Tail piece

Hi all,

I have just completed my first CBG. The only thing I am not satisfied with is the tail piece (If that is what you call it. Where the strings end below the bridge). I have seen some good looking ones made with hinges. So far I have not found small enough grommets and the strings are cutting into the wood. Suggestions?

~PapaSimone

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bingham on August 24, 2010 at 3:40pm

You could try some 3/16" diameter pop rivet heads. You can knock the "nail" part out and use the heads.

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Permalink Reply by PapaSimone on August 25, 2010 at 2:37am

Thanks Mike! That is very helpful. I like the screw and nuts for a bridge. Now I am going to ask you to reveal all of your secrets. Do you feel like sharing the size of the screw and nuts and what the object is just above the rivets in your tail piece? Carved wood? Thanks again for the help!

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Permalink Reply by Brendan deVallance on August 25, 2010 at 4:28am

There are also some real metal pieces made for the guitar which I got on ebay for very cheap. Ferrules they are called.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bingham on August 25, 2010 at 12:07pm

Hey Man! What little knowledge I have is yours! The bridge on this one is a piece of 1/4 x 20 threaded rod with square nuts. I have one guitar that required 5/16" threaded rod with corresponding nuts. The object just above the rivets is a rusty chain link that's held in place by string tension. It keeps the strings up off the box. I'll post a picture that shows how I used the link that I had to cut to "liberate" this one.

PapaSimone said:

Thanks Mike! That is very helpful. I like the screw and nuts for a bridge. Now I am going to ask you to reveal all of your secrets. Do you feel like sharing the size of the screw and nuts and what the object is just above the rivets in your tail piece? Carved wood? Thanks again for the help!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bingham on August 25, 2010 at 12:17pm

Hey Papa - Here's the picture I promised. I cut the link in about half to free up the whole link for the other build and then used the half section for the same purpose on a cookie tin banjo. The string bushings or ferrules here are 9mm Luger pistol brass that I cut down and countersunk into the wood. The back side has pop rivet heads. I hope this helps. See Ya 'round the nation!!!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on August 25, 2010 at 1:23pm

Hey, I like the fired brass! Raises all sorts of possibilities....
Just be sure to not try to knock out live primers, or you'll get an unpleasant surprise.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bingham on August 25, 2010 at 1:41pm

poof! no eyebrows... LOL

Mark Werner said:

Hey, I like the fired brass! Raises all sorts of possibilities....
Just be sure to not try to knock out live primers, or you'll get an unpleasant surprise.