This clip is taken from the June 1917 issue of Gibson's Sounding Board Salesman.
The reason for the hook design is revealed....
Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
This clip is taken from the June 1917 issue of Gibson's Sounding Board Salesman.
The reason for the hook design is revealed....
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
It's good to have that to refer to. It probably gets asked a few times a year. I generally refer them to Frank Ford's page on www.frets.com. This is actually pretty in depth. Pretty cool.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I knew that from my early days of joining the mandolin addicted.
It’s very nice to see that reprinted here. Thanks, Mr. Spann!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I like the extra chads for the unwound strings too. Keeps them from escaping the tailpiece when I'm stringing the peghead.
Interesting copy!
f-d
¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!
'20 A3, '30 L-1, '97 914, 2012 Cohen A5, 2012 Muth A5, '14 OM28A
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
Apparently the windings of string loops used to loosen more frequently then, though I've wondered why the tailpiece was designed to avoid this only on the 1st and 2nd courses; surely the loops on the 3rd and 4th could have failed as well.
This problem is not unheard of today, but probably not a common one. I know mandolinists with the "12-prong" tailpiece who just hook their 1st and 2nd strings on the "front" prongs, and ignore the four in the back at the 90º angle. I always use the back prongs, as a salute to tradition, but I probably don't need to.
And what's that "equalization of tension" that's a "string saver," according to the catalog copy, and how is that facilitated by the extra prongs? If someone can decipher that language, please feel free to share.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
The reason for the “turn” is not done on the bass side is that the winding on the G and D strings goes over the twist and the chance to that all failing is pretty low.
At least that’s how it was explained to me when I first looked at the TP and thought “WTF”?
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
When I saw that in the OP, I went "whaaaaaaaat?". Maybe the prong prevents the metal in the string from crystallizing from all the focused tension created by always picking near the bridge and never picking up at the nut.Originally Posted by allenhopkins
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Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
with good quality modern strings the extra hooks are just an extra point of stress, which you don't need IMHO
Dave H
Eastman 615 mandola
2011 Weber Bitteroot A5
2012 Weber Bitteroot F5
Eastman MD 915V
Gibson F9
2016 Capek ' Bob ' standard scale tenor banjo
Ibanez Artist 5 string
2001 Paul Shippey oval hole
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
Wouldn't the actual stress remain constant, using the extra hooks would just split the stress points?
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I've always used the old method in the original sheet for some reason, I believe my gramps showed me how to string up a mando so the tradition must go on.
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I do it too, while it is seldom I have had plain strings slip. Besides I like the way it looks, call me weird.
THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I have a tailpiece with the extra hooks, and couldn't figure out what the heck they were for! (Someone told me a month or so ago.) The instrument was strung without using them when I got it, and I have continued with that method.
The Frank Ford link says that if you don't use them ". . . you'll be missing just a little of the old-time flavor." Is he implying that it changes the tone at all? Or just that you'll miss out on fooling with four extra hooks to catch, and that doing things in a more complicated way is an exercise in character-building?
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
It's implying that you'll miss doing it the traditional way, it won't affect the sound.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
How did Bill Monroe do it? We hafta know...
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
snakeoil......
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
I think there's a quote that is relevant here:
"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull****." - W.C. Fields
Keep that skillet good and greasy all the time!
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
A solution for a problem that probably wasn't a problem. I get that.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
“If there isn’t a problem, might as well make one, then you can realize a profit!”
Sorry, that’s a bit synical.
I do use them all though, as much as a connection to the past as I’m likely to get.
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Re: Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design
Some of the Neutone UK mandolin strings are using the raveling prone loop forming technique,
as of a few years ago..
Spares in the case when I biught my Hodson D'Jangolin.. and they did come undone.
writing about music
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