TI Strings with Finger Tail Piece?

[Len R]

Just got a 1998 Gibson LeGrand (will post photos separately) which came with D'Addario Chromes 14-56. Went to replace the strings with TI Jazz Swings (13-53) and the low E does not fit in the tail piece finger due to the cloth winding near the ball end. The fit is not close, much too thick. Is there a fix for this?

Thanks much,

Len

[JohanAbrandt]

Just got a 1998 Gibson LeGrand (will post photos separately) which came with D'Addario Chromes 14-56. Went to replace the strings with TI Jazz Swings (13-53) and the low E does not fit in the tail piece finger due to the cloth winding near the ball end. The fit is not close, much too thick. Is there a fix for this?

Thanks much,

Len

Remove the cloth

[Len R]

I had assumed the cloth wrap was there for a reason and not just decorative.

[RJVB]

As an alternative you can cut of a short piece of the ball-end of a B or E treble string, thread that through the ball-end of the low E and secure it. I've done that with too strings I'd broken in on my jumbo (and cut) but it'd also be necessary if I were to go to a heavier Plectrum set.

[DRS]

I had assumed the cloth wrap was there for a reason and not just decorative.

It's red cotton fluff. Looks super cool wrapped around a gold tuning machine. That's it.
I've had to remove it many times to get a string through a locking tuner hole.

[RJVB]

I've had to remove it many times to get a string through a locking tuner hole.

FWIW, don't try that with nylon tape wounds; with those the cloth winding is there for a reason!

[JohanAbrandt]

I had assumed the cloth wrap was there for a reason and not just decorative.

AFAIK the stuff in the ball end has no importance and can be removed. Be a bit careful on the tuner side, because if the core is round (and it is on TI swings) the wound metal can get loose and cause intonation issues and bad sound. Usually you can cut it if you put a 90 degree kink in it before cutting.

[2bornot2bop]

I’ve had many different archtop’s that received a TI string change. Some 40 plus guitars. Many were restrung with TI bebops. I struggled getting many of the low E’s on. But never ever did I have to cut the string. I say keep working at it. You’ll get there.

[Len R]

Was able to remove (more aacurately scrape) of most of the red cloth, which is glued on. Had to use a chisel and razor blade. Bit it fits, and no issues with the other 5 strings. What a PITA!

[Danny W.]

I've used T-I Benson rounds 0.012"-0.053" on a number of Gibson guitars with fingers TPs, including two LeGrands, several SuperVs and my current L-5 Signature Lee Rit. I have never had to remove the wrapping with any of them.

Danny W.

[Hammertone]

AFAIK, the makers of finger tailpieces include:
-ABM in Germany;
-?? in Korea - typically available from WD;
-Maybe a Chinese version has come up?

The ABM is double the price of the WD one, and is made with bell brass and 24 karat gold plating. The WD unit is quite nice, and is what Heritage has used for years. I'm not sure which one is used by Gibson. They look and function quite similarly, however, the string loop holders may not be exactly the same size between the two manufacturers.

[skiboyny]

Give the end a squeeze with a long nose pliers. The squeeze will be enough to fit the string in to the fingers tailpiece.

[Ukena]

But congratulations on the new guitar!