Vieneese tail-plug

[John Delventhal]

No one jumped on this so, I will give it a shot.

On basses with very deep ribs, like Pollmanns, the length of tailwire becomes longer in order to reach the center of the bottom ribs where your endpin would be. I'm under the impression that this extra length puts more stress or tension on the tailwire/endpin/block/saddle. A shorter tailwire should reduce this tension. Hence the plug.

Tailpieces and saddles along with their tension play a roll in the sound of the instrument. Also, with the use of a plug the bass could be stronger in that area and create a less likely need for repairs down the road.