Guitar Dictionary Category
Guitar Anatomy & Setup
What Is a Guitar Tailpiece?
A guitar tailpiece is the part that anchors the strings at the body end of an instrument. It holds the ball ends, loops or tied ends of the strings and directs their tension toward the body. Tailpieces are common on archtop guitars, hollow-body electrics, resonator instruments, mandolins and some solid-body electric guitars.
A tailpiece is not always the same thing as a bridge. On an archtop guitar or mandola, the strings attach to the tailpiece and then pass over a separate floating bridge. The bridge establishes the vibrating length and transfers string vibration to the top. The tailpiece remains behind it and provides the anchor point. On some electric guitars, the bridge and string anchor are combined into one assembly.
Common Types of Guitar Tailpiece
A trapeze tailpiece extends from the end of the body and is common on archtop and hollow-body instruments. A stopbar tailpiece is mounted on posts behind an adjustable electric-guitar bridge. Some instruments use a vibrato tailpiece, such as a Bigsby-style unit, which changes string tension when its arm is moved. Other guitars route the strings through the body or anchor them directly in the bridge, so there is no separate visible tailpiece.
Classical and many steel-string acoustic guitars also lack a separate tailpiece. Their strings anchor at the bridge through tie blocks, bridge pins or other bridge-mounted systems. The functional job still exists, but the bridge performs it.
How a Tailpiece Affects the Instrument
The tailpiece must withstand constant string tension while keeping the strings aligned with the bridge and neck. Its position influences the break angle behind the bridge, which is the downward angle formed as the strings travel from the bridge to the tailpiece. Enough angle helps keep the strings seated, but an unsuitable angle can create excessive pressure, rattling or a stiff playing response.
Different tailpiece designs can change the feel of restringing, the amount of string length behind the bridge and the way sympathetic overtones or mechanical noises appear. These differences are usually smaller than the effects of the strings, bridge, setup and playing technique, but they can still matter on responsive hollow-body instruments.
Tailpiece Problems and Maintenance
Check for loose screws, lifting mounting points, bent metal, corrosion, sharp edges and rattling parts. A string should leave the tailpiece in a clean line toward its bridge position. If it rubs against an unintended edge or crosses another string, tuning and string life may suffer.
Some tailpieces are held under tension and can shift suddenly when every string is removed. When changing strings on an instrument with a floating bridge or movable tailpiece, replacing them one at a time can preserve alignment. If the bridge must be removed, mark or measure its position first so the instrument’s intonation can be restored.
Why the Tailpiece Matters
The tailpiece may look simple, but it is part of the complete string path from the tuning machines to the anchor point. A stable tailpiece helps the instrument hold tension, keeps the strings aligned and allows the bridge to do its job without unnecessary movement or noise.
Kalymi Tip
In the Kalymi Music mandola construction photo essay, luthier Yair Stern installs the tailpiece during final assembly, after the body, neck, fretboard and finish have been completed. That sequence is a useful reminder that the tailpiece belongs to the complete setup rather than being an isolated ornament.
After restringing, tune gradually and watch the tailpiece, bridge and string path as tension increases. The tailpiece should remain firmly seated, the strings should stay in their intended slots, and no screw or metal part should begin lifting or rattling. On an instrument with a floating bridge, confirm that the bridge has not leaned or moved before checking the intonation.
If a tailpiece has a sharp edge, cracked mounting area or visible movement under tension, stop using the instrument until it has been inspected. Constant string tension can turn a small hardware problem into damage to the body or finish.
Related Terms
Learn More
- How to Build a Mandola Instrument
- What to Look for When Buying a Cigar Box Guitar
- Mandola Chords
- Mandolin Learning Path
- Guitar Learning Path
- Kalymi Music Library
Reviewed by
Brent C. Robitaille,
music educator and founder of
Kalymi Music.