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Top-wrap a Gibson ES-335...?

LG King

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
75
I just recently stumbled upon and purchased a nice flame-top watermelon-red Gibson 2013 ES-335 with 2013 Custombucker "S" pickups that I really like...no, LOVE...!

And after upgrading with a Faber lock-down bridge and tailpiece setup, I have decided to do a 'top-wrap' on the stop-bar. Kind of following Faber's theory of 'the more contact the better'.

Anybody have any thoughts or personal experience on this topic?

The break point is not as steep as on my previous Les Paul's that I have top-wrapped, or as steep as the headstock angle...but, I'd kinda like to hear from some others. So far, I think it floats my boat, but going through a re-string and change-back to do a comparison, I'd lose too much time.

What say ye fellow Gibsonites...?
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,020
For my money, a 335 is virtually a Les Paul.
It's a solid guitar with hollow wings.
And effect something like top-wrapping would have on a Lester would be the same for a 335.
And the effect will be quite small.
The bigger difference would be if the 335 had a trapeze.
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
I just recently stumbled upon and purchased a nice flame-top watermelon-red Gibson 2013 ES-335 with 2013 Custombucker "S" pickups that I really like...no, LOVE...!

And after upgrading with a Faber lock-down bridge and tailpiece setup, I have decided to do a 'top-wrap' on the stop-bar. Kind of following Faber's theory of 'the more contact the better'.

Anybody have any thoughts or personal experience on this topic?

The break point is not as steep as on my previous Les Paul's that I have top-wrapped, or as steep as the headstock angle...but, I'd kinda like to hear from some others. So far, I think it floats my boat, but going through a re-string and change-back to do a comparison, I'd lose too much time.

What say ye fellow Gibsonites...?
I top-wrap my ES345 (and my Les Paul) and I like it.
The sonic difference of top-wrapping is subtle, perhaps a tiny bit mellower.
The action changes when top-wrapping and becomes just a tiny bit slinkier.
Both of these differences are SUBTLE, but to the player, they're very real!
The largest part of why I top-wrap is because I do not like the way that the gap between the bridge and stop-tail feels on my right hand. Top-wrapping places a nice comfy "suspension bed" between the bridge and stop-tail that just makes it easier to play.

Post a picture of your new 335!
 

bern1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
I top wrap a stop tail guitar if the bridge sits a little high compared to the stop. I like to have the stop screwed down as low as it can go. Sometimes that makes for a really sharp angle at the bridge, hence the top wrap.

I can’t say I really can tell any difference with any kind of certainty. Sometimes I think I can though! Maybe a little more “air.”
 

Señor Verde

Active member
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
621
It's worth trying. I top wrapped a couple Les Pauls because I like the stoptail down and out of my way. My Historics and both ES-335 can get the TP all the way down without the strings resting on the back of the bridge so I don't top wrap these guitars. I don't really remember if it made a difference in sound or playability and I seem to notice little differences.

I really like the Faber locking bridge, but found I like a Gibson Historic TP and studs more than any others I've tried.
 

LG King

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
75
Easy to undo.

Been trying to get out to some blues jams locally here again after 2+ years of lockdowns, as on stage with other musicians and at higher volumes is the only way I can really tell anything.

Funny, as Bangkok is slowly unraveling from the lockdown(s) and constantly changing government policies regarding covid, I went to my first blues jam 3 weeks ago...and the next day tested positive for covid. After two years of being dilgent.

"if wasn't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all"...
 

bern1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
1,275
Damn, I think it is all over the world. I’m in California and everybody is so glad to put masks and mandates behind us but the C cases are climbing. I’m one of ‘em, just now ditching it after two weeks.
 

Coachmoe

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
1,139
According to Robb Lawerence’s book, The Les Paul Legacy The Early Years, the stop bar was originally designed to be top wrapped just like the combination wraparound bridge of the earliest Les Paul models. On page 103, Lawrence writes about how a set up man at the factory one day put the strings through the bar without wrapping and in late 57, the Standard and Custom Les Pauls starting shipping that way.

That being said, I started top wrapping around 2003. I use 9’s and wrapping gives a slinkier feel. Additionally, on my stop bar Gibson’s, I usually swap out the studs for longer ones so they make contact with the wood. I also crank down the bar so the string vibrations travel directly to the wood. To me , the combination of the wrap and the longer studs makes a notable difference in sustain. I always say, if it was good enough for Duane and Billy G, it’s good enough for me.
 

Triplet

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
1,675
I top wrap all my stop bars. It lowers the noticeable tension differences a bit when you bounce back and forth from longer scaled instruments (Strats/Teles).
 

LG King

Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
75
According to Robb Lawerence’s book, The Les Paul Legacy The Early Years, the stop bar was originally designed to be top wrapped just like the combination wraparound bridge of the earliest Les Paul models. On page 103, Lawrence writes about how a set up man at the factory one day put the strings through the bar without wrapping and in late 57, the Standard and Custom Les Pauls starting shipping that way.

That being said, I started top wrapping around 2003. I use 9’s and wrapping gives a slinkier feel. Additionally, on my stop bar Gibson’s, I usually swap out the studs for longer ones so they make contact with the wood. I also crank down the bar so the string vibrations travel directly to the wood. To me , the combination of the wrap and the longer studs makes a notable difference in sustain. I always say, if it was good enough for Duane and Billy G, it’s good enough for me.
Thanks for that!
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
I use that Faber bridge and tail on my Heritage H150 (Their version of a Les Paul Standard) guitars and I love them.
 

Keefoman

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
576
I try top-wrapping a TOM-equipped guitar whenever I get a new one. Sometimes it makes a difference for the better, other times it doesn't
 
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