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Thread: James tailpiece

  1. #1
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    Hi all--new to the board, and glad to be here.

    I'm finally fed up with dropping my tailpiece cover, and listening to the darned thing buzz when it does stay on. I have a Fender FM63S, and I have enough money to spring for the James Tailpiece. From what I gather, this is the one to have.

    Does it do as good a job preventing string buzz as it has been reported to?

  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Far be it from me to suggest not buying a tailpiece that costs a major percentage of the original cost of the mandolin. The James tailpiece is a work of art, and excellent piece of equipment but before I'd shell out the money I might want to see if I could resolve the buzz another way. There are a ton of mandolins with basically the same tailpiece as your Fender that don't buzz. Before you dump that much money into a tailpiece why not take a look at Frank Ford's Buzz diagnosis page here and see if it might be something easy to fix.

    Beyond that, if you're looking to eliminate buzz there are one piece tailpieces that don't have a cover that you can buy as well. If all else fail, go for the James.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  3. #3
    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    I don't know about string buzz, but it's sure convenient and no tailpiece cover buzz. I like mine.
    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

  4. #4
    Registered User Bill Snyder's Avatar
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    Ted,
    Is that a James tailpiece on your Old Wave? All of the other James tailpieces I have seen were similar to a Gibson in appearance. The one you linked to looks more like an Allen.
    Bill Snyder

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    Chief Moderator/Shepherd Ted Eschliman's Avatar
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    D'oh!
    Yup, Allen.
    Never mind my post; although it's irrelevant to the topic on hand, the Allen is a terrific option, too.
    Ted Eschliman

    Author, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

  6. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Actually it is relevant, it's one of the other options he has.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  7. #7
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Buzz behind the bridge? having a strip of leather or felt under the strings and inside the cover , dampens the secondary vibrations, as would a strip woven thru the strings between the TP and the bridge.

    Allen does have a benefit of an ability to grab spares from the guitar bin when one string breaks. , though the last thing the string touches is the metal of the hole in the TP.

    James'cleverly uses a couple rubber O rings to latch the lid, and dampen the strings , at the same time..

    And, going from 7 strings back to 8 takes less time.



    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  8. #8
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    Love mine. Dampens the strings completely and is very light. I put an allen on a pac-rim mando and felt the heavy weight muted the entire sound.

    .02
    Speed is fine but accuracy is everything. Xenophon

  9. #9
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    If I ever decided to part with my mandolin, the James would come off first and the original tailpiece would go with it. That's how much I like the James!
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  10. #10
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    Weber, universal (no "W"), stainless steel
    $69 to your door. Loops stay on during string changes. Dampens the strings. Looks wonderful.
    IMHO
    Wye Knot

  11. #11
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Just a note: Anyone that might be hot for a James tail piece that owns an Eastman will have to re-bore the holes including the end pin.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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