Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on May 15, 2011 at 7:24am

Depends on how involved you want to get.  Some take a brass hinge and drill.  Pretty simple.  If you want something fancier, a jewelers saw and sheet brass are a pretty cheap way to cut out a pattern.

This is the basic cutout shape I used.  I did a quick drawing on the computer, printed it for use as a pattern.  I bent it in a vise, using a couple pieces of wood to keep it from getting scratched up.

I drilled two holes right next to each other.  One small and the other larger.  I used a dremel tool to turn the small hole to a slot.  The small wood piece was there just to take the photo as I had not installed it yet.

My next project is going to use a trapeze style tailpiece.  I now have more metal working tools for bending.  The plan is to take brass rod stock and use a threading die on both ends.  Then bend the rod into shape.  I'll use brass sheet stock to bend the rectangle box shape.  I'll drill holes for the strings and the rod and use brass acorn nuts to fasten the bar.

This one was pretty easy.  I picked up a trashed Harmony student sized guitar for $5 at a flea market.  I took the six string tailpiece and cut it with some metal shears then filed it smooth on the sides.  It turned it into a nice properly spaced 4 string tailpiece.

There have also been some pretty creative stuff done by others.  I really liked the harmonica tailpiece that was on the boards a few weeks ago.  The photos are a great place to gather inspiration and ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on May 15, 2011 at 7:33am

If you want something more low tech, you can also use any variety of hinges from the hardware store. Just find one the right size, with the right number of holes and away you go. Picture hangars can also be used.

 

Here is one I built using a hinge:

 

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/andrewcbg-002?context=user

 

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Permalink Reply by Ian david campbell on May 16, 2011 at 8:48am

Thanks Don

 

what guage brass sheet do you use
Dan Sleep said:

If you want something more low tech, you can also use any variety of hinges from the hardware store. Just find one the right size, with the right number of holes and away you go. Picture hangars can also be used.

 

Here is one I built using a hinge:

 

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/andrewcbg-002?context=user

 

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Permalink Reply by mark "mudcat" quigley on May 16, 2011 at 10:44am

don

i've been building since oct 2010.  i'm leagally blind so some things take me 10 times longer to do than the average joe.  saw your tailpiece and was wondering if you could sell me a patteren marked witk hole locations.  1 for 3 string 1 for 4 string.  it would help me tremendoudly.

 

let me know

 

thanks

 

mark quigley

Don Goguen said:

Depends on how involved you want to get.  Some take a brass hinge and drill.  Pretty simple.  If you want something fancier, a jewelers saw and sheet brass are a pretty cheap way to cut out a pattern.

This is the basic cutout shape I used.  I did a quick drawing on the computer, printed it for use as a pattern.  I bent it in a vise, using a couple pieces of wood to keep it from getting scratched up.

I drilled two holes right next to each other.  One small and the other larger.  I used a dremel tool to turn the small hole to a slot.  The small wood piece was there just to take the photo as I had not installed it yet.

My next project is going to use a trapeze style tailpiece.  I now have more metal working tools for bending.  The plan is to take brass rod stock and use a threading die on both ends.  Then bend the rod into shape.  I'll use brass sheet stock to bend the rectangle box shape.  I'll drill holes for the strings and the rod and use brass acorn nuts to fasten the bar.

This one was pretty easy.  I picked up a trashed Harmony student sized guitar for $5 at a flea market.  I took the six string tailpiece and cut it with some metal shears then filed it smooth on the sides.  It turned it into a nice properly spaced 4 string tailpiece.

There have also been some pretty creative stuff done by others.  I really liked the harmonica tailpiece that was on the boards a few weeks ago.  The photos are a great place to gather inspiration and ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Cox on May 16, 2011 at 2:43pm

Here's my Marine Band tail Don mentioned

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Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on May 16, 2011 at 4:59pm

Sell, no but if you want one, all you need do is ask.  I would need to know what string spacing you want to use.  It is also helpful to know how much the tail end needs to drop down to connect to center of the neck member if you are doing anything unusual.  Otherwise it is just half of the 3/4" neck board plus a little extra for the box top. 

I'm away on business this week and away from my desktop and don't have cad on my travel laptop.  Let me know what you need and I'll draw it out when I get back.

mark "mudcat" quigley said:

don

i've been building since oct 2010.  i'm leagally blind so some things take me 10 times longer to do than the average joe.  saw your tailpiece and was wondering if you could sell me a patteren marked witk hole locations.  1 for 3 string 1 for 4 string.  it would help me tremendoudly.

 

let me know

 

thanks

 

mark quigley

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by mark "mudcat" quigley on May 16, 2011 at 5:05pm

thanks don

 

all i build is 3 and 4strings.  spacing i don't know.  i just eyeball it and with my eyesight you can bet no 2 are alike or spaced evenly.  my address is

 

mark quigley

1302 7th st 

 covington in 47932

Don Goguen said:

Sell, no but if you want one, all you need do is ask.  I would need to know what string spacing you want to use.  It is also helpful to know how much the tail end needs to drop down to connect to center of the neck member if you are doing anything unusual.  Otherwise it is just half of the 3/4" neck board plus a little extra for the box top. 

I'm away on business this week and away from my desktop and don't have cad on my travel laptop.  Let me know what you need and I'll draw it out when I get back.

mark "mudcat" quigley said:

don

i've been building since oct 2010.  i'm leagally blind so some things take me 10 times longer to do than the average joe.  saw your tailpiece and was wondering if you could sell me a patteren marked witk hole locations.  1 for 3 string 1 for 4 string.  it would help me tremendoudly.

 

let me know

 

thanks

 

mark quigley

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on May 16, 2011 at 5:06pm

Hi Ian

For that tailpiece, I used some pretty heavy brass that I had kicking around but the steel one is of a much lighter gauge.  That one is only about 22 gauge.  I picked up some nickel silver for another project I'm working on and that is 22 gauge.  All the stress is pull tension so it doesn't need to be heavy if it is supported at the bend by the box.

The heavier gauge is a pain to bend and depending on the brass stock might even fracture.  I had this happen to one where I tried to bend too tight a corner.  The brass fractured and I needed to apply heat on the next one to get the tight angle I wanted.  From there I just decided to use lighter stock as it is easier to deal with.

Ian david campbell said:

Thanks Don

 

what guage brass sheet do you use
Dan Sleep said:

If you want something more low tech, you can also use any variety of hinges from the hardware store. Just find one the right size, with the right number of holes and away you go. Picture hangars can also be used.

 

Here is one I built using a hinge:

 

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/andrewcbg-002?context=user

 

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on May 17, 2011 at 12:00am

You are limited only by your imagination.

 

 

 

AFKAM

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Permalink Reply by crissy b on May 17, 2011 at 1:01am

Hi for me i just use anything that takes myu fancy bras sheet is easy I use snips files and a drill and always do it by eye but thats cos i like a bit of inperfection

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 5, 2011 at 8:00am

Ian,

Obviously a coupla months late to the "tailgate" party, but just wanted to mention that I am making trapeze tailpieces from cheap (10 for $5 US) stainless steel forks and spoons. I take a simple hammer, measure 'em to put the bends in the right place, bend 'em on my bench vise, then bend / curl the fork tines back ( or hacksaw ' em off, when my bends break!), and viola! I also use some small files to clean up an rough edges. I drill two holes in the handles, then screw in one flat headed wood screw in the upper hole, a small eye screw in the bottom hole, to attach them to the end of the box (I'm not using a neck-through that extends past the outer edge of the box; mine terminate inside the box). The eye screw thus gives me a place to attach my homemade braided strap.

Oily

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Permalink Reply by Ian david campbell on July 5, 2011 at 10:43am

Oily

 

that sounds brilliant

any photos

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