Screw down the Studs ?

[bongo122819]

On my '71 LPDeluxe the stop tailpiece sits approx 1/4" clear of the body. Shouldn't the studs be screwed down so the tailpiece contacts the wood ?
I assume that it would increase the break angle (a good thing ?) and transfer more vibe to the wood (a good thing?).
Any thoughts on this ??

 

[reswot]

Different folks do different things. Use your ears and try both ways...

 

[(urlym@ple]

On my '71 LPDeluxe the stop tailpiece sits approx 1/4" clear of the body. Shouldn't the studs be screwed down so the tailpiece contacts the wood ?
I assume that it would increase the break angle (a good thing ?) and transfer more vibe to the wood (a good thing?).
Any thoughts on this ??

Preferably, Yes!

Just make sure the low and high E strings clears the back edge of the ABR1 bridge (would kill your tone). Some guitar can not be set up like these, that's why they wrapped over the bridge, I guess?!:hmm

That's how I set up mine...

 

[sinner]

Up or down depending on where you find the guitar's sweetspot. For some it may be up; other's down to the wood. It will also affect the feel and action, I've found that down to the wood make a stiffer feel and up a bit loosens things up.

I also found that it's often a compromise between those things and how the guitar feel and sounds acoustically vs. amplified. For instance, with stop tail down to the wood, the guitar is stiffer and not as loud acoustically but has maybe a tad better sustain when plugged in. With the tail up a bit, the guitar is slinkier feeling, more opened up sounding acoustically but the trade off is maybe a different plugged in sound.

 

[jrnic]

Preferably, Yes!

Just make sure the low and high E strings clears the back edge of the ABR1 bridge (would kill your tone). Some guitar can not be set up like these, that's why they wrapped over the bridge, I guess?!:hmm

That's how I set up mine...

Exactly. I usually screw down the stopbar as low as it will go before the "E" strings touch the edge of the bridge. You definitely don't want to have that happen. I noticed wierd sounds and also problems keeping my E strings in tune until I realized that they were touching the bridge. Lifting the height of the stopbar solved that issue.

 

[Edward]

...Or topwrap the tailpiece and screw it down without worry.

Edward

 

[MRG]

Exactly. I usually screw down the stopbar as low as it will go before the "E" strings touch the edge of the bridge. You definitely don't want to have that happen. I noticed wierd sounds and also problems keeping my E strings in tune until I realized that they were touching the bridge. Lifting the height of the stopbar solved that issue.

Did this on a 335. I'm also using the spacer rings that come with the Faber Tone-Lock from CV Guitars to maintain some of the coupling you get with the tailpiece screwed down:

http://www.cvgshop.com/p50/Tone-Lock-INCH/product_info.html

I believe your local hardware store may have something similar to the Faber spacers if you want to go that route.

Do a search on the LPF for "Faber Tone-Lock" if you'd like more info.

 

[mikev]

Did this on a 335. I'm also using the spacer rings that come with the Faber Tone-Lock from CV Guitars to maintain some of the coupling you get with the tailpiece screwed down:

http://www.cvgshop.com/p50/Tone-Lock-INCH/product_info.html

I believe your local hardware store may have something similar to the Faber spacers if you want to go that route.

Do a search on the LPF for "Faber Tone-Lock" if you'd like more info.

That's what I have on my Standard Faded. I imagine it's the same thing as screwing down the tailpiece all the way tone-wise.
The other nice thing about the Faber system is that the tailpiece is also now locked in place. I put one on my R6, too.

 

[dwagar]

Up or down depending on where you find the guitar's sweetspot. For some it may be up; other's down to the wood.

+1
There's not an easy answer, it's going to take some experimenting. I like my Custom slammed, but I like my historic at about 1/8" or so off the deck.

 

[sickboy79]

It's subjective. I personally don't like mine all the way down. Also - the strings should clear the bridge as well - so that's a guide to where the TP height should be.

 

[BobV]

Lots of threads here on "tailpiece height" - so it's been said already. But I prefer to use grub screws (set screws) inside the bushings under the tailpiece studs so the studs don't need to be all the way down, yet they can still be tight.

 

[John Vasco]

Preferably, Yes!

Why 'preferably'? What exactly are the advantages to having the tailpiece down fully?

 

[BobV]

High tailpieces (or top-wrapping) is very slinky and easy to bend but you lose some of the punch in the tone and in fact you can't get the same pitch change when bending a string as far as you can. A lower tailpiece will have a tighter tone and the greatest pitch change when you try to do those three-stop Albert King bends. If you experiment with tailpiece height, you'll find that high tailpieces make the strings easier to bend, and low tailpieces make the strings less compliant and at the same time the pitch changes more as you bend. Many players prefer to have the tailpiece as far down as possible, but with a Nashville bridge you lose that opportunity because there's only so low the tailpiece can go before the strings hit the back of bridge (Nashville bridges are wider than the vintage style ABR-1). Some say the downside of a tailpiece that's too low is the ABR-1 can start to sag and flatten over time. The tonal difference, if there is one on your guitar, has to do with the vectors as the string changes it's angle crossing over the saddle. The slinkiness comes with a change in compliance as you bend a string. Sorry there's just no one clear answer here.

 

[John Vasco]

BobV,

Can you actually prove this: "...you lose some of the punch in the tone and in fact you can't get the same pitch change when bending a string..." regarding a high tailpiece, or topwrapping? And of course your contention for the alternative?

I have to say I think this is a load of bollocks: "...The tonal difference, if there is one on your guitar, has to do with the vectors as the string changes it's angle crossing over the saddle..." Unless you have the kind of hearing that can hear a flea fart 100 yards away, you will not discern any tonal difference. A bit like that famous guitarist (whose name I forget) who claimed he could hear the tonal difference if different screws were used on his pickup rings.

 

[Edward]

BobV,
....Unless you have the kind of hearing that can hear a flea fart 100 yards away, you will not discern any tonal difference. A bit like that famous guitarist (whose name I forget) who claimed he could hear the tonal difference if different screws were used on his pickup rings.

I recall reading that Eric Johnson purportedly can hear the difference between different 9v. batteries.
:rofl :rofl :rofl

Edward

 

[VintageWoodWorkshop]

I agree with BobV. I've noticed that although the strings are a little tighter feeling with the tailpiece all the way down, you don't have to bend the note as far to reach a certain pitch. I actually like the added tension because the string wants to return to its original tension more during a bend, making vibrato during bends much more easy to control for me

 

[the_kingbee]

I recall reading that Eric Johnson purportedly can hear the difference between different 9v. batteries.
:rofl :rofl :rofl

Edward

and the difference in removing the screws in his fuzz face :wow

 

[torren61]

I prefer to top wrap. Takes out all of the guess work. Tailpiece studs to the body then top wrap over the bridge. No worries. I don't know if it decreases tension or improves coupling (although I suspect it does) but I have a completely different break over the bridge and my LP sounds good to me.

 

[jb315]

My guitar tech raises the tailpiece to offset the steep angle of the strings caused by the bridge height

 

[John Vasco]

I recall reading that Eric Johnson purportedly can hear the difference between different 9v. batteries.
:rofl :rofl :rofl

Edward

That's the guy I was thinking of. Thanks.