Need help finding a tailpiece that clears the archtop. Suggestions? Derring's looks good, if wasn't branded.
Thx, BK
Edited by - bkluthier on 07/07/2026 15:52:07
A Prucha reproduction Presto should fit the bill quite nicely
My '77 Gold Star G-11 archtop came with their version of the Presto tailpiece.
I used it on a flathead later.
The head crown height has a lot to do with tailpiece fit.
Low-crown heads raise the top of the tension hoop/tailpiece the most.
5 Star heads work well with archie's and I believe they were all medium crowns.
You adjust the height above the head on a Presto strictly by adjusting the length of the hanger bolt. If you want the Presto to ride higher, back off the nut and pull the tailpiece higher with a one-hand grip. The Presto is not intended to rest on the tension hoop. It sort of "floats" above it just from the tension of the strings. The little horizontal screw on the back plate does almost nothing and most folks remove it anyway.
If a high crown head is used on an archtop the tailpiece will be quite low compared to the top of the archtop ring.
I suppose an overly-tightened medium head could also make for a low tailpiece.
Head tension also has an effect on where the tailpiece lives.
Edited by - steve davis on 07/08/2026 09:38:49
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