Installing a Pecanic tailpiece

[61pollmann]

Question for luthiers who have installed Pecanic tailpieces. My luthier has had little experience with these, and wants to know if a hidden back pocket is the best way to go, or would it be ok to just drill holes from front to back. I've always had stainless aircraft cable on my basses. Would it be better to use a non-metallic cable, such as the Pecanic or the Velvet?

Thanks in advance,

George

[GriffithLea]

I've always been a drill-the-holes kind of guy, myself. Take a look at this page on Jeff's site:

http://jeffbollbach.com/JB%20II/luthier_rant8.htm

You have to read to the bottom to get to the part that is relevant to your question.

I'd be inclined to try one of Pecanic's cables. Let us (or at least me) know how the Pecanic tailpiece affects the playability of your instrument. I assume that this is one of those compensated units.

[61pollmann]

Still hoping for a reply to my question. Pecanic tailpieces seem to be fairly common. Someone must have installed one.

Thanks in advance.

George

[jtlownds]

I installed one of Pecanics adjustable compensating tailpieces. I had him make it with the pocket hole. It is drilled from the end of the tailpiece staight into the pocket for the cable. I think this is the only way to go to prevent tailpiec cable rattles, and makes for a neater installation. I also used the Pecanic tailpiece cord. No problems with mine.

[JoeyNaeger]

I had the holes drilled front to back on mine, and it worked fine. It think it's a matter of preference mostly. I would highly recomend you get the synthetic tailgut as well though. It makes the strings feel much better under the bow IMHO.

[Jake deVilliers]

+1 on Joey's comments. The synthetic tailgut gives the bass a really loose & easy feel under the hands; looser & more resonant.

I don't think it matters a lot whether you use pockets or drill through, although the pocket style does tend to raise the tailpiece a little.

I drill through because it gives the tailpiece/tailgut interface more surface area to spread the pressure, especially with the lighter woods I'm using.

[bonaventura]

I'm not a luthier, but I installed a Pecanic tailpiece Mike made for me and I used the Velvet synthetic tailpiece string. Mine is drilled straight through, and the synthetic string just bends with the wood and is flush. I agree that the sound of the bass strung with the tailpiece held by synthetic string is a louder sound, more punch, better flexibility and vibrations than with the steel wire. I'd go with the straight drilled holes and the synthetic string.

[Jim Henderson]

George,
I have a compensated claro walnut tailpiece on both my '52 Kay and my Cleveland laminated. Dr. Mike drilled both to be mounted through the front. Professor Arnold currently has my Juzek for a renovation and it has an adjustable Pecanic tailpiece that I am going to swap out for a conpensated upon it's return. I feel that the acoustic returns are nominal on the Cleveland since it already had a light weight tailpiece. Probably a little more pronounced on the Juzek and Kay since the had heavier tailpieces. I noticed compensated tailpieces on several of the Pollmans in the Lemur catalog. Good luck with your conversion.
Jim

[61pollmann]

Thanks for the advice.

George

[mpm]

I prefer the straight-thru holes for two reasons, the first being that the pocket method increases the angle of the string over the bridge and the second is that I feel the pocket also compromises the structural integrity. Another interesting factoid is that Ahnold once shared with me that he was hunting down a mysterious rattle and eventually found it in one of the holes leading up to the pocket. I think it was in conjunction with aircraft cable btw...