Using the string eyes to hold them on a tailpiece or bridge?

Posted by Danny B. on November 12, 2016 at 4:06pm

I'm wondering if anyone has tried using a post or posts to hold each strings tension through the string eye? (The brass drum at the bottom end of the things)

Actually curious if this could be used to create a bridge, there are string rods on some tremolo bridges, I wonder why you need a bridge? 

This one might not get a lot of answers, maybe I'll make a diagram.

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Replies

  • Danny B. November 12, 2016 at 10:30pm

    I Just laid this stuff on the bench to show more what I mean. 

    It seems like this might be cool as part of a tailpiece, or a headless nut. 

    What I'm really wondering is if this could be a zero fret headless nut... Or a bridge.

    Crazy?

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    • Mark Bliss > Danny B. November 12, 2016 at 10:48pm

      Anything is possible, but I'm not feelin' it.

      I am skeptical about things like efficiently transmitting vibration to the top, loss of energy in the extra windings/loop and ferrule of the string end, how to secure it well, lack of any "tuneability" for intonation, to name a few things.

      From my perspective, with 101 ways to do it easy and do it well, why mess with success and do it hard?

      But great ideas come from trying, so prove me wrong.........

    • Danny B. > Mark Bliss November 12, 2016 at 11:01pm

      I worry too - I might just have to try it on a 2x4 with a mag though.

      It might be a neat way to construct a tailpiece to simply hold the strings.

      Until they bend the nail, lol...

    • Mark Bliss > Danny B. November 13, 2016 at 8:41am

      Pins for string eye anchoring, made from nails, has been done for ever. I have a Mountain dulcimer from the mid 19th century made that way, and the idea was surely old then.

      Used in a "rail" configuration similar to what you show could certainly be done as a tailpiece/anchor, simply by adding some spacers probably, between the string ferrules and coming up with a way to securely fasten the thing.

      But keep in mind, the simpler changing the strings out is, the more likely you will get more joy out of the end result. I think it unnecessarily complicates things. Simple is good.

    • Danny B. > Mark Bliss November 13, 2016 at 9:26am

      Thanks for taking a look Mark I really appreciate it.

      Bottom line is I will shelf this idea because of the potential hassle and energy loss. I've been making really sturdy tailpieces because I believe this helps sustain.

      Sometimes my mind wanders while I'm waiting for the glue to dry!

  • Mark Bliss November 12, 2016 at 7:28pm

    Yeah, I am not sure what you mean Danny, so its kind of hard to reply.

    But perhaps its best to consider the "tailpiece" or string termination the strong foundation holding the tension of the string longwise, while thinking of the bridge as the point of termination for string vibration and the primary transmitter of vibration into the soundboard (if applicable.)

    Or something.

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