I'll try a bigger pic of that tailpiece.

**sunburst** · Mar-01-2009, 11:57pm

Just gave this one back to it's owner a couple of weeks ago. It's an older one that came with a Gibson type tailpiece and now has a gold plated tailpiece that the owner got from Steve Gilchrist.

**AlanN** · Mar-02-2009, 6:24am

Glory Be, that is gorgeous. And it's a 'The', to boot.

**fredfrank** · Mar-02-2009, 7:35am

Tell you what. You get the tailpiece from Steve Gilchrist while it's attached to the mandolin, take the tailpiece off, and send the mandolin to me. I'll figure it out from there.