Gibson stop bar questions.

  • Thread starter Thread starter DLT
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Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

I have messed with the height of my stopbar with the regular straight through stringing. I cannot tell the difference. I do raise my stop bar up so there is not such a drastic angle against the bridge saddles. I have never broke a string but once, due to a sharp saddle that had to be slightly filed. After that never.

This thread does make interesting chat though.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

no worries D

i'm going to try putting the stop-tail against the body and wrap the strings over the top on my next string change, with this in mind.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

I've top-wrapped on a LP many years back and i do it now on my Hamer Studio Custom. I like to have the tailpiece screwed right down, but the tension gets to be too stiff for me. Top wrapping takes care of everything just nicely.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

I've top-wrapped on a LP many years back and i do it now on my Hamer Studio Custom. I like to have the tailpiece screwed right down, but the tension gets to be too stiff for me. Top wrapping takes care of everything just nicely.

+1. One qualification though. With chrome hardware, top wrap is no problem, but with gold, you can't wipe it down very well because the strings are in the way, & it will tarnish.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

Yup, that's why they gold plate electrical contacts.

Maybe I'm missing something in the logic, but I often read that people top wrap their strings so they can screw the tail piece all the way down which increases the break angle and leads to better tone. But the way I see it is that top wrapping decreases the break angle so that in order to maximize the break angle, you have to screw the tail piece down closer to the guitar, which defeats the purpose or claims of top wrapping.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

Maybe I'm missing something in the logic, but I often read that people top wrap their strings so they can screw the tail piece all the way down which increases the break angle and leads to better tone.

i thought the reason for having the tailpiece against the body was for better contact/sustain.

listen to that sustain!
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

i thought the reason for having the tailpiece against the body was for better contact/sustain.

listen to that sustain!

That's the general feeling; there is someone making standoffs which allow you to set the stop bar at a predetermined height while maintaining solid contact with the body and allowing through stringing, but to me, even a jacked up tailpiece gives pretty solid contact so I file it under "if it makes you feel better do it, otherwise don't worry about it."
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

On my ABR-1 equipped guitars I can put the tailpieces all the way down without hitting the bridge corner.

I am more curious what that light tailpiece I ordered will do.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

I often read that people top wrap their strings so they can screw the tail piece all the way down which increases the break angle and leads to better tone. But the way I see it is that top wrapping decreases the break angle so that in order to maximize the break angle, you have to screw the tail piece down closer to the guitar, which defeats the purpose or claims of top wrappinp.

Because top wrapping reduces the angle from the stop bar to bridge, that prevents the bridge from being pushed forward and getting a permanent lean to it(especially if teh bridge posts are small and screw directly into wood. Maybe having the stop bar flush with the body transfers more vibrations to the body at that juncture, and that would at offset anything lost by having a reduced string angle to the bridge. The strings also have a little more 'give' in them from top wrapping, which would make bending a little easier, which is a big part of my style.

I don't see your jump in logic that top wrapping 'defeats' any purpose or claim. It's a different way to load strings, and I don't think you give up anything, and may gain some minor benefits. It's not like a revolutionary difference, more of a preference. Since I bend constantly, and don't want to risk a leaning bridge, I top wrap my guitars, except those with gold hardware (keep the lawyer out of this). If I get a little more tone from the stop bar this way, that's an added benefit. I don't think I'm losing anything. Duane Allman, Billy Gibbons, and others top wrapped. So why not do it?
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

Blueman, you have inspired me to try it.
 
Re: Gibson stop bar questions.

Thanks for asking this question Dan. I was curious about this myself and about to make a post but checked the search first and there she was. Have you tried the top wrap? I think I'll give 'er a go. The LP is due for a string change. Thanks for all the input guys.

Peace,

Darrin
 
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