A Nugget on a Gilchrist

[AlanN]

Snazzy little piece of equipment. The holes and footprint lined up perfectly, a good thing.

Is there a tonal diff? Only my hairdresser knows for sure. I can't tell...

[Jim Roberts]

Those tailpieces are really cool but I trashed the right-arm sleeves of several nice wool sweaters on a mandolin with one of these tailpieces. Seems the fabric gets caught in the end of the string where it wraps around the loop.

[DataNick]

Love the chopped, block inlaid fingerboard, and bound f-holes Alan!

[AlanN]

Thanks, Nick. That fancy truss rod cover (came off a Duff mandolin) is inlaid with 'Frank Wakefield' and the pickguard was crafted by Charlie Derrington.

I can see where Jim's comment comes from. My forearm typically rides a bit above the t/p, but will see if becomes an issue. I may go back to the Gilchrist hinged t/p (a wonderful design itself), but will give this a shot, at least for 1-2 string changes. I dig the small-ness of the unit.

[tree]

I'm with Nick - the bound f-holes and that block inlay floats my boat!

[Chris Daniels]

Howdy Alan,

Unlike the others above, I've already given you my lukewarm opinion on the bound f-holes but I've got to say they're growing on me.

I will also say pictures do no true justice to 'The' Gil's golden beauty let alone it's fab tone and playability. Congrats again on such a fantastic instrument. Perhaps the Nug will stick around long enough for me to check it out in person.

Cheers!

C.

[Timbofood]

If you've snagged a wool sweater on that, two things, comes to mind,
Take the sweater off and, play hotter!

[Ron McMillan]

I love the functional simplicity of the Nugget tailpiece, but wonder if visually it might be more suited to A mandolins, where to my eye it doesn't appear quite so out of balance. On the Northfield Model M it looks perfect.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Plus a 'Mark Leaf' mandolin case to complete the full set !. Nice gear Alan,
Ivan

[lenf12]

Those tailpieces are really cool but I trashed the right-arm sleeves of several nice wool sweaters on a mandolin with one of these tailpieces. Seems the fabric gets caught in the end of the string where it wraps around the loop.

I've had the same issue with Rigel tailpieces when wearing long sleeves. When wearing short sleeves, it's only the skin on your wrist that gets shredded and it will eventually heal.

Len B.
Clearwater, FL

[John Soper]

That Gil is one mandolin that is dressed up to go out!

[mandroid]

To my eye , An armrest could be made to cover the exposed string loops.. so save flesh ..

[Chris Daniels]

To my eye , An armrest could be made to cover the exposed string loops.. so save flesh ..

You know, Doug Edwards makes an "OTP" (over the tailpiece, natch) version of the McClung armrest and I've never really appreciated the design until seeing this comment. Broadening one's world view is always fun and usually not this painless.

Of course, hiding the Nugget beneath some maple might be antithetical to at least half the point of the thing.

C.

[F-2 Dave]

Very classy looking. The whole mandolin looks great. The new tailpiece makes it look sleeker. Beauty.

[Atlanta Mando Mike]

That's a great touch. You made an already beautiful and unique mandolin even cooler!

[AlanN]

Thanks for the kudos, fellow pickers. The tailpiece is slick. I may wrap a narrow leather strip around the exposed wrap twists, if need be.

[AlanN]

You know, Doug Edwards makes an "OTP" (over the tailpiece, natch) version of the McClung armrest and I've never really appreciated the design until seeing this comment. Broadening one's world view is always fun and usually not this painless.

Of course, hiding the Nugget beneath some maple might be antithetical to at least half the point of the thing.

C.

Too wise, Chris. I've tried armrests. As Chet Baker sang, "...but not for me."

Armguard - non!
Toneguard - non!
Pickguard - parfois!
Right Guard - toujours!

[Perry]

I find the Gil tailpiece to be very functional but I must say that Nugget t.p. looks really good with the bound F holes and block inlays...a bigger tailpiece might be too much "silver"