Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

  1. #1
    Pickin' Padawan swankerme's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Oklahoma City
    Posts
    30

    Default Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Does anyone have any good pictures of both the nickel and the silver James tailpieces? I have scoured the internet but I can't really find any pictures that compare how differently the two look.
    2008 Gibson F-9
    2010 Jon Mann OEM-8

  2. #2
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Check out Elderly. I don't know what you are looking for or whether you can tell anything from these photos:

    James Nickel

    James Silver

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	jmt1-nickel_1_1400x.jpg 
Views:	167 
Size:	85.0 KB 
ID:	181889 Click image for larger version. 

Name:	jmt1-silver_2_1400x.jpg 
Views:	150 
Size:	91.6 KB 
ID:	181890
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  3. #3
    Registered User amowry's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Bend, OR
    Posts
    2,168

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    They look pretty much identical, in fact the first time I received a nickel one from Bill I had to call him to make sure I received the correct one I think the main difference is the the nickel will tarnish more slowly than the silver.

  4. #4
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Same price, too. I have one on my Brentrup and I think it is silver... or is it nickel. Did he always make all three or was it only silver and gold originally?
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  5. #5
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Redwood City, CA
    Posts
    2,335

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Yes, the silver plated version is a bit 'lighter' and will tarnish significantly faster.

  6. #6
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Mix Bought the silver plate. It does tarnish.. might have to get some silverware cleaner..

    of course Gold does not tarnish, that's why its used for electrical contacts..

    both are relatively soft, Nickel would be more durable .. & less precious,
    you could leave it in the plating bath longer for a thicker coating..
    the precious metals are kept pretty thin. a few microns.. save $ ..


    Last edited by mandroid; Dec-12-2019 at 5:59pm.
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  7. #7
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    I asked the same question of Bill James a few years ago. His e-mailed answer was:

    They both have a “satin” finish. That is, blasted before plating so technically they both have the same “finish”. Here is an image I found that helps show the difference in color, silver on the left . Keep in mind the silver will tarnish faster and get darker than the nickel.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	JamesTailpieceFinishes.JPG 
Views:	243 
Size:	91.6 KB 
ID:	181908  
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  8. The following members say thank you to MikeEdgerton for this post:


  9. #8
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    The one on my Brentrup never tarnished so it might be nickel. Works well though. If I was loaded I would buy one for other mandolins. Great tailpiece.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  10. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    The one on my Brentrup never tarnished so it might be nickel. Works well though. If I was loaded I would buy one for other mandolins. Great tailpiece.
    When doing some work on my mandolin several years ago Hans ask me it I wanted a James tailpiece instead of his. I said I liked his fine. I don't use the cover, as I like the sound better without, making it more like a Nugget for string changes and appearance. I am sure I would like the James, but satisfied with the Brentrup.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  11. #10

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    I bought a brushed nickel shell style James off the classifieds here. I haven't installed it yet, but darn if it doesn't look like brushed gold to me. Is it just my eyes, or did thhey make gold ones, too?

  12. #11
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rdeane View Post
    I bought a brushed nickel shell style James off the classifieds here. I haven't installed it yet, but darn if it doesn't look like brushed gold to me. Is it just my eyes, or did thhey make gold ones, too?
    They do indeed make a gold tailpiece. It's one of the three options available.

    https://www.axinc.net/James_Mandolin...iece_p/jtt.htm
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	JTT-2.jpg 
Views:	166 
Size:	141.5 KB 
ID:	181910  
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  13. #12
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Southern Oregon Coast
    Posts
    86

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Guess I'm late to the party. What makes these tailpieces so much better than anything else? Do they improve the sound?
    NK Forster '23 Big Celtic - O
    Northfield F5S
    Weber Bitterroot F20-F Octave
    Home built F5 (1995)

  14. #13
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Howell, NJ
    Posts
    26,875

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    As much as anyone wants to talk about improving the sound they really don't. No tailpiece does. They do make string changes easier and they are a work of art.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  15. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MikeEdgerton For This Useful Post:


  16. #14

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Calley View Post
    Guess I'm late to the party. What makes these tailpieces so much better than anything else? Do they improve the sound?
    Nope, but they feel nice, work nicely, and last really well.

  17. The following members say thank you to Marty Jacobson for this post:


  18. #15
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Redwood City, CA
    Posts
    2,335

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    As much as anyone wants to talk about improving the sound they really don't. No tailpiece does. They do make string changes easier and they are a work of art.
    +1 for that. Occasionally, you get some folks claiming that a tailpiece swap made a big difference to the tone of their mandolin. This makes little sense, from an instrument perspective, and I find it rather hard to believe them. Usually, something else was changed out at the same time as the tailpiece, for example: new strings were put on, or the bridge was subtly re-positioned, or the strings were re-seated in their grooves in the saddle and nut. And those small adjustments were likely driving any changes they were reporting. Also, a better-designed tailpiece can eliminate the undesirable buzzing ("harmonic suppression") that sometimes occurs between the tailpiece and the strings, or noisy vibrations of the tailpiece cover itself. Such noises can also be eliminated rather easily in other ways, e.g., by bending or better seating the tailpiece cover, or by using a leather caul under the cover, or by using rubber grommets (or a piece of leather, or clamping a "harmonic supressor") on the strings behind the bridge. But the tailpiece itself is not making the mandolin sound better.

  19. #16
    Pickin' Padawan swankerme's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Oklahoma City
    Posts
    30

    Default Re: Silver vs. Nickel James Tailpiece?

    Does anyone have any pictures of a tarnished silver? I might actually enjoy the "aged" or tarnished look.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •