Top-wrapped Les Paul (Page 1 of 2)

Tried it with a Les Paul Classic and the hardware buzzed like crazy even with .011 guage Ernie Balls my bridge was an ABR-1 not a Nashville like most modern Gibson USA uses.  So mad man that I am I got some loctite instant adhesive and glued the bridge saddles in place.  Cured it.  I didn't like .011 so I switched back to .010's sounded great, but I thought it sounded just as good without top warp.  Tell you another little trick, buy another thumb wheel for your screw posts if your using an ABR-1.  Screw it down flush with the wood, then screw another thumb wheel on it to set the hight of the bridge like normal.  Now you just increased the mass of the screw touching the body, and you've streghened up the stud making more TONE!

I top wrapped my JB Studio and I'm not sure about the overall tone but it is a bit easier to play and I like having the bridge closer to the body (it was setup fairly high when i received it.)

I say go for it if you want.

conorb

It's fun and gearhead point it out. Some people loathe it can call it "voodoo" other tech say that physics only cares about the contact points between the bridge and the nut... that string tension is the same whether you topwrap or not.

oh well. I do it on my les pauls, but for some reason not my SG.

- 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.

Before I get the same problem as you, but is now solved with "C TONEPROS LPCM02 TUNEOMATIC SET CHROME"

Is a good one check this out:

http://www.thomann.de/es/tonepros_lpcm02_c_tuneomatic_set_chrome.htm

I use 11/52 -- EXL116 D'addario, also I top wrapped my les paul
btw  i use high action and Its important on a Les Paul that the truss rod is adjusted properly

( Height from fret top to bottom of string)

12 fret low E string i use 2mm
12 fret high E string i use 1.75mm

I hope this can help you.

you can buy metric string action gauge from stewart macdonald , is a good tool ...

On a practical note are we going to play stonehenge tomorrow?

Ive been top wrapping my TOM/Stop for what seems like forever. I read it was one of Billy Gibbons tricks way back when in a magazine before the advent of the interwebz. And for years have done it with out thinking. I had always cranked the stop bolts in tight just cuz, realy no reason other than I liked the breakover angle of the strings from the bridge. When my JBLP arrived a month ago, I didnt even bother pluging it in untill I had a new set of strings on it and overwrapped. For me its a no brainer.

But it is funny...to me at least, on many of the forums I either am involved in or just read, how the whole topic of overwraping the stop can lead to some very high drama amungst the peanut gallery. Its almost a taboo subject. For as many that say that its the only way to fly, there will ba as many that act as if doing this will cause the players fingers to fall off and there guitars to explode, killing all withing a 100 miles....lol  sorry about that ....but the reactions some have always amuse me =p

To myself its a try it and either like it, or hate it and put it back....it aint rocket science. So worst that happens is you do in a $6 pack of strings...no big deal...at least IMHO.

Not to hijack the thread, but I've seen those types of bridge conversion kits before. I read the article briefly, bit of a hurry at the moment, but I never thought the bridge would be much of a difference in tone should it be "upgraded". Does anyone on here have any actual personal experience with this? Even the lightweight tail piece argument. But I am interested to hear what people have to say, as I've never actually tried this type of upgrade.

I run a Callaham bridge - it looks killer and the tonal change is subtle - probably the same magnitude that running Joe's nylon saddles gives.

It makes me laugh that there are people who will tell you it is too bright and your guitar won't sound like a LP anymore who eventually admit that they have never heard one in a guitar.