Top Wrapping Gibsons

Thatbastarddon said:
Do I “have to” top wrap it? No....but I like where the stop bar is able to live, when it is top wrapped.
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iblive said:
For whatever reason, I like to have the end piece down tight on the body.
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Yargnad said:
I've seen Bad Brains play this live.... seriously good show!
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Kerry Brown said:
I like the stop bar down low and with some guitars
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Cadorman said:
Never have to worry about tail piece height again.
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This is the way I feel about it, I just prefer the bridge and tail (especially the tail - sometimes, you just don't have that much option with the bridge...) down lower. Since getting some Faber locking nuts, I've been really impressed with the stability they offer, so I'd add them to all Gibsons from here on in (unless it was a single bridge/tail which was down low and really stable).

I had an SG faded that I bought cheap because it was a 2011 NOS and the shop couldn't get it set up to play right. I reckoned I could, and worst ways a new bridge/bridge posts would help (they looked bent in the shop) - and even though the bridge and tail were still higher than I ideally liked, it ended up fine once topwrapped, played and sounded good - within tolerance levels as Gibson would say... I reckon it would have been even better with the faber locking nuts. I really don't have any feel in my talentless fingers, but I do hear nuances, and a sturdy/solid bridge and tailpiece really adds quite a bit to the sound (to my ears).

Here's shop, home before, home after.

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Much preferred the final setup although the bridge was too high, so some locking nuts or something to add more stability there would have been nice (I've seen Robert add metal washes which might also have helped there successfully).

As I was looking through to find these pics, I found one of this with my PRS - I loved the look of the guitar, but just couldn't get along with the neck. One of the nicest looking guitars I've ever seen/owned; simple but beautiful:

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^ yeah, PRS Korina One. Had great tuners and bridge, but the standard pickup was poor (not a big deal to change). For somebody who likes that kinda neck it's a brilliant guitar, here's one: 스쿨뮤직 - [마지막 한국산] PRS SE Korina One / PRS 일렉기타(SE1KVA) (they regularly drop the price $100 when they have sales)

The PRS was only $400 new, made in Korea, there's still a few available at a shop in Incheon, but the wide flat neck has my wrist aching after 5 minutes, so I never played it over the SG...
 
I have been top wrapping all of my Stop tail bridges in recent years. I read somewhere (maybe right here on TTR) that the ideal string angle from the stop tail and over the bridge should be similar to the angle over the nut. Ever since I have been (almost) decking the stop tail and top wrapping.

I have to admit I don't really notice much difference but, hey, If it's good enough for the Rev. Willie G, it's sure good enough for me!
 
iblive said:
Meant to share this earlier in this thread. Speaking of string angle. Probably all imagined, I just feel this set up works for me on this guitar. View attachment 41185
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Nice closeup. What's that tailpiece with a setscrew in the side?

A couple of mine have the Faber locking set, but with that the studs themselves screw down to lock it tight. Aluminum tailpiece wih steel studs is a winning combination tonewise. But of course guitars are all different - no single setup is going to be perfect for every one.
 
eclecticsynergy said:
Nice closeup. What's that tailpiece with a setscrew in the side?

A couple of mine have the Faber locking set, but with that the studs themselves screw down to lock it tight. Aluminum tailpiece wih steel studs is a winning combination tonewise. But of course guitars are all different - no single setup is going to be perfect for every one.
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The tailpiece and bridge are made by TonePros. Metric of course since they’re on an Epiphone. Id have to double check. But pretty sure the bridge has the set screws as well. Makes it so you don’t have to hold in place while restringing. Or while the strings are off and you’re cleaning, they don’t fall off. Not a huge deal, but I sorta like them. Best part was. I was having tuning and intonation issues with the Epi bridge in place. Put these on and my problems went away.
 
Yeah I was thinking that looks like my SG Standard with the top-wrapped TonePros, but mine is the Gibson version. I have the metric TonePros bridge on my Epiphone Explorer, and I had it on my Schecter C-1 Blackjack ATX too until I changed it to the Gotoh 510 bridge.

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Never got wrapped up in the idea.

Makes sense altering the break angle over the bridge may affect feel of bends.
Over / under height allows the tailpiece position all to the player's preference.
I dont feel the need to experiment with it but cheers to all who find it beneficial.
 
Dave Sloven said:
Yeah I was thinking that looks like my SG Standard with the top-wrapped TonePros, but mine is the Gibson version. I have the metric bridge on my Epiphone Explorer, snd I had it on my Schecter C-1 Blackjack ATX too until I changed it to the Gotoh 510 bridge.

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Looks like a nice one you have there. Would love to have a genuine Gibson SG, but that probably isn't in the cards. The solid body and it's grain is way better looking that the veneer Epiphone uses on the G400. And since over a period of a couple years after I bought it used.... there isn't much left that's still Epiphone except for the wood, pickgaurd and the plastic knobs. Everything else has been modded or swapped for good stuff. It plays nice. Sounds nice. I'll keep it.
 
Iblive thats the first Epiphone ive seen with the tailpiece top wrapped on. Ive never seen a Epiphone with the tailpiece decked where the strings are runbbing on the bridge like alot of Gibsons do. Not all Gibsons ive had or seen have this problem. It just seems to me the Asians seem to manage to get the neck angle right on there Gibson Knock offs.Probably cause they would be beat or caned if complaints on there guitars started comming back or people bitched about it.This is why the tailpiece studs are adjustable but i know alot of ya dont like doing this.Top wrapping a tailpiece is fine if you WANT to but not because you HAVE to. I dont have any real Gibsons and dont really care. You want squishy strings or what ever you want to call it do this.1585751611866-12695766.jpg
 
JohnnyGoo said:
Iblive thats the first Epiphone ive seen with the tailpiece top wrapped on. Ive never seen a Epiphone with the tailpiece decked where the strings are runbbing on the bridge like alot of Gibsons do. Not all Gibsons ive had or seen have this problem. It just seems to me the Asians seem to manage to get the neck angle right on there Gibson Knock offs.Probably cause they would be beat or caned if complaints on there guitars started comming back or people bitched about it.This is why the tailpiece studs are adjustable but i know alot of ya dont like doing this.Top wrapping a tailpiece is fine if you WANT to but not because you HAVE to. I dont have any real Gibsons and dont really care. You want squishy strings or what ever you want to call it do this.View attachment 41277
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I could have raised the tail piece maybe one turn on both sides and string clearance would not have been an issue. I just had it it my head that I wanted the tail piece tight to the body. Probably just me being anal..... but it's my guitar... I do what I want. (that's sounds way different in my head... typing just doesn't set the mood properly)
 
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I agree,theres no right or wrong answere here.Im just saying that somethings not right with neck agles if you HAVE to top wrap to get a decent break angle over the bridge. Me ive never seen this a issue with Asian made guitars but i have seen it with a Gibbo here and there. Hell i got JRs so technically i top wrap too. If one just wants to top wrap bridges for the hell of it have at it.Myself i dont like the look of it if its a TOM/ STOP TAILPIECE set up. JR,fine its they way they were designed.I dont like the look of the Stop Tailpiece adjusted way up either to compensate for screwed up neck angles on set neck guitars.I dont want to just pick on Gibson. Im OCD about shimes and washers,locking studs,tailpiece angled washers ,even shims in a bolt neck drive me up the wall. Luckly none of my bolt necks need shims and all my set necks have good neck angles.
 
JohnnyGoo said:
Im OCD about shimes and washers,locking studs,tailpiece angled washers ,even shims in a bolt neck drive me up the wall. Luckly none of my bolt necks need shims and all my set necks have good neck angles.
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Luckily, both my bolt neck guitars (a Strat & a tele) have the neck angle correct to Fender specs without needing shims.
I do like the Faber locking tailpiece/shims though & have them on all my Gibsons. I like that they lock the tailpiece solidly to the guitar body (like "decking" it), but at the proper height.
Cheers
 
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