Re: creating a tailpiece.
I honestly think everyone wants to put their touch on their mandolin within their inherent capabilities. Meaning those who know wood and finish may speed neck their instrument or replace the thick finish on an imported lower end mandolin. Those who can do metal may want to make a new tailpiece. Me, I can change strings and put stickers on my case.
tinkering is great. That's how you find what makes positive or negative changes in an instrument's performance.
In my years of looking on the Cafe, tailpieces are a later modification to an instrument after strings and bridges. Tuners get changed out for better performance. There's not tons and tons of data on what a variety of tailpieces do to the sound. Most people swap out for aesthetic or string change ease.
I'm not trying to discourage you. Not at all. Most folks like the traditional look of the stamped (or Hot Rod Jame's tail piece). I've had stamped, cast (Eastman), cast (lost wax technique on a LaBraid) and one of Sunburst's tailpieces on instruments. I even liked the funky integrated tailpiece on the Weber Sweet Pea travel mandolin.
I would love to see what a forged tailpiece could look like. I can't imagine forging something that small. I will say as you get there, build some with standard hole spacing... sadly, there seems to be several standards!
Jamie
There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946
+ Give Blood, Save a Life +
Bookmarks