Eastman El Rey broken tailpiece

[KirkP]

same thing exactly. Opened the case and it was all broken.
did you have any luck with Eastman ?

Contact Eastman customer support. They were excellent when I had a tailpiece fail a few years ago. Eastman had a problem with hinged tailpieces failing. When my AR810CE’s tailpiece failed they sent me a non-hinged one for no charge. I installed it myself.

[Hammertone]

ES125er, contact Steve Holst. ....

Just get a decent one made, or buy a better quality metal tailpiece, made by ABM. Not that hard to find.

[Cliff Wolf]

ES125er, contact Steve Holst. It's about $100 for a cocobolo or ebony tailpiece with a metal bell brass bracket.

Hi just been reading your info on Eastman Tail piece and Brass Bracket , I have the same problem. How can I contact the Steve Holst you mentioned am in th UK Regards Cliff

[blimthorpe]

Hi just been reading your info on Eastman Tail piece and Brass Bracket , I have the same problem. How can I contact the Steve Holst you mentioned am in th UK Regards Cliff

I contacted Eastman via their support link. They kindly sent mea new tailpiece for my guitar.

[blimthorpe]

same thing exactly. Opened the case and it was all broken.
did you have any luck with Eastman ?

contacted Eastman thru web support. That sent me a new tailpiece.
Very good support imho.

[Cliff Wolf]

According to Eastman part no longer available

[Longways to Go]

Contact Eastman customer support. They were excellent when I had a tailpiece fail a few years ago. Eastman had a problem with hinged tailpieces failing. When my AR810CE’s tailpiece failed they sent me a non-hinged one for no charge. I installed it myself.

+1 I had exactly this same experience with the same guitar.

[Longways to Go]

According to Eastman part no longer available

Are they still making El Reys? If so, there's gotta be a new tailpiece, right? Probably you want the new one.

[rob taft]

Eastman is still making ElRey models and the tailpiece is a non-hinged type for at least since my 2014. Contact Eastman directly. Good company with good after service.

[Sam Sherry]

Making lemonade from lemons: I used the snapped-off stub in the case of my 'new' ER-0 to indulge my curiousity about the Solomon Phidelity tailpiece.





It works well. Simple project with nothing to lose -- a broken part, a sharp drill bit and a file to mill off the sharp edges.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Making lemonade from lemons: I used the snapped-off stub in the case of my 'new' ER-0 to indulge my curiousity about the Solomon Phidelity tailpiece.

That’s clever, innovative, and fascinating, Sam. The only thing that struck me as a problem is that the plate seems a bit short to stay stable with 180 to 200 pounds of collective force trying to lever those screws out. The top of the binding is a fulcrum, and if they get even a tiny bit loose, loosening them further will be easier and progressive.

I assume those are long screws. But the upper two appear to go through the binding and into the top. Penetration of both the binding and the top may become a problem leading to separation of binding, top, and/or side over time. I’d watch that closely and check the screws frequently. If they do get a bit easier to tighten further, it could be from distortion of the wood around them or slight compression of the wood or binding under them. I would not retighten them, because the process will continue. If they feel easier to tighten, I’d go back to the original style TP.

[Sam Sherry]

The only thing that struck me as a problem is that the plate seems a bit short to stay stable with 180 to 200 pounds of collective force trying to lever those screws out. The top of the binding is a fulcrum, and if they get even a tiny bit loose, loosening them further will be easier and progressive.

No argument here, but it's only a fulcrum if it isn't flat.
So far -- three days in -- so good.

I assume those are long screws. But the upper two appear to go through the binding and into the top.

They're drilled at a tilt and are intended to bite into the tailblock.
But yes, that is certainly an Achilles heal.

Penetration of both the binding and the top may become a problem leading to separation of binding, top, and/or side over time. I’d watch that closely and check the screws frequently. If they do get a bit easier to tighten further, it could be from distortion of the wood around them or slight compression of the wood or binding under them. I would not retighten them, because the process will continue. If they feel easier to tighten, I’d go back to the original style TP.

Very sound advice!
If that looks like it might be starting to happen I will drill some more holes which definitely hit the tailblock.

Thank you again!

[Hammertone]

... But yes, that is certainly an Achilles heal. ...

I see what you did there.

[metis]

That’s a beautiful tailpiece, Hammertone - is that a Solomon, or something custom?

(Apologies for the necro)

[Hammertone]

Yes, Solomon.

[GuyBoden]

Maybe, a gold Benedetto Tailpiece would look good with gold hardware.
Gold Benedetto Tailpiece $240 | Reverb.com