Note: For this exercise, tune the banjo the way it was probably set up to play. He is also the Owner/Inventor of Geiger Acoustic Devices which is well worth checking out. Don't worry it will be flopping all over the place now. So to maintain your tone you will need to readjust the tailpiece after you adjust the banjo head. Greg Deering designed this Goodtime tailpiece to give the customer adjustability and great sound. ... For more information about checking or adjusting your banjo's neck, check out the Deering article here. My banjo sounds good as before, maybe even better since the old tailpiece ⦠This is a waverly, a five string design, but works with four. I use an Oettinger tailpiece on my Gibson tenor and Paramount tenors but not my Irish tenor (tuned low GDAE). Golden Gate No-Knot Reproduction Banjo Tailpiece $10.00. You can do this with almost any tail piece by canting it to one side, but this is a crude adjustment. Sweet dude, but any idea how to install a tailpiece onto a Framus Dixi 6/74? I had to get rid of the extra nut and replace it with a new washer and a locking split ring washer which turned out rather nice. But one time across the 'fingers' is not enough. Traditional tenor banjo tuning is CGDA, lowest to highest. All these sort of things like hooks, t plates, l brackets, etc. It then loops around the top of the cam (photo 3) pulling it snug and preventing the end from slipping out (photos 4 and 5). When the action is too low, loosen the nut outside of the rim and tighten the nut inside the rim. They aren't cheap, but I have found that Fielding tailpieces are the best modern tailpieces for nylons nowadays, and they're easy to fit on any modern banjo including the Goodtime. It makes a huge difference on my Gibson.". I tie a small looped Bowlin Knot and loop that over the 'hook' with the actual knot beneath the hook, then I pass the string back through the loop and along the finger groove. I dont bother. Put the Bridge On and Tune the Banjo - Figure out which end of the bridge needs to go under the skinny strings, put the bridge under the strings, and start tightening the strings until the bridge stays in place by itself. Most people seem to attach the strings to the tailpiece as shown in the picture to the left. The tailpiece attaches to the banjo by means of a single nut & bolt through the bottom - though it is possible to attach it with a single bolt or woodscrew through the cut-out in the back, using a suitable spacer. Golden Gate Kershner Style Tailpiece $49.95. You can shorten this process by pushing down on the Oettinger 'finger' slowly while plucking the string and you will hear the best sound from that string when the 'finger' is the right distance from the head. You need to bring it upright by doing the following: Loosen the strings by turning the tuning pegscounter-clockwise. Frank is a retired 26-year Solo Tenor Banjo Entertainer based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Banjo sound is very subjective and the Oettinger makes getting the sound you want achievable. Strings will go up from the fingerboard. If the action needs raising, loosen the outside nut and tighten the inside nut. It uses a simple t head bolt to hold the thing down which works effectively. Once the strings are loose enough, lift the bridge up so it can stand upright under the strings. Attach the banjo strap. On my tenor I usually start with the tip of the low string 'finger' almost touching the head. Kershner "Unique" (Four Hole/Four Cam) $175.00. So you move the bridge toward the tailpiece a tad to compensate. It spaces the strings properly for a normal bridge, and it provides great stability for the strings. Hold the banjo in the lap and reach around the far side of the banjo with the left hand and turn the Oettinger adjustment screw AS you pluck the string...pluck..listen...turn...and repeat. Having your tailpiece adjusted properly on your banjo will give your its fullest, clearest tone. The tailpiece tension screw adjusts string pressure over the bridge for tonal variations. This ensures that the string runs down the whole length of the finger. When you tighten the tailpiece to re-connect with the tension hoop, you have now lowered the forward edge of the tailpiece closer to the head. Most require this and that to install the tailpiece. In the picture to the right you can see a typical set up that works in most situations. This one is for a 5 String. Thanks for using the Oettinger Tailpiece Resource. I did have some issues anchoring the tailpiece to my banjo. Lower gives more tension which should make the banjo sound brighter and perhaps louder. 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