1 Topic by t92780 (edited by t92780 2010-11-17 20:01:30)

  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Topic: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

Joe B:  What's the Pro's and Con's if any to this string method please?


Thanks,
T92780

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I'm NOT JB, but... top-wrapping gives the strings a little slinkier feel and reduces the chance of breakage as the angle between tailpiece and bridge is changed.

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I'd absolutely do it this way on a LPs...

Zero breakages from it. (not many before).

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

Forum Search....

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I think there are slight variances on the tops depending on the dish and if its a Monday or Friday guitar.. I found the wrap around thing to work well with all Les Pauls and some 335 and 345s but not all.  Its really a system to allow you to use heavier strings without feeling like your playing telephone cables.. It also prevents the ABR1 from sagging in the middle overtime..  I stole the idea from Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page.. I dont know who did it first.. I guess if you asked them both they would both take credit..  LOL..  It takes nothing to try and if you dont like it you can easily put it back.. but I would crank down the stud to body.. big difference in tone there YO!!!
good luck and congrats on being in the club of descriminating Les Paul Men..
Joe Bonamassa

First page of the topic below also has a link to spacers you can install so you don't have to top wrap. looks like a good idea.
http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8833

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2009-10-27
  • Posts: 250

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

Thanks NPB!!

  • From: Fairfax, VA
  • Registered: 2009-09-11
  • Posts: 1,337

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I stole the idea from Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page

I think, maybe, maybe, I've seen a picture of one of Jimmy's guitars with top wrap, but I don't think he made it a standard practice.  Anyone know what guitar he may have top wrapped?

Jim

ES-335 #37
Pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/jclark42796/sets/
More pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/114580443759038003888/
  • Registered: 2010-12-07
  • Posts: 49

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

anyone have pics of this?  i'm feeling left out and lost neutral

www.myspace.com/orogenymusic
www.purevolume.com/orogeny
  • Registered: 2010-12-04
  • Posts: 10

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

jclark42796 wrote:

I stole the idea from Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page

I think, maybe, maybe, I've seen a picture of one of Jimmy's guitars with top wrap, but I don't think he made it a standard practice.  Anyone know what guitar he may have top wrapped?

Jim

it was in the very early days of his #1 les paul - back before it even had Grovers on it (i.e. '69-'70ish).  he MAY have done it sporadically later on but the only pics I've seen with his guitar wrapped is in the earlier time frame and have never seen his strings top wrapped later on.

in fact, i think there may be a close up or two on the LZ DVD that shows the strings top wrapped (on his BB Custom also)

  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

Highly recommend it, can't hurt to try it and see if you like it.  No more compound break angle common on some pauls (or anything with a tail  piece) that leads to a stiffer feel.  The only one I don't do it on is a pristine '76 three pickup black beauty that I have as I don't want to scratch the original hardware.

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • Registered: 2008-02-02
  • Posts: 51

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I found the wrapped over strings cut some little "valleys" in the tail piece, with some jagged edges - so I stopped doing it.

but, perhaps I have a low quality tail piece (it's a Japanese Les Paul copy)

my 'new' Gibson LP Studio will arrive this week (bought second hand, though, a really good one), a luthier pal of mine is  doing some fret work on it.

Am not sure if I will top wrap again or not - but, anyway, I just recommend watching out for the strings cutting their way into the tail piece

You never know what's going to happen.....
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I'd say don't do it unless you tighten the tailpiece and the strings bottom out on the back of the Tune-o-matic bridge. I only do it when necessary.... if it was the way to do it all the time, they'd all come out of the factory like that.

There might be a little voodoo involved in this concept too.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,374

Re: Joe B: Wrap Over or Straight Through on LP Style Guitar

I recently did this to my 2008 LP Traditional and to be honest, I haven't noticed much of a change.  I brought the tailpiece down to the body, although I didn't really crank it in.  I think adding an aftermarket bridge (Callaham? TonePros?) would make a bigger difference.  Regardless, I'm leaving it like this - doesn't seem to hurt anything.

My music & music blog: https://vincedickinson.home.blog/
New prog/rock album "Atlantis" available everywhere, including:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/atlantis/1411523163
https://open.spotify.com/album/3InrPujiALJCslZqp9V6e2

ZeyerGTR's Website