Kauffman question

2ricks · Post by **2ricks** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:15 pm

Has anyone ever modified the Kauffman so that they can actually use it? If not, is there a way to disable it?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:18 pm

I actually use my K without mods, on my C58. Crazy, I know.

My other Ks are disabled by staking the rivets with a nail set and hammer against the steel top of a vise. The K has to be removed from the guitar to do this. It binds up the rivets so they won't budge, effectively turning it into a rigid tailpiece.

2ricks · Post by **2ricks** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:52 pm

Does it change the tuning or cause problems? I'm thinking about buying a Kauffman from someone.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:55 pm

My wife managed to do it. She also has the ability to effectively disable me.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:56 pm

You mean does staking the rivets cause problems? Nope.

Does a Kauffman present a practical solution as a vibrato device?

Not for a normal guitar. You're better off with a Bigsby or an Accent (a la 1996) on your short scale.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:02 pm

Both Les Paul and Mary Ford had Kauffman units on their early 50's Gibson Les Pauls with P-90's. Les used his quite a lot, while Mary didn't. If you have a chance to watch the latest documentary on Les, you'll see he uses his and the guitar stays in tune quite nicely.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:14 pm

I think we're talking at cross purposes here, Dale.

As I've mentioned, two of my short scale Ricks have unstaked Kauffmans, and I have no tuning problems. But I neither perform nor tour with these instruments; they're largely that way for historical reference.

I do not believe that the Kauffman is practical for everyday or frequent use. Les Paul and Mary Ford, AFAIK, were a "studio" duo; everything was multitracked and multiple takes were common, giving them plenty of time to re-tune and, in essence, "baby" their instruments.

I doubt that they ever did rigorous tour duty with their Kauffman-equipped Gibsons. And, in general, although I'm a Kauffman "booster", because it's unique, it really is a stopgap type of solution.

Because it was inferior to Bigsbys and other systems, the only guitars equipped with them new, ex-factory, are the "warts and all" C58s.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 3:39 pm

They toured quite a lot with their L.P. Kauffmans doing many live shows. Watch the DVD. I never cared much for Doc's invention, but it did work when properly adjusted and used.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 9:57 pm

The C58's do not stay in tune because the Kauffman springs rest directly on the face of the guitar body. The springs stick and cause tuning problems.

The original 50's Capri Kauffman and trap tail butt plates were taller than the current V series plates that are used on the C58. The original 50's Kaufmann springs did not touch the body and floated freely.

rick_ovic · Post by **rick_ovic** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:46 pm

Adam, from a player-collector's perspective I found the Kaufmann vibrola to be a horrible contraption, if you expect your guitar to stay in tune.

My '59 335 Capri was originally equipped with one, which has subsequently been removed and stored for safe-keeping. I replaced it with a non-vibrato trapeze tailpiece.

Give me an Ac'cent vibrato any day

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:35 am

It's fairly well known that the Kauffman is best as a historically correct tailpiece only.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:33 am

The original 50's Capri Kauffman and trap tail butt plates were taller than the current V series plates that are used on the C58.

Au contraire. All C58's shipped to date have used genuine vintage tail plates, chromed to match the rest of the parts, unlike the V series plates which are stainless steel.

The springs stick and cause tuning problems.

The springs have nothing to do with it; the friction between the faces of the parts and the roller points are the culprit. A bit of Teflon-based lube goes a long way to solving the problem although the design is the basic issue. Assemble them loose and they rattle. Assemble them tight and they stick. There's no tolerance for error.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:39 am

FWIW, other than the initial tune-up to get the tension equalized across the string anchor on the Kauffman(it just takes a little more attention than other guitars and mine is not pinned), my own C58 stays in tune quite well for long periods, and strung with .011s to boot. It really has a great feel.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:55 pm

No doubt that real vintage plates are used but they are not the same plates as what the 50's 325's got. The C58's have plates designed for a 60's 1.5" body. The original 50's plates allowed the Kauffman to sit higher with the 2" body. Springs should not touch wood.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 4:34 am

There was only one plate design and, of course, there were no Kauffmans used in the 1960's.