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Using a hinge for a tailpiece?

Hey everyone,

I'm sorting out my build here and I'm struggling with what I want to do for the tailpiece. I was planning on cutting some sheet Al. to create my own (and still may) but have a some chrome trunk hinges here at may work also if I go 3-string.

The three existing screw holes are almost (emphasis on almost) spread to accommodate a 1/2" string spacing but not quite there. That being the case, the two outer strings would have to fan outward some. I could use some coarse threaded rod in my bridge to keep the strings where I want them but not sure if they will stay in the threads because of the angle or want to jump out.

Also, seeing as how it's a hinge with a moving hinge point, will it create enough downward pressure on the strings before the bridge?? It doesn't seem like it would, but I have seen so many people use hinges for tailpieces it must work. Maybe I'm just over thinking it some.

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on July 19, 2012 at 2:13pm

How wide is your neck gonna be? I make mine 1 1/2" wide so a 3/8" to 7/16" spacing works perfect for mine. Gives me 3/8" between strings and 3/8' left to the outside of my neck. As far as hinges go I use them about half the time, make sure your string retainers are big enough so as to not slide right thru the hinge holes, if you have trunk hinges the holes may be pretty big. I know you can slide the string back trhu the retainer and sort of half hitch them to the hinge but I'm not a big fan of that as it makes the string awfully brittle at the bend point.

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Permalink Reply by ron carlson on July 19, 2012 at 4:53pm

Hey Maddog,

The neck will finish out at 1 1/2". I had read (somewhere) that keeping your high and low strings as close to the neck edge made for easier playing, slide wise. So with that in mind, I just figured that 1/2" spacing was about right without getting too wide between the strings.

I'll have the measure the hinge and see what I'm working with exactly. It's less than 1/2" .

Thanks,

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 19, 2012 at 5:14pm

You're overthinking it. >:-E Go Nike: Just Do It.

However, getcha some reeellly small washers, and use them to plug the holes if they're too big. Or use pop rivet ferrules. Or bicycle spoke nipples. Or loop the strings through their own ball ends. It'll create enough downward pressure. Once you tie the strings on, however you end up doing it, and tune them to pitch, I can just about guarantee you that's the last time that hinge will move as a hinge ( as far as you can tell), until you restring.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on July 19, 2012 at 5:52pm

If the holes are too big to capture the ball ends the best way to go is dremel a wee slot forward from em like this one, so you can just drop the ball thru and pull it forward to lock it in. This is a real common tailpiece arrangement. Little washers etc will serve to annoy you down the track and introduces possible rattles etc, it's unnecessary extra parts..
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/jeflong/2012%2012%20VeryMe...

It doesn't matter so much if the holes don't line up exactly, but it does create tension that causes te bridge to want to move, so you want the hinge nicely centered so the tension is pulling the bridge downward just equally to how it's pulling it upward. Otherwise you wind up needing to glue the bridge down. Which is not te end o the world anyway. Have fun

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Permalink Reply by Grease Stains on July 20, 2012 at 11:19am

I love hinges, the work great. In stead of using the holes drilled for screws, i drill my own. Just be sure you dont leave a sharp edge on the holes, clean 'em up with a file or sand paper.

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Permalink Reply by ron carlson on July 20, 2012 at 11:36am

These are the ones I have... http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=450 Rockler refers to them as trunk hinges at their store here in town. They are not as big as what you might think when the subject of trunk hinges comes up.

The existing screw locations are pretty dang close to ideal so I think I'm going to give it a go without drilling new. These would really be cool if the short side (2 screw leaf) of the hinge mirrored the string leaf for better anchoring but should be pretty secure with a thru neck.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 20, 2012 at 4:37pm

Ooooh, this just gave me and idea. if you mount an arm of some sort to the hinge part that is holding the strings you would sort of have whammy bar! Off to the hardware!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on July 20, 2012 at 4:47pm

Those Rockler hinges look perfect for tailpieces, for 3 stringer anyway.

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Permalink Reply by ron carlson on July 20, 2012 at 5:38pm

They are pretty cool hinges. Weighty, and have some depth to them also. The spread on the outer holes (center to center) measures at 3/4".

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Permalink Reply by Joe Gibson on July 29, 2012 at 9:44am

When I made my first CBG I used a small brass hinge on the tail piece. I screwed the hinge in place so it folded over the end of the tail piece, then drilled small holes through the tail piece itself. I then "borrowed" three small buttons from my wife's sewing box. I ran the strings through the buttons, then through the holes in the tail piece and through the screw holes on the hinge. It worked good for me.