Help! 8 year old Gibson ES-275 with busted tailpiece

[jumpinjimmy]

I'm bummed. My beautiful ES-275's tailpiece fell apart yesterday. Picked up the guitar and a chunk fell off. I contacted Gibson USA and since I didn't buy it new, they won't help and I was told even if they did have the part in stock, they would not sell it to me. What a load of crap!! An 8 year old high end guitar. As this is a thin body guitar, the ES-175 zig zag type tailpiece (which is available everywhere) won't fit. See picture. Mine has two screw holes and a hole for the end pin while the ES-175 has 3 screw holes plus end pin.
I found a site in Korea that says they sell them, but their drawing is for a 175 tailpiece. Does anyone!! have one to sell???

Thanks in advance

[deacon Mark]

Take it to a local Brass Instrument Repair shop. They can and most will fix this with no problem. They do this all the time should be one around just check the Brass Instrument Repair shops.

[jumpinjimmy]

Thank you. Someone had mentioned laser welding to me which is very precise, I'm going to check that out as well as your suggestion.

[garybaldy]

If you are in the UK I play in a band whose sax player builds and repairs brass instruments. He's a genius!
He used to plate Shed pickup covers.

[deacon Mark]

Thank you. Someone had mentioned laser welding to me which is very precise, I'm going to check that out as well as your suggestion.

Where do you live? I had a rare Unity guitar I had tailpiece fixed for BigMIke at the local brass shop, It was not even full brass but they did a super job and in fact can fabricate parts, the other option is to buy a replacement online they exist even if Gibson will not send you a replacement.

[Gitfiddler]

Stew Mac might be able to help if you're comfortable replacing the entire tailpiece. Beautiful ES-275, by the way.

Just a moment...

[burchyk]

This sucks... My ES-175 '59 RI tailpiece broke recently. Makes me very sceptical about modern Gibson hardware. Hope you can find a workshop that can mend it or better make a new back plate.

[deacon Mark]

Here you go might me cheaper.
WD Replacement Tailpiece For Vintage Gibson ES-175 Gold | eBay

[garybaldy]

Here you go might me cheaper.
WD Replacement Tailpiece For Vintage Gibson ES-175 Gold | eBay

I think that's the type the OP doesn't want!

[jumpinjimmy]

Where do you live? I had a rare Unity guitar I had tailpiece fixed for BigMIke at the local brass shop, It was not even full brass but they did a super job and in fact can fabricate parts, the other option is to buy a replacement online they exist even if Gibson will not send you a replacement.

If you have a source for one online, I would be interested, however, I have not been able to find one myself. There are loads of ES175 zig zag tailpieces, but they will not fit this ES275. Let me know if you find a supplier.

[jumpinjimmy]

This sucks... My ES-175 '59 RI tailpiece broke recently. Makes me very sceptical about modern Gibson hardware. Hope you can find a workshop that can mend it or better make a new back plate.

Thanks, I guess Gibson is sourcing these parts somewhere (most likely Korea) as they certainly don't make them themselves and the quality is just downright poor.

[pingu]

Or you could get a WD 175 style zigzag
tailpiece and modify it

ie
cut off the bottom of the flange
(and re drill the holes if necessary)

[jumpinjimmy]

Or you could get a WD 175 style zigzag
tailpiece and modify it

ie
cut off the bottom of the flange
(and re drill the holes if necessary)

Thanks, Yes, I have thought of that. The es175 is essentially the same hole pattern minus the bit where the bottom screw goes, below the end pin.

[deacon Mark]

Thanks, Yes, I have thought of that. The es175 is essentially the same hole pattern minus the bit where the bottom screw goes, below the end pin.

Yes you could take that to the brass instrument shop ask them to simply cut off the part that will stop overhang. Then they can buff it out and smooth it.

[jumpinjimmy]

Took it all apart and actually it's better made than I thought so I guess perhaps mine just had a flaw in it but the end pin strap button is made of plastic. Jeez!

[sgosnell]

That button is for a Schaller-style strap lock, as far as I can see. There are lots of cheap Chinese-made knockoffs available, and I have a few sitting in a drawer. Genuine Schallers are metal. That is not the original strap button.

[jumpinjimmy]

That button is for a Schaller-style strap lock, as far as I can see. There are lots of cheap Chinese-made knockoffs available, and I have a few sitting in a drawer. Genuine Schallers are metal. That is not the original strap button.

I think you are right and I really found it hard to imagine a plastic piece like that being an original part. Thanks.

[BBGuitar]

I had the same thing happen to my Eastman AR605.

At the time I worked in the metallurgy department in a very large research center.

I took it to the experts, and they tried to weld it, beautiful job, but it lasted only a week.

The analysis was a bad alloy and no repair would work. Other Eastman owners had the same issue. Eastman sent me a replacement at no charge. Over 10 years later still fine.

I would guess that all the bad tailpieces came out of the same Chinese factory.

Eastman replaced mine, Gibson should replace yours.

[sgosnell]

Should, but won't. A really good attorney might be able to get them to do it, but good attorneys cost a lot more than replacement tailpieces. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting.

[jumpinjimmy]

Well, I took the tailpiece to a jewellery repair shop that had laser welding and they said the tailpiece was not repairable because of the poor grade of metal. I am open to selling this guitar if there is someone interested in the vicinity of Brussels, Belgium. I don't want to ship it.

[GuyBoden]

I'd use use the bottom section from another similar tailpiece?


Like these below:
Trapeze Tailpiece for Jazz Archtop Guitars - SM601 – Northwest Guitars

[jumpinjimmy]

Thanks, I will look into that.

[jumpinjimmy]

Thanks, but that won't fit my guitar as it's a slim body.

Partsland.com have a replacement. The finish is chrome though.

Gibson ES style Tailpiece for 275 type Hollow Body

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• DESCRIPTION

Gibson ES style Tailpiece for 275 type Hollow Body

HL14J
Contemporary designed guitar tailpiece
String pitch : 52.8m/m
Materials : brass and steel
Recommended 3pcs of round head 2.5m/m wood screw
Minimum Order Quantity : 1 pcs
Assy No.219006

[wintermoon]

Well, I took the tailpiece to a jewellery repair shop that had laser welding and they said the tailpiece was not repairable because of the poor grade of metal. I am open to selling this guitar if there is someone interested in the vicinity of Brussels, Belgium. I don't want to ship it.

If you like the guitar why would you sell it because of a tailpiece? You're not going to get a good price for it as is anyway.
I'd exhaust every possibility before getting to that point.
It's just a tailpiece, I'm certain one will turn up eventually but in the meantime you can make something work.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Thanks, but that won't fit my guitar as it's a slim body.

The mounting plate can easily be trimmed to fit. If the holes in it don't line up with the holes in the rim, the plate or the guitar can be redrilled. if you like this TP and plan to leave it, and it covers the existing holes, drill the body to match the new holes if necessary. If you plan to fit an exact replacement if / when you find one, drill the plate.

This is an easy and inexpensive job for a good tech or a luthier.