Tailpiece

As a tailpiece (English, also in the German language tailpiece to German "tail " ) is a component in stringed instruments is called, where the strings are anchored to the side opposite the screw head or plate end of the instrument. The tailpiece has the traction of all strings withstand and maintain their position. He, however, usually does not serve the transfer of string vibration to the body - this is the job of the web.

The tailpiece can look very different depending on the instrument. Mostly he is at the bottom of Unterbugs to (where a block reinforced the frame a rule, so that the instrument can accommodate the train well here). An exception to this are the traditional instruments According family in which the string holder is integrated in the web and the tension of the string is received by the blanket. Also, most acoustic guitars follow this model.

A tailpiece, which attaches at the end of the body, offers itself mainly in instruments that have steel strings, since the tensile forces of the strings are particularly high, as well as instruments for which the ceiling is vaulted.

The sound of a string is produced only in the free-swinging range of the scale, ie between the saddle and the bridge. The short part of the string between the bridge and tailpiece bears, as well as the part between the saddle and tuners, not for generating sound at.

Violins

The tailpiece of violins are made of wood and not firmly attached to the body, they are flexible (but zugsicher ) attached with a so-called tailpiece endpin ( see picture). They belong to the set (among all wear parts are as summarized, for example, fingerboard and pegs ) and are usually made ​​of the same wood as the other parts of the clothing. Wood species are often used ebony or rosewood. While ebony has a black color, suites of furniture made ​​of rosewood are light brown to red.

The tailpiece was once made of gut, nowadays are used mostly nylon. In the tailpiece fine tuners ( fine tuning wheels) can be integrated, with which individual strings can be fine- tuned.

For larger string instruments (for example, the cello, sometimes even in the viola ), the short string piece between the bridge and tailpiece resonate with the vibration of the string and the body and thereby create an undesirable sound, which is also transferred to the body via the web. This sound is called Wolfston. A Wolf Slayer, which can be attached to this section, dampens its weight this vibration and prevents swaying like to Wolfston. In the violin could theoretically also arise Wolfston this, but in this case the circumstances, such as scale length and tension of the part are so unfavorable that there is usually no detectable Wolfston arises. Nevertheless, it is possible that this effect also occurs at a violin.

Corresponding tailpiece is also available in viola, cello and double bass, the viola da gamba family.

Mandolins and other instruments

In mandolins and many other stringed instruments, such as banjos, Bouzoukis, sitars or Resonator, the tailpiece made ​​of metal and fixed to the end of the body is connected. In general, the tailpiece projects as larger component of the frame ( where it is attached ) around the edge to the ceiling and thus meets the web. He can either sit securely on the ceiling or - so that the blanket can freely swing - a few millimeters above the ceiling free " float". Often these tailpiece are equipped with a metal plate that covers the actual string ends and mounting points that would otherwise have an ugly sight.

In Cistern, for example, the Portuguese guitar, Balalaika, Saz, Dombra, or Domra, bridges are made up to the edge of the instrument anchored to the frame ( sometimes also around this edge around) and with a smaller tailpiece directly.

In some mandolins and zithers forest, the lower end of the string is additionally covered by a metal decorative plate to look like a floating tailpiece looks from the front, but other than the optical delusion has no function.

Tailpiece of a mandolin (Design as in the forest zither)

Tailpiece a waldzither

Sounds and acoustic guitars

In ouds, lutes and acoustic guitars tailpiece is usually integrated into the web. Here is either a strip of wood with holes for passing the strings and then knotting, or there are gaps (holes) placed in the dock, in the introduced the strings and ends with wooden pins ( to German: Stöckerle or sticks ) are clamped. Western guitars are built so usually reinforced that they get along despite steel strings with a built- in bridge tailpiece.

In certain guitar designs such as the archtop guitar, however, is a tailpiece made ​​of metal, similar to the case of the mandolin, used since the ceiling could not withstand the strong train of steel strings.

Tailpiece of an archtop guitar

Electric Guitars

For electric guitars with solid body is this problem because they do not have floating ceiling. Therefore, the tailpiece is at these in turn usually integrated into the bridge, and the strings are anchored near the dock directly in the corpus. Models with a significant acoustic ceiling, use similar designs such as the aforementioned acoustic instruments mandolin or archtop guitar. An example of this is the Bigsby vibrato.

Electric guitars with vibrato system ( " tremolo " ) or Telecaster -like webs also have the tailpiece already within the design. While some modern vibrato systems, the ball of the strings removed and the string is locked in the saddle ( this component acts for each string as a bridge and tailpiece ), the strings for Telecaster -style models are passed from the rear through the body. An insert made of metal to prevent the ball is pulled into the timber and thus functions as a tailpiece.

Models with a Tune-O -Matic bridge usually have a stop tailpiece (also called stopbar ). This is only fixed by the string tension at two anchor points. But even here there are guitar models, mostly in modern guitars where the strings are passed through the body ( see picture). This method is referred to as strings through body and promises, according to the manufacturer a longer sustain.

There are also rare cases of vibrato systems, which are used in semi- acoustic guitars, such as the Bigsby vibrato for archtop jazz guitars. Here is my (especially massively built ) trapezoidal tailpiece for use, the end is anchored to the body.

Tune-O -Matic with stopbar

Tune-O -Matic without stopbar ( strings through body)

Epiphone Casino with Bigsby Vibrato