Van Eps' action height

[John Cohen]

I'm having a lot of trouble setting up my Van Eps banjo to not buzz.  The neck angle and bridge are stock, and the action is very low- 2mm with the original bridge that's a little under 1/2''.  With the Van Eps tailpiece design I can't fit a bridge higher than 1/2'', and the banjo is still really buzzy with this height.  

[Trapdoor2]

I have never messed with a FVE tailpiece...but why would it be a problem with a slightly taller bridge? Is it too weak to take the additional string break angle?

[John Cohen]

The string break angle with the Van Eps tailpiece is extreme, and the tailpiece is designed to set very low against the head.  It is also designed so that there is almost no length to the strings between the bridge and taipiece, so there is physically not enough length to install a high bridge.