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Tail Piece grommets

I am contemplating my next build (the new one isnt yet cold!). And I like the clean look of tail pieces that are just grommets or rivets set into holes in the tail of the guitar that keep the strings from cutting into the wood. I did an experiment with the hard ware from some pop rivets that seem like they would work. But were might I ask do others get theirs who do such a thing? —B

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on October 9, 2009 at 1:42pm

Pop rivets are probably the most used method.
I also like the "Brass Hinges" approach that some makers use.
Guitar string anchor pegs are OK.

Go to the photos section and you can browse for hours getting ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Cogdell boy (Robert J.) on October 9, 2009 at 2:01pm

On my firsrt few I used small brass flat washers from Lowes , just super glued over the hole on my first few , but the other day I found some small eyelets in the sewing Dept. at Wal-mart also found brass and some antique looking groments for sound holes , lots of things to use for fret markers too.. Check it out..

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on October 9, 2009 at 2:02pm

If you go to your local hobby shop, and look at the Dubro accessories for their radio controlled servo mounting hardware.

For under $3.00 you can get a package of screws and brass grommets that work good and look great. Just drill a 1/8 inch hole, glue the grommet on the top and bottom of the tail piece and off you go!

The little screws come in handy for other stuff later on.

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/566547.asp

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Permalink Reply by Nathan King on October 9, 2009 at 2:04pm

I found some in the sewing dept. of a Hobby Lobby store... 100 grommets in 6 different colors for under three bucks. Drill a 3/16" hole, and they press fit right in without any glue.

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on October 9, 2009 at 2:15pm

+1 on what Nathan said, you can find those small grommet assortments at wal-mart as well. I got black, white, brass, copper etc.

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Permalink Reply by Weizel on October 9, 2009 at 2:16pm

I used roll pins as you can see in the photo below (I don't think the link is working for some reason - you can see it in my photos section), they work really well and you can get them in a variety of diameters and lengths. I've heard of people embedding the ferrules of their old guitar strings to prevent the strings from ripping through the wood.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on October 9, 2009 at 3:01pm

Watch out for those decorative grommets you find in the scrapbook aisle. The strings cut right through the ones I have. So I put the pop rivets on the front and put the decorative ones on the back, holding the ball end of the strings.