My endpin is just a tapered pin held in by friction. I've had it pop out a couple of times. Have any of you added a drop or two of glue to secure it better, or is there another preferred method? Thanks for any info.
My endpin is just a tapered pin held in by friction. I've had it pop out a couple of times. Have any of you added a drop or two of glue to secure it better, or is there another preferred method? Thanks for any info.
If you glue it, you may not be able to get your tailpiece off, if need be.
2021 The Loar LM700 VS
It's an unfortunate issue but there are literally dozens of answers as to what to do and they will all be posted over the next few days.
My favorite is what I call the Hans Brentrup method as Hans was the first I recall seeing posting it as an answer.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I had the same problem and solved it by putting a thin layer of superglue on the end pin all around the shaft. Let it dry thoroughly and then put it in place and see if it holds. DO NOT GLUE IT INTO ENDPIN HOLE.
Dan Scullin
Louisville, KY
Try this - Original Peg Drops by Ardsley
If the endpin is loose or falling out, check your humidity levels; the end block may be drying out.
Repeat: Do not glue it in...
A friend with an older mandolin had an endpin that was glued in place and he had to ream it out and replace it with a viola endpin in order to replace the tailpiece.
-- Don
"Music: A minor auditory irritation occasionally characterized as pleasant."
"It is a lot more fun to make music than it is to argue about it."
2002 Gibson F-9
2016 MK LFSTB
1975 Suzuki taterbug (plus many other noisemakers)
[About how I tune my mandolins]
[Our recent arrival]
One drop of clear fingernail polish. It will break loose later if needed.
Chewing gum. Never fails.
I had this happen on my SA Econo, which I bought from a guy in a much drier climate than me (and, of course, shipping) the first time I played it. Freaked me out, too. Based on a desire to avoid anything more permanent after researching the Cafe, I opted for a single wrap of masking tape to the end pin, which snugged it up nicely (painter’s tape would likely work as well). Only wrap enough so that it’s all hidden in the end block. May have been unnecessary if I’d given it time to humidify for a couple days, but I was impatient and wanted to play! Hans’ advice is a great fail safe as well. Fwiw, mine never popped out again.
Glue it in! That’s what Collings do. .... Oh how I wish I could remove the endpin from my Collings Mandola!
Chris Cravens
Girouard A5
Montana Flatiron A-Jr.
Passernig Mandola
Leo Posch D-18
There is an adhesive that I use for many things that may need to come back apart again. E6000. Comes in a tube. Most larger hardware stores carry it. Dries clear and remains very pliable and fairly easy to cut. Dries to hold within a couple hours. Then gets stronger for the next day. Holds pretty much anything to anything. Can be rubbed off by friction/rubbing if needed. Amazing stuff. Just a slight dab on an endpin would do. That said, I would still probably use a touch of the traditional fingernail polish.
Collings Endpin thread.
This message contains a picture of how Weber did it for a while as well. You could assemble that at a decent hardware store.
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
I slightly enlarged the diameter of an undependable guitar endpin by doing what discullin suggested in Post #4, only with Duco Cement. Let it dry thoroughly overnight, then snugged it back in. So far so good.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
A FAQ Resurfaces again, from a freshly signed on player ..
A Tapered piece of wood, .. say More of what the end block is made from,
rather than the ebony end button ones that are violin derived *,
that glued in, then cut off flush .. .
While tail piece is off, ..
& then that piece drilled and a screw in button installed..
.. you can get one of the pretty ones Stew Mac offers.
should definitely be a solid cure,..
* there is a pencil sharpener-like tool to make those tapers from violin making suppliers ..
I recently Had my F type Lebeda 'Jazzica' Refretted ..
It had an in-bridge pickup , unique to the Czech builder's sources, that went DNF ..
Already have another Pickup fitted Mandolin (& a Schertler Stick on),
so I just had the end-pin-jack hole plugged as described,
Though that hole is not *tapered ..
and a regular screwed in button installed over the typical felt washer ..
I May get one of Stew Mac's Pretty ones at some future date.. but it, as is, works fine..
writing about music
is like dancing,
about architecture
For screw-ins, I like the Schaller strap-lock ones. You can get them from StewMac in chrome, nikel, black or gold.
I should add that you don’t have to buy the bit of the strap-lock that attaches to the strap and they’re slightly smaller than “normal” strap buttons. I think they’re intended for people with several guitars but can only afford one strap!
Last edited by Ray(T); Oct-21-2021 at 2:10pm.
In the past I have put a small piece of painters tape on the peg and pushed it back in. You can’t wrap the peg with it, it won’t fit after that. Just a small piece, and you may have to experiment with the size. This is kind of a temp fix but I’ve used it for years on sone mandolins and guitars.
Another trick is to use a sharp knife or razor blade to slice the end pin. You don’t remove any material, you just slice it. It’s hard to describe, but it works. I’ve used that method also. I would try the painters tape first.
Living’ in the Mitten
Surprised I didn't see it mentioned yet, but I've used that white "teflon" tape - just once around stretched tight is usually enough. (You'll find in the plumbing supply aisle at any hardware/home improvement store, i.e., if you don't already have some rolling around in a toolbox somewhere.)
2018 Kentucky KM-950, 2017 Ellis A5 Deluxe
Last edited by EdHanrahan; Oct-24-2021 at 2:31pm.
- Ed
"Then one day we weren't as young as before
Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
- Ian Tyson
I wrapped a layer or so of hockey stick tape around my end pin and it stayed perfectly snug for the 2 more years that I played that particular mandolin.
To everyone that replied. . .Thanks for all of the info! A lot of great ideas.
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