• From: Illinois
  • Registered: 2008-06-15
  • Posts: 52

Topic: top wrapping....

hey all,  i just bought an sg a couple weeks ago. getting ready to have it set up. quick couple of questions before i do.  this top wrapping thing....does it mainly just help with the bending when running heavy strings?  does it increase sustain?.  right now the tail piece is up.  i thought i remembered some people talking about running the tail piece all the way down and stringing it backwards, coming across the top of the tail piece.  i just wondered what all it will affect.  anyone have any thoughts or comments??

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: top wrapping....

It increases sustain. And can change the tone slightly.
I found the lower end got bassier and the upper lost a little bite (probably due to the tension lowering). It also means you break less strings as the angle over the bridge is less steep.
I use .11s so, fairly heavy (though I do tune a half step down). It definately made them easier to bend. At first you may find it a little loose (thus the 11s)

  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2008-05-22
  • Posts: 261

Re: top wrapping....

Because everyone on here was talking about it I tried the top wrapping thing with my old Gibson 335. 

I didn't like it.  One, the string tension changed too much.  Maybe if I jumped up to a higher gauge string from .010's to .011's it might have worked better.  The strings wouldn't even stay in the saddles. And two, the tone did change...probably because of the above mentioned reasons.

So, it's back to the original way.  I never break strings so the regular way works just fine for me.

DannyG's Website

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: top wrapping....

I've always heard Les Pauls are the only thing that you can top wrap strings to.  The neck isn't supported correctly for anything else.  But I don't know that to be true.  That what RS Guitar works told me.

AD3THREE's Website

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

Re: top wrapping....

? You can do it on any stopbar/tailpiece guitar... SG, ES335, etc.

It doesn't do anything for ME except decrease the string angle from the tailpiece to the bridge... i.e. less stress on the strings - thus making them easier to bend. I also found it makes the "Chunk-chunk" hand-muted stuff much easier and more comfortable to rest my hand on.

There is an old topic about this if anybody wants to dig.

- 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: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: top wrapping....

Hi my name is Justin and I'm a top-wrapper.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: top wrapping....

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

Hi my name is Justin and I'm a top-wrapper.

Hello Justin... neutral

- 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: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: top wrapping....

I top wrap my 58 reissue and I play with 11's.  It is like playing with 10's but you get a boomier and overall beter sounding string.  I usually notice it playing scales around the 12th fret.  Below that you can notice a slight difference, maybe more bass on lower strings. 

I think it plays better, but THIS TOPIC IS COMPLETELY A MATTER OF OPINION. Try it and see what it does.

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

Re: top wrapping....

Hi...I'm a topwrapper too!  Oh, I thought this was a support group.

Like the bending and vibrato more on my pauls since I have been doing it!

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?