Douglas WVEB / Epiphone Viola : String ball-end issue

[Matvei]

Hello all,

I have a Douglas Beatle Bass that was just fine with the OEM roundwounds but I had to try Flats on it. I bought Labella Beatle bass 760FHB2 flats, which were recommended here.

Problem is with the tailpiece on my Douglas Beatle/Epiphone Viola clone has trouble fitting the ball-ends of the strings because of the design of the tailpiece. All the other 3 strings eventually went in from the pressure during winding but the E string decided that breaking at the tuning peg would be a better idea. So, either I let the ball-end of the E string just sort of rest against the tailpiece or I try to change the tailpiece to another style, perhaps the hofner Icon, that doesn't appear to have such small holes for the ball-ends. Would it have too much of a different spacing? Any other strings noted for their small metal balls?

Anybody run into this issue? It's the metal ball-end that doesn't fit. The metal fancywork seems to prevent it from going in easily for the other strings and all together for the E (.096) one.

Thanks.

[john grey]

As a generality one would alter the "replaceable" element (therefore the ball-end). A light filing of the brass ball end would be more appropriate than trying to alter the tail-piece. Obviously do this by hand (rather than w/a grinder) so that you have more control over the degree of metal removed. It's actually a good idea to do this will all the ends, so that you have no problem removing them when the time comes to replace the strings.

[Matvei]

Oh my. You're right. I didn't even think of needing to remove the 3 strings that finally popped-in... I think they will be forever bound to that tailpiece. Let's hope that the ones advocating never changing flatwound strings are on to something.

What have I done again.

[Matvei]

Success!!!!!

Had a hunch this couldn't be the a quality control issue on the trapeze tailpiece.
Apparently, you can unscrew the two pegs holding the ball-end-holder from the rest of the tailpiece which allows you to put in the strings without interference from the chrome fancy-work and then screw back the tailpiece, which makes the chrome fancy-work rest against the back of it (which is not problematic anymore, since the strings are all snug inside!).

Maybe this was evident for all the Douglas, Epiphone, Brice, Turser and Rogue owners out there or maybe their fancy-work wasn't screwed as high-up on their tailpiece from the factory so it wasn't a problem but I don't understand how come no one talked about this anywhere on the internet. I can understand for the low-cost lookalikes but I couldn't find an Epiphone Viola manual anywhere, what gives?

Anyway. I hope this post helps others that come across this quirk.