Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
- Thread starter KiD CuDi
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Kam
Shaftologist
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
You mean inserting the strings towards the tail of the guitar and then wrapping them over the tail-piece? There's a couple of reasons. It reduces string tension and makes bends and vibrato easier by reducing the downward angle of the strings over the bridge. Apparently this helps with reducing string breakages as well but since I never break strings anyway I can't really comment on that.
You mean inserting the strings towards the tail of the guitar and then wrapping them over the tail-piece? There's a couple of reasons. It reduces string tension and makes bends and vibrato easier by reducing the downward angle of the strings over the bridge. Apparently this helps with reducing string breakages as well but since I never break strings anyway I can't really comment on that.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
i'm not usually "this guy" but we seriously cover this topic just about every month. i would try the search function cuz then you'll find a lot of detailed and thorough responses from the first 666 times we examined this issue.
basically what it comes down to is it changes a few subtle things that you either like, dislike, or don't notice. i like what it does so i do it. not everybody does.
i'm not usually "this guy" but we seriously cover this topic just about every month. i would try the search function cuz then you'll find a lot of detailed and thorough responses from the first 666 times we examined this issue.
basically what it comes down to is it changes a few subtle things that you either like, dislike, or don't notice. i like what it does so i do it. not everybody does.
John_L
New member
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
Partly personal taste. In the early days of the Tun-o-matic the stop bars were left overs from when they were the bridge and were cast to be used that way only. Later they were cast to be used the other way only and now are cast so you can put the strings through either way. Like a lot of these sorts of things more down to what the company had laying around in the 50's than any logic.
Partly personal taste. In the early days of the Tun-o-matic the stop bars were left overs from when they were the bridge and were cast to be used that way only. Later they were cast to be used the other way only and now are cast so you can put the strings through either way. Like a lot of these sorts of things more down to what the company had laying around in the 50's than any logic.
Kam
Shaftologist
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
I use the same strings on the same scale.
It depends how far down you tune. I rarely go lower than C# and even that's just on occasion. 10s on a short scale will get kind of loose in that tuning anyway, regardless of what way your guitar is strung. Like Empty Pockets said, it really is a subtle difference. You have to be paying attention to notice it. Besides, some guitars just feel looser naturally anyway. Try it out, you might like it. If you don't then it's pretty simple to switch it back.
There's loads of good information in this thread started a while back about this subject: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=190196&highlight=top+wrapping
Pretty much everything you need to know. If you need the cliff notes then check the last paragraph of EPs post. He pretty much nailed it.
I use the same strings on the same scale.
It depends how far down you tune. I rarely go lower than C# and even that's just on occasion. 10s on a short scale will get kind of loose in that tuning anyway, regardless of what way your guitar is strung. Like Empty Pockets said, it really is a subtle difference. You have to be paying attention to notice it. Besides, some guitars just feel looser naturally anyway. Try it out, you might like it. If you don't then it's pretty simple to switch it back.
There's loads of good information in this thread started a while back about this subject: https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=190196&highlight=top+wrapping
Pretty much everything you need to know. If you need the cliff notes then check the last paragraph of EPs post. He pretty much nailed it.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
I've tried top wrapping on my Gibson, Epiphone and Fender guitars with tune o matics. I didn't like it. To me, it was spongy and loose, and I don't want that in a guitar, I don't find the guitar hard to play strung up the "normal" way.
I've tried top wrapping on my Gibson, Epiphone and Fender guitars with tune o matics. I didn't like it. To me, it was spongy and loose, and I don't want that in a guitar, I don't find the guitar hard to play strung up the "normal" way.
lp_junkie
New member
Re: Benefits of top loading a fixed bridge?
I top wrap some of my Les Pauls (actually most of them) I really notice the difference in feel when I am using heavy strings 12-52's, they have the same "slinky" feel as 9's or 10's that way.
On 9's or 10's I don't really notice any benefit to it.
Plus I've done it since around 1979 so it just looks "right" to me now.
The same effect can be achieved with adjusting the height of the tailpiece studs as well.
I top wrap some of my Les Pauls (actually most of them) I really notice the difference in feel when I am using heavy strings 12-52's, they have the same "slinky" feel as 9's or 10's that way.
On 9's or 10's I don't really notice any benefit to it.
Plus I've done it since around 1979 so it just looks "right" to me now.
The same effect can be achieved with adjusting the height of the tailpiece studs as well.
