19 Reply by Danny! (edited by Musicinmysoul 2008-06-23 11:14:10)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

That's true, heavier gauge strings are easier to play when you top wrap, which Joe does on all his Pauls. I've been top wrapping for....at least 2 years now. Been using 11's since before I could remember. Just on the topic of strings, I tried Snakeoils last year, those strings are PHENOMENAL. Lasted for 6 months, and I play at least a good 2 hours a day.

A quick thought: $50 says any strat player today who uses 13's was trying emulate Mr. Vaughan.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

20 Reply by ken (edited by ken 2008-06-23 13:01:03)

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Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Spider wrote:

I can't find it but I thought JB mentioned that with top wrapping his strings, a heavier guage feels lighter to him. 11's feel like 10's or something to that effect.

Personally I use 11's because I like the feel.


Spider

You can get the same lighter feel by raising the height of the tailpiece, without top wrapping. It has to do with the angle the strings break over the bridge.

I've never top wrapped because a guitar player I was playing with a few years back did, and the strings kept popping out of the saddles in the bridge.

When we watched Joe in Cocoa this year (from about 5 feet away), I noticed when Joe was playing his signature guitar, one of the strings kept popping out also! It was pretty cool to see how Joe was able to keep popping that string back in on the fly (sometimes in the middle of a solo!). I guess there's some fine tuning to get that angle just right (or maybe deepening the saddle groove) so the strings won't pop out. That was the first time he played that guitar live. This did not happen with his other top wrapped Les Paul.

21 Reply by Danny! (edited by Musicinmysoul 2008-06-23 13:09:37)

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

I don't want this to solely turn into a Les Paul discussion but I hesitate to raise the tailpiece instead of just top wrapping because it's pretty widely believed that the more contact a string's vibration has with the body of the guitar and the shorter the distance it has to travel the better the tone. I've never had a problem with top wrapping. The issue with the saddles may or may not be related to if the tailpiece is grounded or not. Not electrically, I mean set as low as it can possibly go. You figure top wrapping lowers the angle at which the strings hit the saddles by raising the string's resting point. So lowering that angle even more by raising the tailpiece could result in too low of a string-bridge angle which would ultimately lead to string slippage while playing...

But Joe grounds his tailpieces and top wraps (even on his 335s according to the tab book cover...), so I'm not sure what was wrong with the signature...maybe it was the nylon saddles, it's hard to know. Which string was popping out?

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

youre right it could be the saddles not filed in enough.

The first guy i saw drop his tailpiece was Slash. I then heard doing that require an ABR-1 bridge, so I switched out my Nashville bridge. I could tell a little difference. The first guy I saw top wrapping his LP was Zakk Wylde. The strings do seem to be 'bendy'er. I've taken my guitars to a couple different guitar techs and some really frown on topwrapping or at least call it unnecessary. I either say oh well, or whatever.

I'd like to try Tonepros on one of my guitars...

- 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: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

I've got the Tonepros locking bushings on my Paul, a lightweight Tailpiece from....RS Guitarworks I think. Either that or StewMac. One of these days (boy!) I'm going to get get a wireless ABR-1 from Steve at Pigtail Music, then once my bank account recovers I'll have it installed correctly. With the ABR-1 I've currently got on I just drilled out the post holes so it would fit on my Nashville things...it works well but eventually I do want to get an ABR-1 installed correctly, which involves maple dowels, a tap, and a decent luthier...Oh! And some Grovers!

But enough gear rambling...

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan

24 Reply by ken

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Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Musicinmysoul wrote:

I don't want this to solely turn into a Les Paul discussion but I hesitate to raise the tailpiece instead of just top wrapping because it's pretty widely believed that the more contact a string's vibration has with the body of the guitar and the shorter the distance it has to travel the better the tone.

I've read many opinions on this, from people who've tried both ways, and have heard equal amounts of people who say they like the tone of the standard setup better. I had the tailpiece locked down and raised, and really didn't notice any difference in tone. That's not to say there isn't a difference, I just didn't notice any.

Musicinmysoul wrote:

The issue with the saddles may or may not be related to if the tailpiece is grounded or not. Not electrically, I mean set as low as it can possibly go. You figure top wrapping lowers the angle at which the strings hit the saddles by raising the string's resting point. So lowering that angle even more by raising the tailpiece could result in too low of a string-bridge angle which would ultimately lead to string slippage while playing...

But I can adjust the tailpiece a little lower, if the strings start to pop out. If you're top wrapping, and bottoming out the tailpiece already (which I'm sure Joe was), then you will either have to raise the bridge (and your action), or do something to the saddles.

Musicinmysoul wrote:

But Joe grounds his tailpieces and top wraps (even on his 335s according to the tab book cover...), so I'm not sure what was wrong with the signature...maybe it was the nylon saddles, it's hard to know. Which string was popping out?

OK, now you're putting my memory to the test...if I had to bet, I would say it was the B string that kept popping out. But I could be wrong on that. Good point about the nylon saddles, but I think he has them on his other LP also.

I wonder if Joe remembers this stuff?

Joe...(or Dave) do you remember the string popping in Cocoa, and what was done to correct it? I didn't notice this happening at all the next night in Jacksonville.

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Ah, I forgot to take into consideration that I play with (comparatively) high action on my Paul. When it comes to bridge adjustments (when I first started top wrapping) I just set it as low as possible without the string hitting the back of the bridge.

I'll post a couple pics of my bridge/tailpiece in a bit...working out some computer issues...

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Upper Yukon, Alaska
  • Registered: 2006-12-05
  • Posts: 128

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Been using vintage 12-54 snake oils for a couple years on my strats & teles and I don't care if it's all in my head;;;;  Everytime I go back down to 10's-11's; I take them off in a day; I can hear a difference that I don't like.  I kinda like higher action and  No, I'm not tryin 13's either.

  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Musicinmysoul wrote:

That's true, heavier gauge strings are easier to play when you top wrap, which Joe does on all his Pauls. I've been top wrapping for....at least 2 years now. Been using 11's since before I could remember. Just on the topic of strings, I tried Snakeoils last year, those strings are PHENOMENAL. Lasted for 6 months, and I play at least a good 2 hours a day.

A quick thought: $50 says any strat player today who uses 13's was trying emulate Mr. Vaughan.

You lost big_smile

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Damnit! I need that money for gas...($70 a fill up is destroying me)...double or nothin' for strat players using 18's!

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Musicinmysoul wrote:

Damnit! I need that money for gas...($70 a fill up is destroying me)...double or nothin' for strat players using 18's!

... 70 dollars? I pay just around 130 to fill up my Ford big_smile

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

I've got a Mazda 6 so yeah...not a Ford.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Musicinmysoul wrote:

I've got a Mazda 6 so yeah...not a Ford.

Hov many litres can the tank hold? yikes

And Im currently looking for a new Saab cool

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • Registered: 2007-04-29
  • Posts: 1,369

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Liters? No clue, gallons? Roughly 15.


Ummm yeah...

Guitar guitar guitar guitar....oh wait, here's those pictures I promised earlier.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 43_IMG.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 44_IMG.jpg

Here's a picture of when my thumb bled while jamming with a friend of mine...got on the pickguard, thought it looked pretty cool.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 36_IMG.jpg

Cool random shot...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 307005.jpg

One from when I installed new pots, a new bridge, new tailpiece....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … G_2888.jpg

There. Now the post is on topic.

"Music is the only thing that you can share with a million million people and you don't lose, you gain. It helps you to get energy and to live long, because when your soul is very happy then you don't want to die." - Ali Akbar Khan
  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Musicinmysoul wrote:

Liters? No clue, gallons? Roughly 15.


Ummm yeah...

Guitar guitar guitar guitar....oh wait, here's those pictures I promised earlier.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 43_IMG.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 44_IMG.jpg

Here's a picture of when my thumb bled while jamming with a friend of mine...got on the pickguard, thought it looked pretty cool.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 36_IMG.jpg

Cool random shot...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … 307005.jpg

One from when I installed new pots, a new bridge, new tailpiece....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v678/ … G_2888.jpg

There. Now the post is on topic.

Thats four litres more than mine! And you complain about expensive gas!

Can I have your Paul?

Please? big_smile

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

  • From: Upper Yukon, Alaska
  • Registered: 2006-12-05
  • Posts: 128

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Anybody wanna see a goldtop tele? Got her last week from local Luthier in Fairbanks.   It was kinda a bad deal whole way around, the guy didn't know alot about putting wood together I figure, was supposed to be a natural finish, but had to do a goldtop when I saw what he was doing. Anyway, turned out pretty good, fantastic neck built from scratch. Body was American Chestnut almost 200 years old from hand hewn beam I had sawed up. Has very middy sound, nice jazz guitar.  Curt Novak handwounds, stk teles, A5's.

First pict is how luthier put bds together, why I could go with natural.
[img]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/Eska_2006/PR1wood.jpg[/img]

Now the finished product, goldtop

[img]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/Eska_2006/MVC-678F.jpg[/img]

  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2008-04-03
  • Posts: 96

Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Zhurh wrote:

Anybody wanna see a goldtop tele? Got her last week from local Luthier in Fairbanks.   It was kinda a bad deal whole way around, the guy didn't know alot about putting wood together I figure, was supposed to be a natural finish, but had to do a goldtop when I saw what he was doing. Anyway, turned out pretty good, fantastic neck built from scratch. Body was American Chestnut almost 200 years old from hand hewn beam I had sawed up. Has very middy sound, nice jazz guitar.  Curt Novak handwounds, stk teles, A5's.

First pict is how luthier put bds together, why I could go with natural.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/E … R1wood.jpg

Now the finished product, goldtop

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/E … C-678F.jpg

Now, there's something you don't see every day. Cool guitar!

What did you expect to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wild beasts sweeping majestically over the fields?

Guitargeek's Website

36 Reply by ken

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  • Registered: 2007-05-28
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Re: I laughed when I read this from AMS

Zhurh wrote:

Anybody wanna see a goldtop tele? Got her last week from local Luthier in Fairbanks.   It was kinda a bad deal whole way around, the guy didn't know alot about putting wood together I figure, was supposed to be a natural finish, but had to do a goldtop when I saw what he was doing. Anyway, turned out pretty good, fantastic neck built from scratch. Body was American Chestnut almost 200 years old from hand hewn beam I had sawed up. Has very middy sound, nice jazz guitar.  Curt Novak handwounds, stk teles, A5's.

First pict is how luthier put bds together, why I could go with natural.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/E … R1wood.jpg

Now the finished product, goldtop

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/E … C-678F.jpg

Ron,
Did you get the chestnut strat back from Ron Kirn yet? I need to see pics of the finished product.

Ken