jon9
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- Messages
- 245
So for years (30) I have been top wrapping les pauls. I never knew it was "thing" when I started doing it because it was before the internet. I was breaking at least 2 strings a night, playing five nights a week, so this was way too much.(I do play hard) It wasn't a sharp saddle or anything so I thought if I wrapped the string around maybe the angle wouldn't be so steep and I wouldn't break strings. I always heard, (because everything was word of mouth back then) that you had to screw the tailpiece all the way down to get the most sustain. Well it worked and I didn't break strings anymore(once in a great while, I change them every show) So for the next 4 les pauls since, I just automatically top wrapped them. No bubbles no troubles. My previous les paul(historic custom shop, pic in my avatar, burnt up in a fire) I tried to string it normal once but the break angle was too much, and the strings hit the back of the bridge. I didn't want that, & I wanted to have the tail piece all the way down. So I topwrapped. The one I have now, 50th anniversary historic custom shop, I have played for the past 12 years top wrapped. Well, the other day I strung it normally, and with the tailpiece (Creametone) all the way down there is still plenty of clearance over the bridge to the saddle. Well what a damn idiot I am. There is no change in "tension" as some report, but it is sustaining much more, sounds better, with less buzzing, and I even feel the guitar vibrating more. I think it's completely because the strings are putting more pressure on the bridge, and that vibration through the bridge is causing the improvements. So if you're a moron like me that was thinking you were doing something the right way, try something different. It only took me 12 years to fix something in ten minutes. Rock on.
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