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CBG tailpiece tip

Hi, I sometimes use the type of hinge pictured as a tailpiece, but recently found a weak spot with them.

One side of the "flap" has one knuckle and the other side has two, with a pin going trough both sides making the hinge. I found that if the strings are fitted to the side that has the one knuckle, the knuckle could pull through, as shown in the photo.

I would suggest screwing the one knuckle side to the guitar and using the other side for the tailpiece. I tried it and it works fine. It may depend on what tuning or what gauge of strings you use that causes this to happen, but if you are selling a CBG you my not know what the customer does.

Just a thought. Taff

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on November 28, 2017 at 6:21pm

That's the kind of hinge I used on my last build, definitely stronger

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Permalink Reply by Milt Haselmire on November 29, 2017 at 1:05am

I use the same type of hinge quite a lot. Never paid attention to how I put it on. Now I will. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Allen on November 29, 2017 at 5:31am

I just used cbgitty's hinge tailpiece in a 3-string build that went out to a customer yesterday. I hope the two knuckle side was supporting the strings. There is a clear difference between the two sides and I used the finished side as the top without a second thought. I definitely see how this could be a serious problem. Thanks for the tip.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 29, 2017 at 9:23am

Hi Steve, I think what I used may have been a cheaper version.
Taff

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Permalink Reply by JL on November 30, 2017 at 2:58am

by putting the single barrel side over the edge, the force is applied at the base of the single barrel where it's not been fatigued by shaping. doing it the other way round puts the force in the middle of the bend that formed the barrel where it has been weakened by the shaping. If you face mount it, it won't matter which end has the strings the force is in the middle and you risk it opening also.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 30, 2017 at 9:16am

Hi JL, I don't quite know what you are saying, did it work for you the way you explained? If one mounts them the way they are intended you may experience what is shown in the picture.

I bought/used them for the embossed effect on the top, they do not look good any other way around.

The good thing is I could not tune the guitar from the very start due to the metal stretching or unrolling off the pin, so I fixed it straight away.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by JL on December 1, 2017 at 3:31am

this is what I mean

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 1, 2017 at 12:26pm

Hi JL, yep that makes sense.....but on the hinges I mentioned what is pressured up against that stronger area is the pin. When I attached the strings to the flap of the hinge with one knuckle, it pulled though, as shown, the strong area still held the pin in place.

I turned the hinge around and had two knuckles holding string pressure, and they did not pull through.

Either way, the pin is contacted against knuckle of the flap (as per your drawing)that screws to the body.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Wal Callaby on December 2, 2017 at 10:58pm

Good points there. I spotted that a decorative-type hinge was not up to the job when tensioning the second of three strings on a build just yesterday. My solution was to use a more robust hinge. Curiously, both types I have, the weaker and stronger, have two knuckles either side. I just think it's probable that the weaker of the two (bought online at $6 for twenty!) are simply not up to three proper strings on a 24.5" scale. Live and learn, hey ho.