Top Wrapping: Yay or Nay?

TTBZ

I top wrap my SG. Didn't notice any difference in feel but it means I can have my tailpiece all the way down whilst still clearing the back of the bridge. It's purely cosmetic for me, with it strung normally I have to have the tailpiece high to clear and it looks rubbish to me.

Schnozz

I don't top wrap as I see no need to, but I'm not against it - advantages/disadvantages are minimal

https://i.imgur.com/WIF7LmD.jpg

Jonathangus

Next time I re-string, I'm going to try it normally, and see how it goes.  But I'm wondering - have I got the bridge on the wrong way round?  From what I understand, it's an ABR-1, which usually has the intonation screws facing the pickups - @ICBM ?

bingefeller

Not for me - I tried it on another LP I had and I didn't like it.  It sounded a little different, but the feeling was weird, maybe if I went up a gauge in strings, to 11s, that would have offset the difference in feel.  

midlifecrisis

normula1 said:

I string most of my Gibson types normally apart from my (bought used) 339. It came topwrapped and when I restrung it normally it distinctly lost some of the feel it had so I put it back to topwrapped. I still don't like the look though.

interesting. A used epiphone 339 i recently bought came topwrapped. Even though same string guage as my les paul which is normal wrapped, it does feel easier to bend. will probably keep it topwrapped when i next change stings

57Deluxe

as it's Christmas...

ICBM

Jonathangus said:

Next time I re-string, I'm going to try it normally, and see how it goes.  But I'm wondering - have I got the bridge on the wrong way round?  From what I understand, it's an ABR-1, which usually has the intonation screws facing the pickups - @ICBM ?

Yes, on the ABR-1 the screws should face the pickup. On the Nashville they face the tailpiece.

Looking at your pic, turning it round will also make the saddles face the right way - they should have the vertical face towards the pickup, except for the low E and A if they won't intonate like that.

impmann

Top wrapping looks gash.

Bridgehouse

impmann said:

Top wrapping looks gash.

I quite like gash

stuagu

https://i.imgur.com/VCUHRsI.jpg
I half n half, gives me a litlle more slink on the skinny strings and keeps the wound strings strings tight.... or .. its all in my head ! 

meltedbuzzbox

impmann said:

Top wrapping looks gash.

Is that an Essex girl orange telecaster I see over yours?

p90fool

impmann said:

Top wrapping looks like you've spent too long on the internet.

Edited for accuracy.

guitarfishbay

Guitar looks great as it is.

By all means try top wrapping it. I personally prefer not top wrapping. Top wrapping gives a slightly slinkier playing/bending feel and I think 24.75” scale guitars have enough of that already as it is.

I’m a fan of having the tailpiece as low as it’ll go, not top wrapped. But YMMV

ellwood

Have an incoming Les Paul that is top wrapped so am intrigued to see how it feels....

kossofffan

Always over wrap the tail piece on LP's. It adds to the playability of the slinkiness !

normula1

I've always wondered what the difference in sound would be between screwing the tailpiece hard down or putting a couple of washers between it and the studs such that the strings don't foul the back of the bridge.

rico

I’ve always done it - it allows the use of a gauge higher than usual in standard tuning and I do think it increases sustain. Whether or not it’s psychosomatic I don’t care - if it works it works.