Pecanic Tailpiece

[stan haskins]

Yes, they do look cool . . .

I'm wondering how much they do for sound, though . . . I've heard someone (a student) mention that the compensating tailpieces can alleviate wolf tones. Do you think this is true? Does anyone else?

[Bob Branstetter]

Mike, are you inferring that a tailpiece generates sound independently and/or that if you were to make two identically shaped tailpieces of different woods species, but of the same exact total weight (with everything else being equal), each tailpiece will make a bass "respond" or sound differently because of the woods response characteristic?

[Ken Smith]

First off, we need to know how much the TP contributes to the actual sound of the Bass. Then comparing two extremes like Ebony and Maple both the exact same size. Cocobolo as many of you know is used for Marimbas. I played behind a Marimba concerto last week and all the keys were Cocobolo.

I have been told the Ebony TPs are a 20th century thing. Out of all the older pre-1920 Basses I have acquired over the last 6 years, 5 out of 11 of them (half) had non-Ebony TPs on them. Some if not all may be original to the Bass. Most seem to be stained Maple but the TP on my English Gilkes is heavy and might be some other hardwood used in England 200 years ago. It looks to be original or at least from its 19th century restoration. Out of the 5 non-Ebony TPs, only two of them look to be original as 4-stringers and the Basses being my Batchelder and Martini were made as 4s as well. The Gilkes we are not sure about because during its c.1870s restoration & Cut it has two holes plugged as if it may have been a 3-stringer earlier. My Cornerless Bass has a 3 turned 4 str. TP with 3 holes plugged and 4 new ones drilled. Some of the TPs have just plain holes in them about 3-4mm and no 'loop' like a modern TP with a narrow channel above a larger maybe 10mm hole. One 3-string TP has two holes added so it could even be used as a 5er but the Scroll is barely long enough to hold 4 gears being a 3-stringer originally.

That being said, and sorry for the rant, I NEVER change a TP that comes on the Bass unless it's broken or just plain garbage. I did get one composite one in on my Bisiach labeled Bass and put an old Ebony one on that came off my Loveri. The Loveri got a fancy carved Indian ebony one that I bought for another Bass but was too small and was perfect for the Loveri. Also, I believe the size of the TP may matter on the Bass so if too small or too big. I might change it if I think it will help but thinking of doing it and doing it are two different things. Once the Bass is strung up and working, I usually don't mess with it.

I put a Cocobolo Pecanic TP on my 5er because it was converted from a 4.

Switching TPs back and forth with fresh strings is the only real way to tell if it makes much of a difference. Adding a Bow quiver to your Bass may alter the sound just as much if not more than changing TPs. Also, the compensating TP can possibly have a greater effect than wood differences unless the woods are drastically different. If the Bass is not overly responsive to slight changes then the differences might be less. Basses with better acoustical properties, might show the changes more.

Then again, I just might be wasting a whole bunch of cyber ink here rather than doing something more constructive with my time..lol

What was the question again?

[stan haskins]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

What was the question again?

Do compensating tailpieces have a discernible effect on wolf tones and overall sound quality in the average bass?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by stan haskins

Do compensating tailpieces have a discernible effect on wolf tones and overall sound quality in the average bass?

I don't know. The only way to tell is to experiment on the Bass you have with each kind of TP. If the Bass has bad wolfs, i don't see how a TP can be the magic potent.

More mass in the TP might help but then again, it depends on the frequency/note of your top and back when tapped and the notes where the wolfs are. I am just guessing here but some Basses can absorb more and some just bounce frequencies like a beach ball.

My motto is that if you don't like your Bass to begin with, get a different Bass. All the money you spend in trying to fix or correct it will most likely not increase its value unless it sounds and looks like a higher grade Bass when done.

[Mike Pecanic]

Hi y'all, first hey Bob, how you been? To answer your questions in order. Ahnold once pointed out to me that the tailpiece, tailpiece cord, and afterlength function as sort of a 'reverb unit' to the whole part of sound/tone/projection/volume quotient of any particular bass. Does the piece 'generate'? It certainly responds but generate...? I wouldn't necessarily think I could claim that the piece/cord/afterlength truely generating anything.

Ok, "identcally shaped", "different species", "exact same weight" tailpieces are going to have identical reponse charateristics in my experience.

Hi Stan, thanks for the questions, now on to the wolf tone issue. Yes and no. Sometimes. Kinda. Never. A couple of months back Jeff B. posted that after he installed one of my pieces, the wolftone, and I quote, "left the building." But the phenomenon of wolftones is complex issue of AO/BO tunings of the multiple parts of any bass. The neck has a tap tone, the fingerboard has a tap tone, tension in the garland, etc. are ALL complicit in wolftones. Basically, I think Jeff just got lucky and its an easy experiement to change out the tailpiece!

[Bob Branstetter]

Thanks for clarifying that issue Mike. I think we had a discussion of this on TB in the past and we all pretty much agreed then that it was the weight, and not the material from which the tailpiece is made, that is responsible for any change in response, sound, etc.

BTW - Mike's tailpieces sure are pretty!