How much does a tailpiece affect the overall sound quality of an electric guitar?

1. Does tailpiece affect tone guitar?
2. What does a tailpiece do on a guitar?
3. What does a StairStep tailpiece do?
4. Does tailpiece height affect intonation?

Does tailpiece affect tone guitar?

IME the tailpiece itself has minimal effect on tone, and even changing from a wooden to a metal tailpiece won't have much effect.

What does a tailpiece do on a guitar?

The guitar's tailpiece is the end, or beginning of the road for the strings, depending on how you look at it. Its main function is to hold the guitar strings in place securely, with enough strength to combat the opposing tension produced by them once they're tuned up.

What does a StairStep tailpiece do?

The StairStep tailpiece is superior engineering, reducing tension on the guitar neck by requiring less with longer E-A-D strings.

Does tailpiece height affect intonation?

It's the height of your bridge that's responsible for your action. Supposedly, lowering the tailpiece will add sustain. Raising it will gain a little tone and give a more "slinky" feel to the strings.