STERNER TAILPIECE ^{TM                                                                                                         PATENTED}
INSTRUCTIONS

STERNER 5’TH STRING CONVERSION KIT ^{TM                  PATENTED}
INSTRUCTIONS

Remove the 5’th string tuning peg

The peg usually comes out easy by wiggling it gently. If it is really stuck (it may be glued), remove the plastic button and heat the shaft with a soldering iron or a candle. Don’t rush it. Try now and then. When hot enough the glue will soften and you should be able to gently wiggle the peg out. To protect your fingers from the heat you can drill a hole in a piece of wood that fits on the shaft. (Save this piece of wood. You can use it later.) If you use a pair of pliers, fold a strip of leather around the tuning peg to protect it from scratches.

Install the bushing in the neck

·       Try how the bushing fits in the hole in the banjo neck. The outer edge of the bushing should be about flush with the round shape of the neck. The string peg should point approximately in the same direction as the string up to the nut at the fifth fret. Widen the hole if it is too narrow. If the hole is wide, most likely the glue will fill out the space.

·       Put fast curing epoxy on the outside of the bushing and glue it into the hole. If you need to use a lot of glue to fill out the space, prevent the glue from leaking into the bushing by putting a small piece of tape at the bottom of the bushing.

Attach the tailpiece on the banjo

·       Unscrew one of the tension hooks next to the tailpiece.

·       Put one leg of the tailpiece behind the tension hook on the other side.

·       Put the tension hook back in front of the leg of the tailpiece.

·       Put the strings on (except the fifth) and tighten them a little.

·       Make certain that the tailpiece is pulled up by the strings, so that the legs of the tailpiece rest firmly against the bottom side of the mounting hoop of the head.

·       Adjust the height of the tailpiece with the screw.*

·       Adjust the placement of the strings above the fretboard by moving the tailpiece sideways.

·       As you tighten the strings fully, press down on the front end of the tailpiece (where the strings are attached) now and then. It is vital for the tone and stability that the legs of the tailpiece are in firm contact with the tension hooks.

Install the tuning peg on the tailpiece

·       The fifth string is held down by its hook in the front end of the tailpiece. Underneath the fifth hook there is a grove for the string. Try this first without gluing, so you can determine the best angle of the tuning peg in relation to the string.

·       If you want, you can roughen the gluing surface inside the fastening ring with a file or scratch the inside surface with a scribe to improve the adhesion.

·       Put fast curing epoxy inside the fastening ring and glue the tuning peg in the ring.

·       Put the piece of wood with the hole on the shaft of the tuning peg for protection and give it a light tap with a hammer to further secure the peg.

·       Wipe off excess glue and let dry.

  *  Always loosen the strings when you adjust the tailpiece with the screw. To stop you from using a wrench we have sealed the insertion hole for the Allen wrench in the screw. The increased leverage from a wrench is likely to cause the threads to seizure if you adjust the tailpiece under full string pressure. (This is a proof of the rigid fixation of this tailpiece that makes it so stable.)