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Thread: Ball End Tailpiece ?

  1. #1

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    I am looking for a reasonably cheap tailpiece to fit a Fylde mandola. It has a loop end tailpiece at the moment.

    Don't want to pay big buck for it !

    K

  2. #2
    Registered User otterly2k's Avatar
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    Not sure what big bucks means to you... Several of the Allen tailpieces will take both loop and ball end strings...the versatility is nice. However, they tend to be angled for carved top mandos. If your Fylde is flat (I think they are), you can probably use the Allen TR... I successfully put one of these on my flat OM ... bent it a little for a better angle. I also heard that David Freshwater was planning a tailpiece that would take both, and his instruments are flat, so if he has one, it ought to work with a Fylde 'dola. He's very nice...I"m sure he'll answer if you email him.

    KE
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  3. #3

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    Thanks ! I think Allens are about $80-100 thats too much for a tailpiece I think

    K

  4. #4
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    The tailpiece on Freshwater instruments is designed for ball-end strings.
    I don't know if they are sold separately.

    I frequently neuter ball-end strings for my CBOMs.
    It's pretty simple with a small enough cutter.
    Thanks to Frank Ford for sharing this technique. (Scroll down)




  5. #5
    Registered User otterly2k's Avatar
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    Kieron-- keep your eyes on the classifieds...the Allens come up fairly often at $50-65... and let us know what you find out about the Freshwater tp's.
    Karen Escovitz
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    Breaking the balls out of ball-end strings is a little inconvenient, but not very hard ... and also free. I did it the Frank Ford way for a couple sets, but it's far easier just to crush out the ball, and presto - loop-ends.
    Jeff Rohrbough
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  7. #7
    Registered User otterly2k's Avatar
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    y'know, I must just have done it wrong... but I've tried this several times and found it to be not quite so simple...end up messing up several strings, and when you are ordering custom sets for a non-standard scale instrument, that can get costly.

    To each her/his own... if you're a good ball buster
    go on and do it. I'd rather spend a few bucks on a tailpiece that accommodates both and save myself the time and frustration of altering the strings.
    Karen Escovitz
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    "Ball-crusher", if you please.
    It's usually the plain steel wires that are prone to nicking and breaking. I've broken a few, but even if you mess up a string, you can still just tie a new loop. I wouldn't throw away a new string! Like having a dual-threat tailpiece, modifying the ends of strings just increases your flexibility.
    Jeff Rohrbough
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    Quote Originally Posted by (otterly2k @ Mar. 22 2006, 23:03)
    Not sure what big bucks means to you... Several of the Allen tailpieces will take both loop and ball end strings...the versatility is nice. #However, they tend to be angled for carved top mandos. #If your Fylde is flat (I think they are), you can probably use the Allen TR... I successfully put one of these on my flat OM ... bent it a little for a better angle. #I also heard that David Freshwater was planning a tailpiece that would take both, and his instruments are flat, so if he has one, it ought to work with a Fylde 'dola. #He's very nice...I"m sure he'll answer if you email him.

    KE
    I put an Allen TR tailpiece on my flat-top Flatiron, and it works perfectly. I found the unplated bronze TR at FQMS for a nice price -- not exactly cheap, but reasonable.

    I've also had poor luck breaking the balls out of ball-end strings, and I'm finding that the price of the tailpiece is more than offset by time I save not messing with ball ends.
    Chris

  10. #10
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Here are two different styles of ball-end tailpieces from Müller & Sohn KG.
    (Look under products and Banjo/Mandolin.)


  11. #11
    '`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`'`' Jacob's Avatar
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    Here's another trapeze-style tailpiece from Deval.
    (Look under Accessorios then Afirmadores.)
    The cavaquinho tailpiece is illustrated.
    The bandolim tailpiece accomodates eight strings.


  12. #12
    Ursus Mandolinus Fretbear's Avatar
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    A trapeze-style twelve-string guitar tailpiece will also work well, and can be got from Stewmac, amongst other places, but they are not that cheap either....
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Fretbear View Post
    A trapeze-style twelve-string guitar tailpiece will also work well, and can be got from Stewmac, amongst other places, but they are not that cheap either....
    Allen makes something like that that's less expensive.

  14. #14
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    I wanted to "upgrade" my Eastman 915 with gold hardware, and I found this. It works perfect. You might be able with a little searching find one that in nickel or chrome. Most definitely "cheap price," but the quality is quite good.

    https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  15. #15
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    Hope you noticed that you're answering a question raised about 16 years ago. Still, for someone doing a search, your answers might be helpful.
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  16. #16
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    This poster consistently replies to old threads however in this case the info is incorrect anyway. Allen tailpieces prices are higher 16 years later. https://www.allenguitar.com/tpcs.htm

    and as for the Amazon tailpiece, I am not sure it will work with ball-end strings. I don’t see any holes in the posts.
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    ...as for the Amazon tailpiece, I am not sure it will work with ball-end strings. I don’t see any holes in the posts.
    I'm assuming they would simply thread the string through the hole and let the ball rest on the inside front of the tailpiece forgoing the posts all together.
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  18. #18
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball End Tailpiece ?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I'm assuming they would simply thread the string through the hole and let the ball rest on the inside front of the tailpiece forgoing the posts all together.
    Correct.

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