Broken black 360/12 tailpiece

[Addickmick]

Second time in five years one of these has shattered on me and any advice on sourcing a new one would be very much appreciated. I've emailed Rickenbacker a couple of times without success, Their site says: 'Thank you. Your message has been sent', followed by 'CDO.Message.1 error '80040213' The transport failed to connect to the server. /corporate.asp, line 131.' So I don't even know if I'm getting through to them from here in the wilds of Oxfordshire. Can anyone perhaps suggest an alternative tailpiece, though I'll still need the 'R' if I ever part with my red and black beauty? I've seen a harp-shaped one for six-string which wouldn't look too out of place and might be a better option if I could find one in black for the 12-string. Thanks in anticipation.

[sloop_john_b]

Just go with the harp from Winfield or a black trapeze. If you decide to sell it, explain to potential buyers that the black "R" is a ticking time bomb that they wouldn't want anyway.

[Folkie]

Does anyone know specifically why the black tailpieces are "ticking time bombs"? I own a scarlet red 1991 330/12 with a black tailpiece, and, so far, no disasters.

[krick]

I believe it has been reported that the powder coat process used weakens the material the tailpieces are made of.

[Folkie]

Thanks, Kevin. I'll keep an eye on mine.

[Matt Clark]

Get a new Chrome one (by trading your broken one in) and take it somewhere to be sandblasted and powder coated black. It will cost way more than it's worth, but you can have it done.

[Addickmick]

Just an update - and thanks to all who responded to my original post. I am again indebted to Matt Law, my Ric guardian angel from Panama City, Florida, for coming to the rescue. Last time the tailpiece shattered, I plucked his name from one of the forums and he could not have been more helpful. I mailed him the old one, he got the replacement, had it powder-coated matt black and sent it back to me, but I was reluctant to put him through all the trouble again if a replacement had been available off the shelf. However, when you're desperate ... and Matt sounds only too happy to oblige once more. So I'll have my new 'R', possibly before Christmas, but I am thinking of just wrapping it up in cotton wool and fitting one of Winfield's harp-shaped jobs (thanks for the steer), rather than worrying about what I'm going to find every time I open the case. Incidentally, common factor in both shattered tailpieces is that the guitar had not been out of the case for several weeks. First time, five years ago, I'd had the 360 tuned down half a step when the T/P exploded. This time it was normal tuning. Meanwhile, my 660/12, with its bomb-proof trapeze tailpiece, is playing like a dream, so it's hard to stay mad at Rickenbacker for too long.

[jdawe]

I think Winfield also sells a 12-string trapeze in black with a conversion kit for the bracket that lets you replace the R-type bracket without drilling new holes. I personally like the looks of the trapeze better than the Winfield harp, but that's just me.