Guitar Gear Forum

Had my SG completely run-through a little while back: fret level/crown/polish, new bone nut, new locking bridge (old saddles were pretty chewed up from prior owner neglect), and full setup.

The guitar has been playing great - definitely the best guitar I've ever had, but I decided to try top-wrapping the strings over the tailpiece, as I've read that it may 'warm' the tone and loosen the string feel somewhat, which is something I'm after. I did crank the studs all the way down to the guitar, so the bar is getting more of a direct contact with the body.

I'm not sure if it was changing back to my regular strings (usually use D'Adarrio, but the tech used Ernie Ball), but it sure seems to play and sound better with it stringed up that way.

Anybody have thoughts on top-wrap vs not?

My PRS SE is top wrapped from factory.......plays great.

Do what you think is cool bro.

I did the same thing with my LP and noticed the same thing. The strings do seem to feel slightly more elastic but I just can't think of a logical reason why that would be so. I don't know if it's placebo or not and don't care, lol.

67mike wrote:My PRS SE is top wrapped from factory.......plays great.

Do what you think is cool bro.

So pretty much, ^^that^^

used to worry about this.







then i gave that bitch a bigsby. bitches love bigsbies.

I've been top wrapping my stop tail Gibsons for a long time now.

I would never go back to "standard".

Johnny'sGotTheBlues wrote:I've been top wrapping my stop tail Gibsons for a long time now.

I would never go back to "standard".

+1.. the guitar sustains better, plays easier and looks badass with top wrapping - what's not to like

The look is definitely growing on me - just 'different'... I am really enjoying the playability, though.

Y0UNGBL00D wrote:used to worry about this.







then i gave that bitch a bigsby. bitches love bigsbies.

mmm... bigsby - someday

Might have to try this on LP Studio. I've had it for years and never once thought to wrap the strings

My SG's strings are top wrapped.

So is there a scientific reason why the strings would feel slinkier with the strings wrapped around the tailpiece?

I feel like my guitar feels slinkier strung this way too but I just can't wrap my head around why that would be true.

wat wrote:So is there a scientific reason why the strings would feel slinkier with the strings wrapped around the tailpiece?

I feel like my guitar feels slinkier strung this way too but I just can't wrap my head around why that would be true.

Placebo effect.

Top wrapping rules! My Schecter doesn't have a tailpiece, but if it did, I'd top wrap that as well. I love the feel, and the support under my palm compared to the "standard" way.

Everyone NEEDS at least one purple guitar.

Elessar [Sly] wrote:Everyone NEEDS at least one purple guitar.

Yup, that's my purple alibi
It has a different neck now. The original warped, and I couldn't be arsed to send it to France to have it fixed, so I ordered an angled-Strat head rosewood neck with ebony fretboard from Warmoth.

It's on its way to the guitar doc to have the frets levelled. I'm looking forward to getting it back. I'm on the lookout for a new bridge pickup for it. The Tone Zone that's in it (was the OEM pickup) sounds a little too warm with the new neck, so I consider something brighter. The BK Cold Sweat is a serious contender.

ke2 wrote:Yup, that's my purple alibi
It has a different neck now. The original warped, and I couldn't be arsed to send it to France to have it fixed, so I ordered an angled-Strat head rosewood neck with ebony fretboard from Warmoth.

It's on its way to the guitar doc to have the frets levelled. I'm looking forward to getting it back. I'm on the lookout for a new bridge pickup for it. The Tone Zone that's in it (was the OEM pickup) sounds a little too warm with the new neck, so I consider something brighter. The BK Cold Sweat is a serious contender.

Schweet. I have a purple Ibanez S series. When I first joined the band I was unaware that the vocallist also had a purple guitar.

wat wrote:So is there a scientific reason why the strings would feel slinkier with the strings wrapped around the tailpiece?

I feel like my guitar feels slinkier strung this way too but I just can't wrap my head around why that would be true.

Not too sure what is causing it, but there are two specific changes that I can see - the angle is increased (closer to 180 degrees) of the string going over the saddle, and the increase of string length (between the saddle & stopbar contact points as well as overall length).

I'm way too OCD to go all Mythbusters on it and do real testing. All I know for sure is it seemed to make a positive difference, and I'm probably going to stay with it. Glad to hear it's not just me.

Thanks for all the good feedback, gents.

More string past the bridge (or nut) = slacker feel on the strings, because the section of string that's out there is contributing its stretchability as well.

DOes everyone crank the tailpiece down to body when top wrapping?

67mike wrote:DOes everyone crank the tailpiece down to body when top wrapping?

I did - pretty much had to, in order to keep the strings from popping out of the slots in the saddles. Supposedly, this will contribute to better tone transfer between the strings & body of the guitar. Seems right to me.

I once tried out the tailpiece wrap trick, I got more fret rattle than I liked. I restrung the guitar back to the conventional way.

It sounds like the trick to utilize if you use thicker strings and want less string tension.

Just to clarify a bit, the tension doesn't change when you top wrap. The tension stays the same. The pliability of the strings change. You can think of it like the string will be easier to bend, but you will have to bend it farther to reach the same note. When not top wrapped, you have less to travel before bending up to the same pitch but will feel stiffer. It's the same force needed in both cases. But the pliability gives the perceived less tension, and many like it.

The reason top wrapping can sometimes make the strings feel looser or slinkier is because the angle that the strings come off the tailpiece is less steep. If your abr or tune o Matic bridge is set for really low action top wrapping might not work out so great. The reason is that since the strings are coming off top of tailpiece and abr bridge is low, there isn't enough angle tension on the strings. In most instances it works and feels great. My old custom I have always top wrapped as its feel like setup like this reminds me of my old lp jr with wraparound bridge, loose and slinky feeling.

Jp77 wrote:The reason top wrapping can sometimes make the strings feel looser or slinkier is because the angle that the strings come off the tailpiece is less steep.

yep, it's really that simple.