Position of screw holes on James Tailpiece

**NG53** · Jul-04-2012, 11:40pm

Anyone know the exact positions of the screw holes on a James Tailpiece? I was thinking of ordering one of them. I need to know how far down from the top of the soundboard are the first two holes, how far apart they are, and how far down the bottom is from the top.

The tailpiece on my mandolin is 6.5 mm down from the top to the centre of the screw holes, and the bottom hole is 29 mm down from the top edge of the soundboard, that is when the top of the tailpiece is in line with the soundboard.

Thanks

Nic

**Ivan Kelsall** · Jul-05-2012, 1:28am

Nic - Is your existing tailpiece one with the 'standard' Gibson style spacing ?. It would help to know what make of mandolin it is. The usual James hole spacing is the 'Gibson' standard,simply because that's become the standard hole spacing for many tailpieces (other than Weber & Monteleone).If i were you,i'd make a neat sketch of your tailpiece with the dimensions that your asking about,photograph it & e-mail it to Bill James. I believe that he can & indeed does produce tailpieces that have had an alternative hole pattern in them.You also need to take into account the end pin position as well,
Ivan

**NG53** · Jul-05-2012, 1:49am

Hi Ivan

I am pretty sure that it varies slightly from the Standard Gibson. Thanks for the wonderful tip to contact Bill James directly and provide him with a template and photographs. Do you know his email address?

Cheers

Nic

**mandroid** · Jul-05-2012, 2:12am

I made a vast change, from a small Lebeda to a James.. after plugging and re drilling
all the work done is invisible.. hidden by the tailpiece..

**strings777** · Jul-05-2012, 2:52am

NG53, here is a link to Bill's website with contact information: http://www.axinc.net/

**Bill James** · Jul-05-2012, 7:53am

Click image for larger version.

Name: TP dimensions.pdf
Views: 88
Size: 36.5 KB
ID: 88866

Here you go. Click on the image to enlarge it.

**NG53** · Jul-05-2012, 8:43am

Thanks Bill

I have copied the drawing onto my computer. My current tailpiece has the screw holes in different positions to your tailpiece by up to 4 or 5mm. The peghead is however in the right spot. I have sent you an email to ask for your opinion as to whether to go for your standard tailpiece with the holes as indicated on the template or to go for tailpiece with custom holes.

Cheers

Nic