Gariepy Tailpiece

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Aluminum Rim Outcasts

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So you can come out of the closet and admit that you own and pick one of these indestructable banjos!

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From tucsonsean on 9/25/2016 9:42:17 AM

Hey, fellow outcasts! I'm trying to source an original tailpiece for a Gariepy Style #1 aluminum pot. You Gariepy enthusiasts probably realize these don't mount like normal tailpieces via an endpiece. No, they mount via a screw on the tailpiece that threads directly into the pot. If you have one, or know where I can find one, please let me know. I've posted pics of one in the Classified/Banjo Parts section of the site. Thanks.

4 Comments
	John Gribble says: 9/26/2016 2:18:36 AM Ooooh, that's a tough one. You may have to find a bolt which matches the threads, then use an L-bracket and conventional tailpiece. While the Gariepy design is interesting, it isn't a very good tailpiece. It isn't very adjustable and the steel bolts which hold the strings tend to strip the threaded aluminum.
	tucsonsean says: 9/26/2016 10:54:37 AM If they're not very good, I'll stay hopeful: maybe someone has replaced one with something better and is willing to part with the original. The banjo was originally a plectrum (SN P1-2), but I'm not trying to restore it (Mark Hickler is making a short-scale fretless neck for me) so the tailpiece isn't critical. I'm going to use Nylgut strings. What tailpiece would you recommend?
	John Gribble says: 9/26/2016 4:45:00 PM I hesitate to recommend a tailpiece and would defer to those who've done more nylgut setup than I have. You would probably be happy with a good quality no-knot. Both my fretless nylgut banjos (Bowlin, Sagmoen) came with flat ebony violin-style tailpieces, the strings tied to holes near the leading edge. I haven't experimented with them at all. You have some interesting set-up decisions to make. What kind of sound do you want? Bright or plunky? Head and bridge choices will be important, given how naturally bright these banjos are. Fun! Have a good time with it.
	tucsonsean says: 9/26/2016 9:19:21 PM Thanks, John. I'm going for plunky, so it'll probably be a Fibrskyn head, heavy bridge, low tension (it's how my other Gariepy is set up). If I have to, I'll jury-rig a NoKnot tailpiece (although Hooks and others offer some interesting wooden alternatives).
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