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Tom Jr. - Posted - 09/03/2008: 13:40:01
I ordered one of those high dollar Allen tailpieces for the dobro I am building. Somebody already said that getting a shorter tailpiece helps the sound and is a great way to upgrade your axe. My known list is
1. cone
2. bone nut
3. good spider and insert
4. not mentioned often (once to my knowledge) is a different tailpiece.
Any thoughts on typical tailpieces versus the shorter ones. Is everybody else wrong or is it just me.
Don''t squat with your spurs on.
exdmd - Posted - 09/04/2008: 06:57:11
This has been discussed often in ResoNation. Shorter tailpiece will increase break angle over the bridge insert (some say this decreases bass response) and increase string length behind the bridge (can lead to unwanted harmonics.) Seems most people who try the Allen wind up putting the original tailpiece back on. If they really improved tone the builders would be using them. If you look at a Beard, for example, the bridge insert is as tall as possible (strings almost touching the palm rest) to load the cone as much as possible (more volume), but the break angle over the bridge is shallow ... Beard puts a piece of solid rubber tubing under the tailpiece to raise the heigth and decrease break angle.
rexhunt - Posted - 09/15/2008: 10:38:54
Hi, I'm new to the hangout but I've been playing and tinkering for almost 40 years. Both of my vintage Dobros have a trapeze tailpiece that gives me more of a break angle than the standard. My square neck also has very tall bridge inserts. I have no lack of bass. It seems to me that if you want to load the cone, you want more of a break angle. Taller inserts will produce different tone regardless of the angle.
Rex
SGB - Posted - 09/15/2008: 13:09:20
At the very least the smaller tailpiece opens up the bottom holes on the coverplate. In and of itself that should add to the overall volume.
Steve
9 out of the 10 voices inside my head are telling me to go home and clean my guns.
rexhunt - Posted - 09/16/2008: 12:05:10
quote:
Originally posted by Steevarino
Rex, the trapeze tailpiece sounds like an interesting option. Do you have a source for them, or do you make your own?
Steevarino
RedLIneResophonics.com
CumberlandAcoustic.com
This was stock on some late 30's Dobros out Chicago. Not real common but I happen to have two of them.
Rex
'Bourbon Street Triolian' 7 days
'WTB Beard 2010 bar' 14 days
