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Why put leather under the tailpiece?

periclimenespericlimenes Santa Ana, CANew
edited February 2009 in Gypsy Jazz 101 Posts: 140
Hello All,

I see a piece of leather under the tailpiece as an option on some of the guitars. Can someone please explain why this is preferable? Thanks.
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Comments

  • KlezmorimKlezmorim South Carolina, USANew
    Posts: 160
    Two reasons:

    1. The leather helps protect the top and binding of the guitar from having a piece of brass mashed into its surface.

    2. (And most important) The leather (or felt) dampens the harmonic vibrations of the tailpiece and string segments behind the bridge.
    whitneyguitars
  • djangologydjangology Portland, OregonModerator
    Posts: 1,018
    more often than not, usually the leather comes in red or green although I have seen other colors, such as yellow or brown.

    Also, I think that most of the time people use a piece of felt rather than a piece of leather...
  • cantzoncantzon Jeju Do, South KoreaNew
    Posts: 90
    Can someone post a pic of it both ways?

    Thanks.
  • Ian RossiterIan Rossiter Fort Vermilion ,Alberta ,CanadaNew
    Posts: 203
    :idea: So would a leather strip help tame down the "wetness" of my 255??
    Practice ,Practice,EAT PRACTICE- Tommy Tedesco
  • BluesBop HarryBluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso
    Posts: 1,379
    :idea: So would a leather strip help tame down the "wetness" of my 255??
    Maybe a tiny little bit...
    you can try putting a shoelace in and out the strings between the bridge and tailpiece.
    It's very subtle but kinda mutes the harmonics a little. Bob Holo trick
    A bridge of a different type of wood could also help.
  • fraterfrater Prodigy
    Posts: 763
    Michael Dunn puts a dampener between the bridge and the tailpiece in his Belleville model...
  • Joli GadjoJoli Gadjo Cardiff, UK✭✭✭✭ Derecho, Bumgarner - VSOP, AJL
    Posts: 542
    My Patenotte has a piece of cork underneath the tailpiece. It works just fine.
    - JG
  • Tele295Tele295 San Buenaventura (Latcho Drom), CA✭✭✭ Gitane DG300, D500
    Posts: 629
    Is it a thin piece of leather (like garment weight) glued to the backside of the tailpiece?
    Jill Martini Soiree - Gypsy Swing & Cocktail Jazz
    http://www.jillmartinisoiree.com
  • BluesBop HarryBluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso
    Posts: 1,379
    yes, it's just like a washer between the tailpiece and the wood. I used a piece cut from an old wallet.
    You don't need any glue, the screws from the tailpiece go through the leather and keep it in place, but if you want you can add a bit of soft glue.
  • Tele295Tele295 San Buenaventura (Latcho Drom), CA✭✭✭ Gitane DG300, D500
    Posts: 629
    yes, it's just like a washer between the tailpiece and the wood. I used a piece cut from an old wallet.
    You don't need any glue, the screws from the tailpiece go through the leather and keep it in place, but if you want you can add a bit of soft glue.

    So the leather is between the tailpiece and the butt-end? Does it curl over the binding onto the soundboard? If so, how far does it extend onto the soundboard?
    Jill Martini Soiree - Gypsy Swing & Cocktail Jazz
    http://www.jillmartinisoiree.com
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