• Registered: 2006-05-30
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Topwrapping strings

I noticed that Joe topwraps all his les pauls. I have problems with my strings hitting the bridge plate. I have the tailpiece raised, but if I go any higher I.m afraid of putting too much of a load on the bolts or inserts. I saw this thing called a Tone Tail which is a repacement tail for les pauls but machined for topwrapping. Does anyone know if Joe uses this Tone tail or does he just use the original and why does he prefer topwrapping? BTW, new to the forum. Great place here.. Thanks for any info.

  • From: Angola NE Indiana
  • Registered: 2006-04-28
  • Posts: 33

Re: Topwrapping strings

The natural ES-335 I've seen him with on some pics here lately appear to have a machined tailpiece. Looks quite a bit like the compensated tailpiece from a LP junior.

FlyinLow's Website

3 Reply by Aaron (edited by Aaron 2006-06-02 17:37:11)

  • Registered: 2006-05-29
  • Posts: 11

Re: Topwrapping strings

thunder970 wrote:

I noticed that Joe topwraps all his les pauls. I have problems with my strings hitting the bridge plate. I have the tailpiece raised, but if I go any higher I.m afraid of putting too much of a load on the bolts or inserts. I saw this thing called a Tone Tail which is a repacement tail for les pauls but machined for topwrapping. Does anyone know if Joe uses this Tone tail or does he just use the original and why does he prefer topwrapping? BTW, new to the forum. Great place here.. Thanks for any info.

First of all...what are you referring to as the bridge plate?  On a Les Paul, I'm not familiar with that term.  Perhaps you mean the bridge position pickup cover?  I've worked on a number of guitars where the strings were buzzing-out on the pickup covers.

As far as top-winding, I've always been uner the impression that a steeper angle behind the nut helps sustain.  Without having done it, top-winding theoretically poses a couple issues (in my mind). First it would seem to increase the risk of nut buzz. Second,...since the contact with the nut is not as "tight", it might possibly compromise your sustain.

Not to question your set-up, but if you've got your bridge that high and still having issues, maybe the neck is incorrectly adjusted.  The truss rod may be back-bowing the neck to the point that you have to raise the bridge really high to get clearance.  You might try relieving the neck a bit and then lowering the bridge.  Also don't hesitate to lower the pickups, in turn. 

If everything is OK with the guitar, ie: no neck warpage or twisting, etc, then this just sounds a bit peculiar.  I'm thinking most likely just set-up incorrectly.

Aaron

Aaron

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

Re: Topwrapping strings

I believe he is referring to the the "stop-bar tailpiece" as Gibson calls it.  It is the anchor for to the bridge end of the guitar. It hold no intonation value as the "tune-o-matic" bridge does.  Some people prefer having the tailpiece tight to the body for more sustain.  The problem is that people prefer the strings to not touch anywhere on the tuneomatic bridge accept for the adjustable notches.  My Jay Turser Serpent had strings that touched the bridge.  When I wrapped them around they had less tension on the bridge.  I can say I broke less strings.  I then brought my guitar in for a check up and got yelled at by the local luthier for wrapping them around.  So he went and raised my tailpiece.  My '73 Les Paul has the tailpiece tight to the body, and minimal touch to the bridge and doesn't need wrapping around.

If you get string breakage compulsively, try graphtec saddles in your bridge.  It made a world of difference in my strat, and they make pieces now for nashville and ABR-1 bridges.

hope that helps!

- 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

5 Reply by Aaron (edited by Aaron 2006-06-02 17:43:52)

  • Registered: 2006-05-29
  • Posts: 11

Re: Topwrapping strings

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I believe he is referring to the the "stop-bar tailpiece" as Gibson calls it.  It is the anchor for to the bridge end of the guitar. It hold no intonation value as the "tune-o-matic" bridge does.  Some people prefer having the tailpiece tight to the body for more sustain.  The problem is that people prefer the strings to not touch anywhere on the tuneomatic bridge accept for the adjustable notches.  My Jay Turser Serpent had strings that touched the bridge.  When I wrapped them around they had less tension on the bridge.  I can say I broke less strings.  I then brought my guitar in for a check up and got yelled at by the local luthier for wrapping them around.  So he went and raised my tailpiece.  My '73 Les Paul has the tailpiece tight to the body, and minimal touch to the bridge and doesn't need wrapping around.

If you get string breakage compulsively, try graphtec saddles in your bridge.  It made a world of difference in my strat, and they make pieces now for nashville and ABR-1 bridges.

hope that helps!

Sounds like you got things under control, but I might mention that on some LPs, if you have the stop-bar all thae way down with a steep angle between it and the tune-o-matic, the tensiopn from the extreme angle will cause the tune-o-matic anchors to bend/lean forward.  This happens from the action of tuning the guitar - when you tighten the strings it pulls the strings forward, also pulling against the back of the tune-o-matic.  Over time the T-O-M bolts may start to bend from that pulling action.

  • Registered: 2006-05-30
  • Posts: 2

Re: Topwrapping strings

ok, the guitar was setup by a top notch luthier. frets filed and leveled, neck adjusted and so on. I noticed that the tailpiece is "WAY" up. If I bring it down the strings hit the tune-o-matic bridge which is bad. Some LP have more angle on the neck or the body is arched more which causes this to happen. That is the reason some are top wrapping the strings. this way one can drop the tailpiece and clear the bridge at the same time. Some LP need to do it and some dont. It just depends on the angle of the neck and arch in the top. I noticed in a video that joe top wraps his les pauls which is why I thought this would be a good place for openions. Thanks

  • Registered: 2006-05-29
  • Posts: 11

Re: Topwrapping strings

thunder970 wrote:

ok, the guitar was setup by a top notch luthier. frets filed and leveled, neck adjusted and so on. I noticed that the tailpiece is "WAY" up. If I bring it down the strings hit the tune-o-matic bridge which is bad. Some LP have more angle on the neck or the body is arched more which causes this to happen. That is the reason some are top wrapping the strings. this way one can drop the tailpiece and clear the bridge at the same time. Some LP need to do it and some dont. It just depends on the angle of the neck and arch in the top. I noticed in a video that joe top wraps his les pauls which is why I thought this would be a good place for openions. Thanks

I wasn't aware of all that.  Thanks for posting the info.

A

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 13

Re: Topwrapping strings

Top wrapping a les paul style bridge gives a different feel to the guitar.  Some people swear that it enhances sustain.  I have never been able to tell a substantial sustain difference.  However, doing the top wrap allows the guitar to have a spongier feel.  Meaning the strings don't feel as tight-lends to easier bending in my experience.  But these are just my observations everybody has a different take on this method.

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

Re: Topwrapping strings

I have had my tailpiece up higher, and it seems I have better sustain when its bolted tight to the body.  the wrap around thing hasn't effected tone or sustain, but strings have been easier to bend.

- 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

10 Reply by jcs

  • jcs
  • New member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-06-09
  • Posts: 9

Re: Topwrapping strings

thunder970, i would give it a try...

i have topwrapped 2 guitars and after stretching out the strings,it is working fine,i screwed the tailpiece all the way down..

you can always switch back if you dont like it...jcs

  • Bender
  • Bronze Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2008-05-06
  • Posts: 47

Re: Topwrapping strings

My rule of thumb for adjusting tailpiece height is this: I want a fair amount of break angle on the string between the bridge and tailpiece....but not so much that the string actually makes contact on the back edge of the
bridge. I check by sliding a thin piece of paper between the underside of the string and the bridge. (nb: will always be contact on the E strings, but the others should have space.

I have tried topwrapping.....and found a slight improvement on other guitars, but not since I started using Tonepro's locking bridge and tailpieces.....they sound great sttung the normal way.

Topwrapping, to me at least, has become one of those very subjective things, that create mich controversy in some circles. It's a bit like discussions on the merits of leaving the pup covers on a LP guitar! Another analogy applicable to Strats might be whether the tremelo should be floating a bit, or screwed to the body. These are the sort of things that can distract us from actually playing the damm thing!! (but I/we do it anyway.....cause guitar is an obsession, and I could waste hours talking about them....and have).

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Topwrapping strings

Dude just get a tone pros set up and you wont have have any problems top wrapping your strings.  the tail piece wont bend foward because it gets locked down.