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Thread: Grommets

  1. #1
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    Default Grommets

    Who sells these? There used to be a cafe member offering these, I forget his name.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Grommets

    Elderly has them. Type grommet in the search box on their site.
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  4. #3
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Steve Stone used to sell them. They come in vinyl and rubber. Make sure you get rubber. If you lose a vinyl one in the case and it lays up against a lacquer surface it will destroy the lacquer. They are an electronics item used to insulate holes in metal chassis so that a wire can pass through and they come in dozens of sizes. Radio Shack used to sell a package of assorted size but they are to the most part out of business.

    Amazon has them in boxes of large assortments. You might find them at Home Depot or Lowe's in the section where they have the weird switches and such in the electrical department. If there is an electronics hobby store anywhere near you they might have them. Again, you need to know if they are vinyl or rubber or else you need to be really careful with them.

    There are some old threads here that might get you the size.
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  6. #4
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    EBay will sell you rubber grommets. You can buy these in a batch of 20 (from China) with free shipping for just $3.00.

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  8. #5

    Default Re: Grommets

    Ace Hardware has them in stock for about 20 cents each. Get the smallest ones.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

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  10. #6
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Put a piece of leather under the strings at the tailpiece, or under the tailpiece cover so that either way it touches the strings and you won't need the grommets. Lasts forever, at least mine has been on for decades.
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  11. #7
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Quote Originally Posted by lenf12 View Post
    Ace Hardware has them in stock for about 20 cents each. Get the smallest ones.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL
    Quickest and easiest. I buy mine from a little "we have one of everything ever made" hardware store right up the street.
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  12. #8
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    The US seller on eBay threw in extra on my purchase. Went with that because my closest small hardware store doesn't stock them.
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  13. #9

    Default Re: Grommets

    elderly mentioned above is selling them for 19 cents a piece
    John D

  14. #10
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    Default Re: Grommets

    The leather shoestring works well too. I thread a piece around the strings near the tailpiece and it seemed to benefit the sound--might have all been in my head. I did the same thing with another piece of the leather shoe string under the strings above the nut. Both processes seemed to make the notes clearer sounding. I hope this makes sense. The heavy duty leather shoe strings for work boots are available about everywhere. The leather lasts forever. Weber used to make a harmonics supressor gadget to put across strings between tailpice and bridge. I am not sure if they still do. That is another option. I had one and it worked fine but I lost it! Ding Dong. Another colleague of mine used a thin strip of black foam rubber and was satisfied with the results. Even though my ears are 73 years old, I do think this process helps make the notes clearer. GMHO
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  15. #11
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    Default Re: Grommets

    But, be prepared to lose one when a string breaks..
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  16. #12
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    But, be prepared to lose one when a string breaks..
    Yeah, that's a problem with them. Leather lacing won't do that. Actually, I use both but the leather is less of a hassle.
    David Hopkins

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    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

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  17. #13
    Registered User Lane Pryce's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Alan you can get them at any Lowe’s home improvement. Lp
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  18. #14
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Thanks, all.

    A buddy saw this thread and sent me a bunch.

  19. #15
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Just for the heck of it, I went on eBay looking for the grommets. They were anywhere from 24¢ to 75¢ each. I mostly use leather shoestrings but the grommets I have were a nickel apiece at my neighborhood hardware store.
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

  20. #16
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    James TP no need .. 90 year old Gibsons , adding leather under the lip & felt under the cover, works fine .
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  21. #17
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    Default Re: Grommets

    I tried that on my James T/P (leather under the lip), but the cover would then not fully close - no click. Maybe need thinner leather there.

  22. #18
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    Default Re: Grommets

    AlanN, try this:
    Click image for larger version. 

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    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

  23. #19
    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    In James tailpieces, the strings should lie firmly on the rubber O-rings.
    This should eliminate the need for grommets or leather.
    Phil

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  24. #20

    Default Re: Grommets

    Grommets do the job, but they just don’t look organic like the leather strip does.
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  25. #21
    Registered User loess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    I've got a plastic bag full of about 100 of the little black rubber ones. Be happy to send a few out to any Cafe folks in need, feel free to PM me.
    *¯`•.☽☆☾¸.•´¯*

  26. #22
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    Default Re: Grommets

    What a nice gesture.

  27. #23
    Registered User masa618's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Quote Originally Posted by dulcillini View Post
    The leather shoestring works well too. I thread a piece around the strings near the tailpiece and it seemed to benefit the sound--might have all been in my head. I did the same thing with another piece of the leather shoe string under the strings above the nut. Both processes seemed to make the notes clearer sounding. I hope this makes sense. The heavy duty leather shoe strings for work boots are available about everywhere. The leather lasts forever. Weber used to make a harmonics supressor gadget to put across strings between tailpice and bridge. I am not sure if they still do. That is another option. I had one and it worked fine but I lost it! Ding Dong. Another colleague of mine used a thin strip of black foam rubber and was satisfied with the results. Even though my ears are 73 years old, I do think this process helps make the notes clearer. GMHO
    Hello Mr.dulcillini,
    Please tell me. What is the purpose of attaching a strap or grommets to the position of the strings near the tailpiece? Is it an abnormal sound due to the contact between the tailpiece and the strings, or is it an overtone due to the amplitude of the strings? masa618

  28. #24

    Default Re: Grommets

    Quote Originally Posted by masa618 View Post
    Hello Mr.dulcillini,
    Please tell me. What is the purpose of attaching a strap or grommets to the position of the strings near the tailpiece? Is it an abnormal sound due to the contact between the tailpiece and the strings, or is it an overtone due to the amplitude of the strings? masa618
    The length of string between the tailpiece and bridge (and the nut and tuners) can ring sympathetically with the notes. Play a chop chord, then do something to dampen them, and play the chop chord again. See if it doesn’t sound more punchy with them dampened.
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  30. #25
    Registered User masa618's Avatar
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    Default Re: Grommets

    Thanks, Chris.
    Until now, I didn't care about ring sympathetically. I'll try one with the strap attached and the other without it.

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