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Tail Piece Gut Adjustment for best performance....
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...These are the steps in making this adjustment:
(we assume that the bridge is correctly placed and its back is vertical from the top plate surface before we start...)
- First get all the strings exactly in tune.
- Next, lightly touch the 'A' string in its center and then pluck the 'A' string between the bridge and fingerboard. To hear the harmonic you must lift the 'touching' finger just as you pluck the string.
The 'A' string is tuned to 440 Hz so the harmonic you produce is 880 Hz.
- Immediately pluck the back side of the 'D' string as shown and mentally compare the two tones. Ideally this tone will be 1,760 Hz (or twice the 'A' string harmonic). If it is, then it will sound in harmony with the first plucked tone on the 'A' string.
... If this second tone is too low, then it means that the tail piece is too far behind the bridge. To correct, lengthen the tail gut by loosening the tail gut adjuster nuts, preferably the same number of turns on each adjuster (which keeps the bend around the end pin in the same place).
... If this second tone is too high, then it means that the tail piece is too close to the bridge . To correct, shorten the tail gut adjusting nuts equally.![Note: no space for the text!]()
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...As a starting point, the end of the tail piece should be near (perhaps 3/8" in front of the ebony saddle, around which the tail gut bends on its way down to the end pin). Adjust from this point.
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...In order to make these adjustments to the tail gut, the strings must be loosened enough for the gut to be lifted off the end pin. I find it useful to mark the bridge position with a piece of tape and I also tape the strings to the head of the tailpiece so they do not become separated, and also tape the strings down to the fingerboard so they do not become unraveled on the tuning pegs.
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...Although this adjustment may involve several trials to get it exact, I believe you will feel it worth the effort. This method give a definitive standard for tailgut adjustment; it allows you to stop with confidence when you have reached the goal adjustment.
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