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Top wrapping

Xpensive Wino

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6,079
Yes, the maids love this!

Indeed.



Sofia-Vergara-Maid.jpg

 

Zentar

New member
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
830
Top wrapping most certainly does scratch the tail piece but a tail piece costs $13 and you can swap them out in two minutes. Who cares?
 

Taliesin

New member
Joined
Sep 25, 2015
Messages
24
I reckon it's a trade off, to an extent.... it does open up the tone somewhat for sure but you also lose a bit of that nice upper mid-range honk that is emphasised by having more break angle. It can make your tone lack definition. Definitely depends on the guitar though..... my previous R8 loved it and my current one doesn't.
 

psigh4

Member
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
193
Re: Top Wrapping

It sure is a good thing that Billy Gibbons top wraps his strings .... otherwise he would have to use 6's instead of 7's! :spabout
 

Progrocker111

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
4,013
It depends on the particular guitar. Some bright guitars sound great with a bit added depth and slinkyness to tone due to topwrap. Some darker sounding ones need to have bigger string to bridge angle.
 

TheArchitect

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2003
Messages
497
I decided to try top wrapping when I did my last cleaning and restring of my 2000 std. I didn't notice any significant change in "slinkiness" and I have not actually played in plugged in yet. I did like the feel of the guitar but a lot of that can be contributed to a thorough fret board cleaning and new strings. I don't know if I will keep it or not at this point.
 

Zentar

New member
Joined
Oct 1, 2011
Messages
830
Picture a tall tail piece atop two tall pole pieces. It actually moves back and forth more and more the higher it stands. This side to side movement can be avoided by keeping the tail piece low to the body.

But!

This creates a steep string angle over the bridge.

Therefore:

Top wrap the tail piece!
 

Skydogfan81

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
910
A really cool think I picked up from this video about topwrapping:



See how the balls at the end of the strings stick out? They cut off an old ball and slide the new string through it so that the wrapping at the end doesn't rub your palm...Pretty cool...:headbange
 
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