Top Wrap on a Lester

[John4021]

I do this every so often (usually forget about it) and have a stash of ball ends saved to slide on new strings
so, you do get the twisted sharp ends rubbing your palm over the top of the tail piece.

Anyway. I got a new 60's Standard today and decided to treat the fingerboard and top wrap the strings.
What I came to find out that using Elixir Nanowebs you don't need to use the ball ends of old strings as the wraps
on the Elixir's isn't as long as other brands.

Just food for thought.....carry on my brothers

 

[turboblues]

Call me stupid but I have no idea what you are talking about. I top wrap a few Gibsons but I do nothing extra to the strings. I don't even understand how ...?

 

[Markedman]

so, you do get the twisted sharp ends rubbing your palm

? I wouldn't want that personally! YMMV

 

[Findthetone1]

Call me stupid but I have no idea what you are talking about. I top wrap a few Gibsons but I do nothing extra to the strings. I don't even understand how ...?

For most string sets, if you don't use ball ends from old strings to act as spacers, the end wrapping will come around the back of the tail piece and rub the hell out of your hand.

 

[fek]

Interesting. I have top wrapped my LP's for probably 15 years and never noticed the twisty ends digging into my palm. Elixir's are the only strings I use though so I guess that makes sense.

 

[blackba]

I assume when you top wrap you have to tweak your setup? Do the strings feel looser when you top wrap, never tried it.

I don't see top wrapping on semi hollow gibsons much, so curious why its more common on Les Pauls.

 

[JackBootedThug]

I assume when you top wrap you have to tweak your setup? Do the strings feel looser when you top wrap, never tried it.

I don't see top wrapping on semi hollow gibsons much, so curious why its more common on Les Pauls.

to me it felt smoother....if that makes any sense. probably just a mental thing. I started doing it years ago when I saw zakk doing it. also did emg's as well...never helped me play as good as him though.

 

[Devin]

I tried this on my 335 but honestly didn't really notice much if any difference.

 

[Nigel]

to me it felt smoother....if that makes any sense. probably just a mental thing. I started doing it years ago when I saw zakk doing it. also did emg's as well...never helped me play as good as him though.

It’s not mental, it’s physical. The break angle from the tail piece to the bridge is reduced, lowering string tension. I do it on my LP style guitar so I can lower the tailpiece to increase acoustical coupling. Same principle EVH used when screwing the pickup into the body directly.

 

[Findthetone1]

It’s not mental, it’s physical. The break angle from the tail piece to the bridge is reduced, lowering string tension. I do it on my LP style guitar so I can lower the tailpiece to increase acoustical coupling. Same principle EVH used when screwing the pickup into the body directly.

You can also get same results with modern locking tailpieces that use spacers and not top wrapping. I did this on my Bacchus LP with Faber hardware.

 

[Nigel]

Faber hardware

I need to look into these. Thanks for the tip!

 

[blackba]

You can also get same results with modern locking tailpieces that use spacers and not top wrapping. I did this on my Bacchus LP with Faber hardware.

Do you have a picture, I am trying to visualize what you are saying and going to the Faber site is not helping.

 

[panhead]

I personally want the angle at the tail piece

 

[LP Freak]

I never noticed a difference either way

 

[IIBornotIIB]

It’s not mental, it’s physical. The break angle from the tail piece to the bridge is reduced, lowering string tension. I do it on my LP style guitar so I can lower the tailpiece to increase acoustical coupling.

^^^ This. I have my tailpiece decked.

 

[Findthetone1]

Do you have a picture, I am trying to visualize what you are saying and going to the Faber site is not helping.

The first picture is my gold top with an older Tone Pros locking tailpiece. It’s screwed all the way down and top wrapped. The second picture is my Bacchus with Faber hardware and spacers. You can see the tailpiece is higher off the body but the spacers still allow body contact. The string break angle is a little more but it still feels slinky without top wrapping.

 

[itsme]

Call me stupid but I have no idea what you are talking about. I top wrap a few Gibsons but I do nothing extra to the strings. I don't even understand how ...?

Yea, I agree. I've always top wrapped Paul's and just string thru and over with whatever the cheapest string is at the time Sometime there's some minor prickly stuff on the far back of the tail piece. Worst case you might snag a rag on it if your wiping down. You must have HUGE hands if they touch the tailpiece while you play. Mine goes no where near it

 

[thenine]

I’m sure I’m a dope but how do u employ the used ball ends as spacers?

 

[DistortED]

You can also get same results with modern locking tailpieces that use spacers and not top wrapping. I did this on my Bacchus LP with Faber hardware.

Agree, I use to top wrap all the time until I started using the Faber Locking Bridge / Stoptail piece combo.

 

[thegame]

Top wrap gives a slightly plinkier, airy sound with more harmonics, less fundamental. I'm thinking of doing the Faber upgrade on my LP. Many of the youtube A/B clips of Faber vs. TonePros vs stock Gibson are impressive with the Faber sounding stronger, fuller, more vintage.