Can folks suggest good alternatives to the old Waverly 'cloud' tailpieces? I have a number of lower end tenors and banjo-mandolins with missing covers, bent rails, broken tangs, etc. Maybe a repro No-Knot? I don't need originality but just something that does the job reasonably well. Thanks!
I think perhaps the grover "window pane" tailpiece might work for some or most of your needs? If "all there," these have 8 string hooks, so they are fine for 4 string, 5 string, and 8 string instruments.
I use modern N0-Knot tailpieces all the time. With a 4-string tenor or plectrum banjo I do not connect a string to the center string lug. For a mandolin banjo I put 2 strings on each of the 4 outside string lugs and again leave the center lug string free.
There is a nicely made mandolin tailpiece available through eBay that I have modified in the past to fit banjos. It is the only thing I have found that is usable and has 8 string lugs. The maker also offers a similar tailpiece in a 4-string configuration.
Bob Smakula
smakulafrettedinstruments.com
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