You're correct again Ken to say that the Price TP also won't fit the Stelling TP and flange configuration - i.e., no existing or convenient through hole in the flange. I was missing the point in my last post due to over zealousness in a preference for one of the better TP's (thick cast brass that is).

But, if one were to do some serious sketching, engineering, and prototype machining, I think a guy could devise an attractive and functional adapter fitment to accept most any tailpiece with an integral 'long screw' that will adapt to Stelling banjos. I have two guinea pig Stellings to try out an idea and compare.

I have a couple of visions right now and may begin machining tomorrow. The adapter likely would include several screw options of various lengths to fit other rim heights and no-hole flanges. So I'll think on it tonight in my dreams ! Maybe I can begin pricing out new homes on Friday or do you think too soon ?

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Originally posted by Fungal

I didnt take them off to see if they would swap directly but I used a ruler and found that both the nechville and stelling tailpiece pivot screws are the exact same distance apart. Nechville also doesn't have to use the flange hole. Might be worth a shot. The Nechville tailpiece is a bit pricy but high quality and would create similar opportunities for adjustment. Also readily available.

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That's interesting! I'll look into this. Didn't know Nechville tailpieces needn't (?) use the anchor bolt.

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Originally posted by banjoT1

You're correct again Ken to say that the Price TP also won't fit the Stelling TP and flange configuration - i.e., no existing or convenient through hole in the flange. I was missing the point in my last post due to over zealousness in a preference for one of the better TP's (thick cast brass that is).

But, if one were to do some serious sketching, engineering, and prototype machining, I think a guy could devise an attractive and functional adapter fitment to accept most any tailpiece with an integral 'long screw' that will adapt to Stelling banjos. I have two guinea pig Stellings to try out an idea and compare.

I have a couple of visions right now and may begin machining tomorrow. The adapter likely would include several screw options of various lengths to fit other rim heights and no-hole flanges. So I'll think on it tonight in my dreams ! Maybe I can begin pricing out new homes on Friday or do you think too soon ?

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Let us know if you come up with something! :)

I've thought long about this problem - partly because i like tension hoop mounted tailpieces - and partly because i love Stellings and own many and have sold even more! The earliest Stellings (which I am particularly fond of) had a drilled flange - a design I think is many times superior to the tailpiece bracket on mastertone style banjos. It is interesting to note that Ode used this on their wood rim resonator banjos and I think the stability of that design was a huge part of the sound that amazing design produced (later under Baldwin's ownership as well). Ome of course eventually shifted to a tailpiece mounted harptone tailpiece, which I think is the closest to a Price (heavy and evenly spaced) that one can find in a tension hoop mounted tailpiece. I just tried my first Nechville and I really like those as well. I have modified a couple of Kershners for tailpiece mounting but I don't think they're as heavy or stable as these other options. Obviously, it would have been really nice if Geoff had passed the reins to someone and that someone was making Stelling tailpieces available because they are really nice and I consider them a fairly important part of the Stelling sound (and look!). Incidentally, as others have pointed out, each of these tailpieces has somewhat different spacing and sizes for their pivot pins. It's not terribly easy to just switch them out. A qualified luthier is recommended.

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

 

The Stelling tailpiece does not use an anchot bolt and there is no opening in the flange for a bolt to pass through. The Stelling tailpiece mounts to the rear of the tension hoop with two screws that go into threaded holes.

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The Stelling tailpiece (at least the 1985 model I had) does not mount into threaded holes in the tension hoop. The holes in the tension hoop are shallow dimples and the 2 outer Allen screws, which also function as string anchors hook into these holes and hold the tailpiece in place by string tension.

I will also note that my banjo did not have Stelling engraved on the flange but it was one of the few constructed in Virginia with parts made in California so likely a limited batch of flanges.  

The Stelling tailpiece is a simple design. I think a usable tailpiece could be constructed by drilling and tapping a piece of bent brass and inserting 5 Allen screws, bought a better hardware store.

Hasn't anyone here ever heard of Ome banjos? I have used an Ome Harp tailpiece on both my Stelling Golden Cross and Greg Deering Limited for many years.

Why, you ask? It adjusts exactly like Stelling's tailpiece, while at the same time compensating the angles at which the strings apply pressure on the bridge. That, in combination with how my strings are arranged on the peghead (another topic) keep my banjos in tune; I can go weeks without retuning.

The Ome Harp fits perfectly on my Stelling, but I did tap 2 dents in the GDL (no harm as any replacement would cover it).

Give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

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Originally posted by Slapstick_inc

Hasn't anyone here ever heard of Ome banjos? I have used an Ome Harp tailpiece on both my Stelling Golden Cross and Greg Deering Limited for many years.

Why, you ask? It adjusts exactly like Stelling's tailpiece, while at the same time compensating the angles at which the strings apply pressure on the bridge. That, in combination with how my strings are arranged on the peghead (another topic) keep my banjos in tune; I can go weeks without retuning.

The Ome Harp fits perfectly on my Stelling, but I did tap 2 dents in the GDL (no harm as any replacement would cover it).

Give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

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Sounds good! But it is also not sold anymore as far as I cal tell.

Sorry to learn it!

Ome has put their Harp tailpieces back up on their website, available in both 4 and 5-string models, as well as brass and nickel finishes.

Hope this helps!

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Originally posted by Slapstick_inc

Ome has put their Harp tailpieces back up on their website, available in both 4 and 5-string models, as well as brass and nickel finishes.

Hope this helps!

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https://omebanjos.com/hardware

I've had my Stelling since 1979. I have played countless gigs, transported it on planes in the cargo section, it has been kicked around, rained on and generally abused. The tailpiece is still in the same condition as it was when I bought the banjo. I think this must be a very rare issue.

Steve Criss does make a valid point. There are thousands of Stelling banjos in use today, some from the 1970s. They continue to give sterling service and the quality of their construction is a credit to Geoff Stelling. However, the fact still remains that if a banjo has a unique component which is no longer manufactured and that component fails, the owner has a problem, and it's that problem John wishes to address.
No-one is questioning the quality of Stelling banjos, but components can fail for many reasons no matter how carefully the owner treats the instrument. My Sunflower was handled with extreme care, but the tailpiece still failed and luckily I could obtain a replacement from Geoff.
The question remains, how best to handle similar problems now that Geoff has retired.