tailpiece

Tailpiece is a term used for several components in different fields, but it most commonly refers to a part that serves as an anchor or terminus.

In stringed musical instruments, the tailpiece is a small block mounted at the lower end of the instrument. Strings are anchored to the tailpiece, typically via ball-end loops or ferrules, and the tailpiece is connected to the instrument by a tailgut or similar linkage. The tailpiece may be made from ebony, rosewood, metal, or plastics, and some models include fine tuners for individual strings. The tailpiece, together with the afterlength (the portion of string between the tailpiece and the bridge), can influence tone, tension, and intonation. Some tailpieces are adjustable to alter afterlength and string tension, offering a degree of tonal and setup variation.

In plumbing, a drain tailpiece is a vertical pipe that connects a sink drain to the P-trap. It is typically made of metal or plastic and sized to fit standard drain openings. Leaks, clogs, or misalignment at the tailpiece are common maintenance concerns in plumbing installations.

The term also appears in guitars and other stringed instruments, where the tailpiece anchors strings at the body end, particularly on models with fixed bridges or tremolo systems. In such cases, the tailpiece can affect string tension, sustain, and overall feel of the instrument.

See also: tailgut, string anchor, instrument hardware.