"Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
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"Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Lockdown = time for thinking about the really important stuff.
Something I've long wondered about the old "gap-tooth" tailpiece: Why?
As in... why was the gap there at all? Was it supposed to have had a purpose? Was it simply an artefact of the casting process (seems unlikely)?
If you know, do tell. I need to get some sleep tonight!
Something I've long wondered about the old "gap-tooth" tailpiece: Why?
As in... why was the gap there at all? Was it supposed to have had a purpose? Was it simply an artefact of the casting process (seems unlikely)?
If you know, do tell. I need to get some sleep tonight!
2004 4003 JetGlo
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Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
That may be where the gate was for the casting process. Normally you wouldn't put that in a highly visible area, but maybe they were having trouble getting those thin areas to fill out completely and they had to move it to the center. One of these days I'll put one under my microscope at work and see if I can tell what's going o there.
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Yeah, that notion was one of the ones that flashed by my mind when I started pondering this, but like you I thought "Why would they pour the molten metal in THERE? Do it round the back where nobody can see!"teeder wrote:That may be where the gate was for the casting process. Normally you wouldn't put that in a highly visible area, but maybe they were having trouble getting those thin areas to fill out completely and they had to move it to the center. One of these days I'll put one under my microscope at work and see if I can tell what's going o there.
It'll be fascinating to know what your microscope reveals, Kevin.
2004 4003 JetGlo
Epiphone Jack Casady
Ovation Magnum 1
Mania VTB-4BS
Dean Stylist w/ John Birch Magnum II pups
Yamaha BB414
Trace Elliot VA350/GP11 Mk1
Peavey TB-Raxx
2 BFM Omni 10.5 crossfire cabs
Roland Bass Cube 100
Epiphone Jack Casady
Ovation Magnum 1
Mania VTB-4BS
Dean Stylist w/ John Birch Magnum II pups
Yamaha BB414
Trace Elliot VA350/GP11 Mk1
Peavey TB-Raxx
2 BFM Omni 10.5 crossfire cabs
Roland Bass Cube 100
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
I always just assumed it had something to do with the horseshoe or the mute perhaps?
You know this is now feeling like and interesting mystery.
It certainly was done on purpose at some point.
Thanks for something to ponder!
Dirk
You know this is now feeling like and interesting mystery.
It certainly was done on purpose at some point.
Thanks for something to ponder!
Dirk
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Mr. JH - please clear this up for us!!!
- bassduke49
- Senior Member
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Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
I think it may have been the point (or one of the points) where the molten metal entered the mold - a "sprue" or "gate". Once the metal had cooled and solidified, the mold was opened, and the sprue was cut away from the casting. Later molds didn't have this, so then didn't have to make a cutout. Just guessing here.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Stylistically, it works out that way, does it not?Dirk wrote:...I always just assumed it had something to do with the horseshoe...
Like the Cresting Wave designed into both the upper horn and the headstock.
- scoobster28
- Veteran RRF member
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Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Heres a model of the tailpiece from Geddy Lee’s book.
The gap is part of the model but still doesnt answer the question!
Now that Geddy has time on his hands perhaps he could put a new casting into production.
The gap is part of the model but still doesnt answer the question!
Now that Geddy has time on his hands perhaps he could put a new casting into production.
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
One of our members here had a CNC program for these ready to go for reproducing these. John Hall said no.
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Cool a wooden gap tooth model, how cool and rare is that ????
Interesting to still have no answer yet, I love a good mystery.
Dirk
Interesting to still have no answer yet, I love a good mystery.
Dirk
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Does it lift?
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
I had a company that would cast 6 at a time out of aluminum based on a 3d scan of an original. John said no to that.aceonbass wrote:One of our members here had a CNC program for these ready to go for reproducing these. John Hall said no.
Re: "Gap-tooth" tailpieces - satisfy my idle curiosity!
Another (slightly unlikely) thought that occurred to me was that maybe the gap was introduced to kill off an unwanted resonant peak?
I did say it was unlikely.
I did say it was unlikely.
2004 4003 JetGlo
Epiphone Jack Casady
Ovation Magnum 1
Mania VTB-4BS
Dean Stylist w/ John Birch Magnum II pups
Yamaha BB414
Trace Elliot VA350/GP11 Mk1
Peavey TB-Raxx
2 BFM Omni 10.5 crossfire cabs
Roland Bass Cube 100
Epiphone Jack Casady
Ovation Magnum 1
Mania VTB-4BS
Dean Stylist w/ John Birch Magnum II pups
Yamaha BB414
Trace Elliot VA350/GP11 Mk1
Peavey TB-Raxx
2 BFM Omni 10.5 crossfire cabs
Roland Bass Cube 100