Notched out tailpiece.

[HofnerVox]

This might be a dumb question but I can't find the answer...what was the notch/cut out on the older basses tailpiece for?

[bassduke49]

It apparently had something to do with the way that the original aluminum casting was made. I don't see it clearly in my mind, but it was described to me as happening as a result of the way the casting was held in and removed from the mold. Can anyone else describe it better?

[Kopfjaeger]

The casting medium whether it be sand based or another heat/melt resistant material needed to be broken away or at least provide a means of getting the cast part out of the mold. Perhaps the gap either strengthened the mold around such a delicate section or provided a reference point for an insert mold in order to create the well. I'm guessing the latter.

Sepp

[HofnerVox]

Cool...thanks guys for the info.