Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    92

    Default Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    The famed guru of stringed instruments set-up, Chuck Traeger, has an interesting point of view. His experience says that all parts should be free to vibrate which adds to the overall sound of any stringed instrument.
    I’ve been reading one of his books and am seriously considering replacing the Allen brass tailpiece with a rosewood or ebony floating tailpiece on my flattop OM.
    I thought I’d throw out the idea here and ask if anyone has had any experience with that idea.
    So, whatcha think?

  2. #2
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    North Bend OR
    Posts
    365

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Hmm. Well, the energy which reaches your current tailpiece, which is attached to the body of your OM, transfers the energy from the strings, to the the body of your OM, as well. A floating tailpiece, I imagine, could, might, perhaps, change the tone a bit, since the energy will be released a bit differently, (some will go the air courtesy of the ebony "floater.") Whether that would a plus or a minus depends on your ear. I would look cool, though.

  3. #3
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    I’m not sure about the physics and mechanics, or the difference that it makes or fails to make, but I like the floating ebony tailpiece on my Black GBOM!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	64A3185A-AB92-4BFC-B8DD-FA59E054EAED.jpeg 
Views:	67 
Size:	132.2 KB 
ID:	192841

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DD0A1B09-8044-4D74-919E-BFA92D306E40.jpeg 
Views:	63 
Size:	128.0 KB 
ID:	192842
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    92

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    [QUOTE=pheffernan;1814669]I’m not sure about the physics and mechanics, or the difference that it makes or fails to make, but I like the floating ebony tailpiece on my Black GBOM!

    Beautiful instrument!

  5. The following members say thank you to luthierseye for this post:


  6. #5
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    92

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I’m not sure about the physics and mechanics, or the difference that it makes or fails to make, but I like the floating ebony tailpiece on my Black GBOM!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	64A3185A-AB92-4BFC-B8DD-FA59E054EAED.jpeg 
Views:	67 
Size:	132.2 KB 
ID:	192841

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	DD0A1B09-8044-4D74-919E-BFA92D306E40.jpeg 
Views:	63 
Size:	128.0 KB 
ID:	192842
    Could you post a close-up of the tailpiece? I may make something similar for my flattop; curious as to how the strings attach.

  7. #6

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    I do not have any quantifiable data on this but observe that my old Harmony archtop with a floating rosewood tailpiece is my best guitar. I also had a tenor guitar with a "no knot" banjo tailpiece. The strings below the bridge are open to the edge of the body. It is a very lively instrument. I have a home built mandocello with a homemade copy of the "no knot" I am pleased with the result.

  8. #7
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    North Bend OR
    Posts
    365

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Quote Originally Posted by MrMoe View Post
    I have a home built mandocello with a homemade copy of the "no knot" I am pleased with the result.
    I have a no-knot type tailpiece on it's way to me, which will be replacing the tailpiece on my 'zook. I will see if I detect a difference.

  9. #8
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Quote Originally Posted by luthierseye View Post
    Could you post a close-up of the tailpiece? I may make something similar for my flattop; curious as to how the strings attach.
    I posted a bunch of pictures that I can't access right now in this thread:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ctave-Mandolin
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  10. #9
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    North Bend OR
    Posts
    365

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    I’m not sure about the physics and mechanics, or the difference that it makes or fails to make, but I like the floating ebony tailpiece on my Black GBOM!
    Indeed it does look good. Very very nice instrument!

  11. The following members say thank you to meow-n-dolin for this post:


  12. #10
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    3,858

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    Quote Originally Posted by meow-n-dolin View Post
    Indeed it does look good. Very very nice instrument!
    Mike has his #42 GBOM listed in the classifieds:

    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/168495#168495
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
    2005 National RM-1
    2007 Hester A5
    2009 Passernig A5
    2015 Black A2-z
    2010 Black GBOM
    2017 Poe Scout
    2014 Smart F-Style Mandola
    2018 Vessel TM5
    2019 Hogan F5

  13. #11
    Registered User j. condino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Asheville, NC
    Posts
    2,758

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    I knew Chuck Traeger and am on the back cover of his big comprehensive book as a reviewer. He was NOT a guru of all things musical; he was a well known double bass setup and repair tech.

    If you read through all of his book, he tends to give equal credit to tailpiece (and tailgut / tailwire) material, density, and afterlength tuning. He'd also be the first to acknowledge that every instrument responds differently so the best answer will be to try several different experiments to see which one works best for your application.

    Afterlength tuning is always interesting to me because most of the better archtop guitar, double bass, violin, and cello builders I know pay a lot of attention to the length and specific note tuning of the tailpiece yet almost all of the mandolin builders I know just bolt on whatever is easy and leave it at that. There are endless threads here where half deaf old geezers complain "....whole lotta nuthin'...." and cannot hear any difference, while I and many others can hear very subtle changes to everything about the fittings and setup.

    In general, the more responsive and lightly built an instrument, the more it will react to subtle changes. Likewise, an overbuild tank dipped in a 1/4" of poly finish will get almost no change in voice from similar modifications.
    www.condino.com

    Crafted by hand in a workshop powered by the sun.

  14. #12

    Default Re: Trapeze Floating Tailpiece for 20" OM

    We reluctantly sold Doreen's Bass last year, Kay 89 #6534 early 1940 or late '39, The tailpiece was held on with a twisted coat hanger. I wonder what it had originally? And if I should have tried an improvement?

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
  •