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Thread: Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

  1. #1

    Default Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

    Hey,

    Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on my first flat top build and had a couple of questions regarding the bridge and tail piece:

    1. Will the Ashton Bailey tailpieces work on a flat top. If not, will any of the Allen tailpieces work with a flat top?

    2. Does anyone have any experience with the Grover Tun-Kraft ebony and bone bridge? What's the advantage of the bone inlay? Or can anyone recommend a flat top bridge blank?

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Registered User
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    Jun 2003
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    springfield,ohio
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    657

    Default Re: Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

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ID:	181119 over the years, I've tried a lot of different things.. one thing that worked out really well was making a bridge out of bone.. The ones That I've made are not adjustable but feel that it added more sustaine and makes it loud all across the strings.. ya gain a little , and you loose a little....
    kterry

  3. #3

    Default Re: Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

    I just built a flat top based on Graham McDonald's book and it has about a 12/15' radius. I bought a $10 Chinese knockoff of the Ashton Bailey tailpiece (quality was pretty good- and it perfectly matched the Golden Age Bronze tuning pegs I ordered) but the angle was made for an archtop mandolin so it was too high. I put it in a vice holding the body down and gently hammered the tail pin area down. I figured if I broke it I wouldn't lose much. It hammered down fine, the metal seemed malleable, and now the angle is perfect. That might not be the case with the Ashton Bailey, but that's how I handled it. Good luck
    Rob

  4. #4

    Default Re: Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

    Thanks for the response guys! I'm leaning towards the ebony bridge from elderly (https://www.elderly.com/collections/...lin-bridge-469) the description says the insert is plastic but I think I can knock it out and replace it with bone.

    I'm still stuck on a tailpiece. I have a feeling that if I try to modify/bend any cast tailpiece it will break due to how brittle they tend to be.

  5. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Bridge and Tail Piece Recomendations

    If you made a mandolin you can make a bridge/saddle. A piece of ebony is all you need. Well......and some tools, but I think since you made a mandolin you have those.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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