12-string trapeze tailpiece off-center, will this be a concern?

[pasoud]

Hey all,
I just got this Japanese Conrad 12-string for dirt cheap. It needs a bit of minor work, which I can handle myself, but I just noticed that the trapeze tailpiece is mounted about 1/4 inch off-center (as shown in attached photos).

I can't string it just yet, since the tuning machines need some attention, but is anyone able to predict whether this will need re-mounting?

Thanks!

 

[Go Nigel Go]

The tail piece may not be centered to the body seam in the wood but the big question is, is it centered to the line formed by the neck? If it is, then it is right where it needs to be. The neck may not be parallel to the body seam. That could be an aesthetic issue for some but would not affect the function of the instrument in any way. Throw a high and low E string on it and pull a little tension to settle the question. The strings should be parallel with the neck and form a straight line from the tail piece to the bridge and nut. I would not consider moving anything until after I strung it up and see an actual problem with the neck/string geometry. My guess is that it is fine unless it shows signs of having been moved.