Are all tailpieces really brass?

Wynn Phillips

Hi, I've bought a cheap Aria MM20e to get into Gypsy Jazz, I'm enjoying it a lot, seems to be a decent guitar though I haven't played many other GJ guitars it compares reasonably well with those I have. I was wondering about the tailpiece and I held a magnet up to it, and the magnet stuck. Not a brass tailpiece then. It looks like brass though. So is this the norm or are most tailpieces really brass rather than brass coloured steel as mine is. If in doubt try the magnet thing as brass is non ferrous magnets will not be attracted to it.

Craig Bumgarner

Most that look brass are brass, but if it is magnetic, it is brass plated steel. (Well, it could be nickel, but I doubt you will find a brass plated nickel tailpiece, that would be silly.) The ones that are chrome or nickel in appearance are also plated, some over brass, others over steel, seen both. Nothing much wrong with steel, it is stronger and more fatigue resistant. Might rust eventually, but I wouldn't worry about it.

Jazzaferri

I wonder if a steel tailpiece would bay the tonal colour noticeably?

Anyone tried an a/b comparison?