Joe Bonamassa reveals an odd string modification he uses to improve reliability

Interesting, and the tip at the end makes sense. Will have to try it out. Thanks for sharing Johnny!
He comes off a bit more down to earth than I would have thought he was and pretty much agreed with what he was saying from the beginning.
 
NowYou'rePlayingWithPower said:
Interesting, and the tip at the end makes sense. Will have to try it out. Thanks for sharing Johnny!
He comes off a bit more down to earth than I would have thought he was and pretty much agreed with what he was saying from the beginning.
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Joe's a nice guy. Very down to earth. I was at a Gerald Weber amp seminar and Joe showed up. He told a funny story: He was jamming with Ted Nugent, and Ted said "That's the greatest lick I've ever heard! Now you play something". LMAO
 
I don't really get the obsession with cranking the stop tailpiece down. It doesn't add any noticeable sustain. I'll top wrap a LP and raise the tailpiece until it feels nice n loose. *shrugs
 
My tailpiece is down to the body, but Ive never tried to top wrap.
I do need a string change...
 
I’ve never liked top wrapping and like the stop bar all the way down.

For me it’s more about ringing behind the saddle (or nut). Optimally the string should only vibrate along its vibrating length and be muted past the saddle and nut. The more ringing behind the saddle/nut the more energy is lost. Top-wrapping tends to have more ring behind the saddle.

Regarding Joe, I’ve always liked the guy. And I was a fan of the early more rock-oriented 3-piece Joe. The big band slicked back hair blues-based Joe is not for me but I get why he went that way.
 
It depends on the guitar. Some benefit from the top wrap, some don't. Some benefit from the tail piece being lower (or higher), some don't.

It's wildly different depending on the exact break angle of the neck and how it was glued in at the factory. I've done a few measurements and experiments with this, because obviously i'm a gibson style guitar fan, and newer style les pauls tend to be good with a normal wrap and tailpiece height - it's the historics and vintage guitars (and vintage spec guitars) that can benefit from the top wrap, generally speaking.

But that isn't a fast and hard rule, it seriously depends. It doesn't really change the sustain either way, but it can help with the "feel" of the strings and the tension with bends... the short scale length is already really forgiving for bends though, and at some point it can get too loosey goosey.
 
Excuse my ignorance but if he cuts off the ball end, how does he get it back on?
 



When i played medium ga .011 to .056 action was always as low as i could go. TP all the way to the body.
My LPC is 10.5# and a good chunk of lumber susceptable to temp and humidity prolly more than my others.
I went back to 9.5 to .048 GHS Nickel Rockers. Had the TP all the way down but now have raised it a bit.
Gives the fretted notes more girth and great tone.
Not a fan of the top wrap. I tried it but not for me except on a LP Jr.
 
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valve said:
no, he uses an additional one (which he cut off from an old string)
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I heard him explain that.
Takes up that little space that keeps the wrap of the string from breaking when bent over the tail piece.
 
I top wrap all my TOMs and deck the tailpiece. Done it for 20 years. The tailpiece was designed as a wraparound, I use it the way God intended.
 
Interesting. I'll have to try this method of top wrapping on my LP after I replace my nut. Maybe those two changes will blow my world apart. :cool:
 
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