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I suspect this question has been answered before but for the life of me I can't find it. So, apologies in advance if I'm bringing up an old topic that's been addressed.
Has anyone replaced the standard Northfield F5S tailpiece with a James? If so, did it require drilling new holes?
Northfield is out of the James tailpieces they offer on their website and I've not heard back from an email to them inquiring.
Many thanks!
Interested in this as well. The stock tailpiece is ok, but once I got my Kimble, I realized how much easier string changes are with the James.
I'd need to have one drilled out for a K&K jack, though.
I'm such an idiot. Eyeballing the two and taking some rough measurements, it appears to be a direct drop-in (excepting the jack drilling). I'll leave it to one of our luthier members (or Northfield) to confirm. James is on top in the photo.
Attachment 186309
Good question and if it's not too much of a problem, installing a James tailpiece is a great modification. Good luck with it!Quote:
Originally Posted by js464
To add another question, I had once removed the screws from the tailpiece on my F5S and could not get the tailpiece to budge. Is there something more to it? I didn't want to put too heavy of a hand on it in case I was doing something wrong. Thanks!
So glad I'm not the only one with these questions...
The tailpiece may be stuck to the finish. Be very careful and pull it off.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwartDeco
You might get some of these answers directly from Bill James himself if you contact him through his Axiom Inc website ( http://www.axinc.net/ ). He was very helpful when I contacted him there.
Thanks, Don. I emailed Mr. James and he responded quickly with a schematic but he couldn't tell me if his tailpiece is a direct replacement. I left another message for Northfield today. Meanwhile, hoping someone on the Cafe has actually done the replacement and can share their experience. If not I'll try to decipher the schematic.
Hi all — Just found out from a reliable source that installing the James tailpiece on a Northfield 5FS requires drilling new holes. In other words, it is not a direct fit.
Check the hole alignment of the new tailpiece with the existing holes on the Northfield, you may find that you can stretch one or more of the holes on the new tailpiece without redrilling the mandolin. The screw heads are large enough to cover small sins committed on the tailpiece.Quote:
Originally Posted by js464
Thanks much for that, mtucker.
The tailpiece itself, will cover up the glued in plugs in the old holes, even if if you do have to drill new ones, It will be Your Secret..
If I had needed to drill completely new holes for my James, I would have left the original holes unplugged, since they would be hidden anyway, plus they would be available for any future owner who wanted to use the original Gibson tailpiece.
I put a James on and it went straight on no problem. The one which is 'stuck' just needs a little gentle persuasion. Stanley knife or similar. Maybe hardrier for 3 seconds or so but no more.
You don't need to enlarge the hole for the jack-- the end of the jack is smaller than the main portion and fits right through the existing hole in the tailpiece.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Winn
Doesn't Northfield sell an after-market James? I assumed they would drop right on to an F5S?
Northfield sells an aftermarket "Nugget" tailpiece...
https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/155461#155461
They do. I inquired about how it would fit an F5S but haven't heard back.Quote:
Originally Posted by jones
https://www.northfieldinstruments.co...eld-tail-peice
Chuck - you might want to reach out on FB or IG. Emails I've sent in the past have gone unanswered for quite a while.
Just heard back from Derek of Northfield on this.
The James tailpieces are way behind schedule in manufacturing and they don't expect more anytime soon.
They are not a direct replacement - drilling required for mounting holes and endpin hole.
They have another upgraded tailpiece option on the horizon, and to check back in 2-3 months.