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Non string-thru talpiece?

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
Hello, new member here with a Gibson Les Paul studio which I love (except it's a mess to tune for C standard:)), I'm trying to get my string economy better optimised and I'm using it for much recording at home I want "fresh" strings in many circumstances, hence I'm letting them take a bath in denatured alcohol once in a while and having a few sets on rotation. However with the string-thru tailpiece I tend to damage the area of the string which is wound around the tuning peg when pulling it out/in a few times, I've been looking for non-string thru tailpieces (as in where the string goes into a slot, like a Sandberg bass for example) but I cant seem to find any. Which leads me to two questions: Are there such tailpieces? If there are not, is there a reason for it(worse tone etc?).

Thanks!
 

rick c

Active member
Joined
May 28, 2016
Messages
282
Osse: what string gauges do you use for C standard tuning? I neglected to note that if you were to try one of the string through tailpieces, you would need to fabricate a mounting plate to marry it to the existing tailpiece bolts and/or the curve of the body.
 

Don

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
Is the fine tuning tailpiece used on Lucille sting through?

I had an early '80s Ibanez Iceman and Destroyer. They both had tailpieces with angle slots rather than string through holes. I'm not sure if that's available and if it will fit Gibson studs and spacing.
 

Shakey

New member
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Messages
103
What strings are you using? I could see the merit over time if you're using Unicorn pube strings or something but this does seem like a ludicrous solution to save a couple of quid on a set of stings!
 

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
Osse: what string gauges do you use for C standard tuning? I neglected to note that if you were to try one of the string through tailpieces, you would need to fabricate a mounting plate to marry it to the existing tailpiece bolts and/or the curve of the body.

I'm using 12-60, I've been looking at that tailpiece actually but as you say, with the curved body of the les paul and studs there would be too much involvement in trying to fit one of these bridges and it would probably not look very good :) But for a flat-top guitar they can probably work nice! Thanks for the suggestion
 

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
Is the fine tuning tailpiece used on Lucille sting through?

I had an early '80s Ibanez Iceman and Destroyer. They both had tailpieces with angle slots rather than string through holes. I'm not sure if that's available and if it will fit Gibson studs and spacing.

Looks like that, yes. I've researched some more and have seen Schaller also has one of these fine-tune tailpieces, Schaller Tail piece FS its called. I think both retrofit with the gibson studs I've looked at reviews of them both and they seem to be nice.
 

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
What strings are you using? I could see the merit over time if you're using Unicorn pube strings or something but this does seem like a ludicrous solution to save a couple of quid on a set of stings!

You might be right, but for a recording student, I figured it might be a good solution to get a few more uses out of each set (and not sting myself on the string when trying to get them thru the tailpiece:spabout). I'm not using any special/expensive string, D'addario EXL148. The "cheapest" I can get away with which still sound good and has a nice tension for C standard.
 

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
Duhhhhhh..... I have a TP6 tailpiece on my ES Artist and it will fit a Les Paul Custom's original posts; I tried it for a while. This is the quickest but not cheapest fix for Osse's problem. Here's a picture for reference. There are non OEM ones available for around $50. Where are you located Osse?
https://reverb.com/item/16565566-gibson-tp6-tailpiece-nos-gold

I'm located in Sweden, I can see a few Chinese/Korean made on ebay, otherwise it's the Schaller one which is a little less than half the price of the gibby. https://www.banzaimusic.com/Schaller-Tail-piece-FS-Satin-Pearl.html
 

rick c

Active member
Joined
May 28, 2016
Messages
282
Hi Osse: I can't tell how the Schaller one fits. Is the spacing and threads of the posts the same as the Les Paul? I have a spare, gold, Gibson TP6 if you get desperate.
 

Osse

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2020
Messages
6
Hi Osse: I can't tell how the Schaller one fits. Is the spacing and threads of the posts the same as the Les Paul? I have a spare, gold, Gibson TP6 if you get desperate.

Thanks for the offer Rick, actually I found something very similar to what I looked for, https://www.meinlshop.de/en/ibanez/...ick-change-iii-tailpiece-cosmo-black-2qc1wq3k
The Ibanez quick change tailpiece. I'm not sure that I can get it shipped to where I live yet tho, next week I'll find out. Otherwise I might be interested in your tp-6! Hope you'll have a nice weekend
 
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