Top Wrap does = Less Tension

[Xpensive Wino]

OK all you top-wrapping trouble makers, why not just raise the stop bar? It goes up pretty far. You could get nearly the same thing and not mess up the finish on it. Bloody Brilliant! (that's what the British would say).

What does it matter to you how other people choose to string their Tune-o-matics?

 

[charliechitlins]

OK all you top-wrapping trouble makers, why not just raise the stop bar? It goes up pretty far. You could get nearly the same thing and not mess up the finish on it. Bloody Brilliant! (that's what the British would say).

I raised my stop bar.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

I raised my stop bar.

Yes! The un-top wrapping/stop bar raising trend has begun! It is like a dark shade has been pulled back. Let the sunshine in. Les Paul himself is smiling up there in heaven. Oh what a glorious day!

 

[Marc B]

I’ve just been bashing the gold top.. and with the stop bar very low and with a set of 10s it’s still got the bends.. love it.

 

[charliechitlins]

Yes! The un-top wrapping/stop bar raising trend has begun! It is like a dark shade has been pulled back. Let the sunshine in. Les Paul himself is smiling up there in heaven. Oh what a glorious day!

The Heavenly Choir sings!

 

[GlassSnuff]

If you top wrap and your bridge breaks, you can keep playing!

 

[c_wester]

You have a little less tension when the strings can easier glide trough the saddles.

 

[charliechitlins]

I would also add that I once took my first good guitar to a hotshot luthier around 1977.
He said, "It's a good idea to sock the tailpiece down against the body so everything is solid," or something like that, and did so.
Not long after, my bridge sunk in the middle.
At the time, it didn't occur to me that the events were related.

 

[JASIII]

Top wrap 4ever!

 

[Any Name You Wish]

This just in! Top Wrap kills man playing guitar. Innocent bystander quips "he should have raised his stop bar." Film at eleven.

 

[guitar_199]

Used top wrap for a year or so on two LPs and ES-335. Found out It killed the punch in the lower strings. Went back to normal, big difference.

Out of curiosity... do you have your tailpiece set up higher or do you have it decked against the body??

 

[JASIII]

Deck it and wrap it! It is the way and the truth!

 

[TFLP]

Out of curiosity... do you have your tailpiece set up higher or do you have it decked against the body??

Raised to find the sweet spot, and so that the high E clears the bridge. About the same string angle as the headstock.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

This is like

Deck it and wrap it! It is the way and the truth!

This would be like lowering the suspension on a car and then adding air shocks to raise it back up again. That would be silly. Instead, everyone worldwide should abandoned this silly idea immediately and simply raise the stop bar. The TOM/Stop Bar was designed for this. Les Paul himself was reportedly so happy to get rid of that old wraparound bridge that he went out and bought a new Porsche!

 

[NickiC]

Are aged topwrap tailpieces available?

 

[seafood]

I raised the bar........And then I screwed it right back down !!!!! It was an experience......very reminiscent of this ...Thread !

 

[Xpensive Wino]

Are aged topwrap tailpieces available?

Yes.

 

[Maguchi]

I done it both ways before. I likes 'em both. What's all the hubbub...Bub? Ain't no thang, s'all good!

 

[Any Name You Wish]

 

[TBurst Std]

I had one top wrapped. Then I put a Pigtail tp on it and top wrapped it. Within 3 gigs it had a gouge in it so bad it would break and e or b string within a few songs.

Set the break angle correctly and use a lighter gauge if desired. If your tp is lose in the bushings, then address it separately