Top Wrapping Guitar Strings - Does it Make a Difference?

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  • Опубликовано: 11 дек 2024

Комментарии • 86

  • @stephman02
    @stephman02 4 года назад +14

    Tried this for a few months on LP and 335 and it has made an obvious difference in feel - strings now feel looser and easier to bend which I like. Although I have also lowered stop tail to body and don’t have such a flat angle past bridge as u have in your setup. Not so sure about any obvious change in sustain and this is likely to be much less obvious if changes at all. With or without top wrapping, the height of the stop tail can simply be raised or lowered to modify bridge to stop tail angle - u can do this while strings are on and feel the difference immediately without having to restring. I’m a fan and likely to continue to do this as the older I get the less I want to fight my guitar to bend etc...

  • @MarkIV19
    @MarkIV19 4 года назад +27

    Word of advice: Lower the tailpiece all the way down to the body (don't overtighten tho, just stop when it sits flushed against) when top-wrapping because otherwise you are just making the breaking angle between the stoptail and bridge way too flat. That can result in different problems.

    • @luisquezada9806
      @luisquezada9806 4 года назад

      MarkIV19 what kind of problems?

    • @joshuatijerina874
      @joshuatijerina874 4 года назад +3

      @@luisquezada9806 the string could possibly come off the saddles if the angle is too flat

    • @Bedroomrips
      @Bedroomrips 3 года назад +1

      @@luisquezada9806 huge change in tension too

    • @uadcro
      @uadcro 2 года назад +3

      Absolutely. ruclips.net/video/7ekS4KBMpVY/видео.html 1:00 It's obviously "easier" to bend but ironically it gets you a worse tone, tuning stability, sustain and all the things some players fool themselves to have improved just because it plays easier. If top load produces benefits all bridges would be designed that way.

    • @Gutowski1944
      @Gutowski1944 Год назад +1

      Lesser string angles before the bridge and after the nut increases sound energy loss and thus less volume from the string vibration.

  • @dantedias4064
    @dantedias4064 2 года назад +6

    I'm a big fan of top wrapping because of 3 reasons . 1 - You can screw the tailpiece almost to the top of the guitar, and that makes it more resonant (and probably adds sustain). 2 - Less biding on the saddles, which improves tuning stability. 3 - Easier bends, vibrato, etc. It even feels like the guitar has lower action. I have 6 Les Pauls. Some of them didn't need any of this to feel and sound great, but some turned from water to wine after top wrapping

    • @CarsonLee-ll8ph
      @CarsonLee-ll8ph Год назад

      OK, here goes. 2 guitars with the same scale length and string guage. One is top-wrapped. They each have only a G string tuned to concert pitch. Are the strings the same tension? Of course. Now, both strings are fretted at the fifth fret. Are they both sounding the same note? Of course. Now each player bends the note to a pitch one step higher. Is the top-wrap guy going to expend less effort to achieve the same higher pitch? Nope. Pitch is directly related to tension.

    • @henrygvidonas9573
      @henrygvidonas9573 Год назад

      @@CarsonLee-ll8ph You're wrong. It's not about the tension between the bridge saddles and the nut. It's about the tension of the _entire_ string from one anchor point to the other (ball end in the stop tailpiece to tuning peg). The _overall_ length of the string is different, the part of the string in and over the width of the stop tailpiece is roughly twice as long. You bend the _entire string_ , not just the part between the saddle and the nut. You bend a longer _overall_ string. That's why it feels different. The tension of the part of the string between bridge saddle and nut is the same, that's correct. The tension of the _entire_ string, anchor point to anchor point, is NOT! Because it's longer. Different _overall_ lengths require different tensions for the _entire_ string to achieve the same tension/pitch between the bridge saddles and the nut.
      Once again: You bend the _ENTIRE_ string, not just the scale between bridge saddle and nut. The tension of a longer _overall_ string is different than that of a shorter one. It has to be. It's physically impossible to have the identical tension/pitch between bridge saddle and nut with the same tension of the _entire_ string at different _overall_ lengths. It's simple mechanics and math. If the two different _overall_ lengths have the same tension, the part of the string between the bridge saddle and the nut, the scale, doesn't have enough tension and the pitch is flat. You need more tension on the longer _overall_ string to get the correct tension on the scale because the _overall_ tension is distributed over a greater _overall_ length and simply physically more string material.
      Play a Fender Jazzmaster with the vibrato disabled, back to back with a Telecaster or hardtail Strat, with the same string gauges on them. They have the exact same scale, but the _overall length_ of the strings differs by several inches. String bending feels completely different on a Telcaster and a Jazzmaster. Play an ES 335 with a trapeze tailpiece back to back with one that has a stop tailpiece. Same thing. Play a Larry Carlton Signature with the tailpiece further back and a narrow-neck ES with the stoptail in the standard position (if you can find one). Same thing again. Play a toploader Tele back to back with a stringed-through-the-body one, same thing yet again. The difference is in the overall lengths of the strings. The different break angle over the bridge saddles plays a role, too. I'm not going to go into that, this is already deep in TLDR territory.
      These are indisputable facts. It's simply the laws of physics (specifically mechanics) at work. It's proven science, not "mojo", "gear voodoo", or Gearpage brainfarts. If you disagree, take it up with Isaac Newton, not me! I didn't invent mechanics.

    • @CarsonLee-ll8ph
      @CarsonLee-ll8ph Год назад

      @@henrygvidonas9573 You can't have equal pitch at unequal tension.

  • @PaulSmith-zi3sn
    @PaulSmith-zi3sn Год назад +1

    Sweet SG..... Brother you were jammin', loved that run
    Rock on !!!

  • @rickflippin1
    @rickflippin1 3 года назад +1

    I break the 4th string as well, come to find out it’s because I play very percussively. The only guitar in my arsenal that I never owned is an SG. That one sounds great I may have to start looking lol

  • @GuitarFuel
    @GuitarFuel Год назад +5

    Your bridge pick up height is causing me anxiety ! Lol

  • @cattledog5464
    @cattledog5464 3 года назад +5

    For it to work best, the tail piece needs to be screwed all the way down. Then set string height with the bridge.

  • @Cactusfruitsquisher
    @Cactusfruitsquisher 4 года назад +4

    I definitely noticed a difference when I top wrapped my strings. I likes the easier bending but it has a more subdued tone I noticed. It doesn't have that "punch " if you know what I mean.

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад

      Yeah, for me I feel like my strings last longer & don’t break as easily!

    • @Cactusfruitsquisher
      @Cactusfruitsquisher 4 года назад +4

      @@RobGalley I want to try top wrapping just the 3 treble strings and leaving the bass strings normal. I wonder how that'd turn out?

    • @type197
      @type197 3 года назад

      @@Cactusfruitsquisher I'd be interested to hear if you did this and how it turned out...

    • @Cactusfruitsquisher
      @Cactusfruitsquisher 3 года назад +1

      @Jonathan Dean I've since had a bigsby installed so I haven't had to do anything like that in a while, but I tried it for a couple of months and the results were a more punchy low end and ease of bending on the treble strings. I play with 10s. Some people may say the difference is negligible but I noticed a difference

  • @Martos59
    @Martos59 2 года назад +1

    I raised the tailpiece on my Gibson so the break angle was greatly reduced to the bridge. If nothing else it improved tuning immensely. The lesser amount of friction the easier it is for strings to return to pitch with bending, humidity etc!!

    • @paulcowart3174
      @paulcowart3174 2 года назад

      I did that too but didn't like the way the treble strings felt so going back to top wrap on one particular LP

  • @timbornone
    @timbornone 5 месяцев назад +1

    By the way, the string tension is set by the pitch. It has nothing to do with the angle. The vertical force on the bridge would be higher for a steeper angle but tension is the same. Check for a burr or tight fitting on the string you have issues on.

    • @mikeybeazley3
      @mikeybeazley3 4 месяца назад

      Yeah, I think it’s placebo. String-through bridges have the most extreme break angle and it’s not hard to bend the strings on teles and strats. I’ve heard that top wrapping might come from the original tune-o-matic posts being directly mounted into the wood and the bridge leaning over time from the downward pressure. The Nashville style with the inserts in the body solves that issue. Strings breaking at the bridge is most likely caused by the saddle itself like you suggested.

  • @BrianLeverett
    @BrianLeverett 3 года назад +1

    Great to see that someone else has the same type of neck cradle that I use...a box!

  • @michaelmitchell5909
    @michaelmitchell5909 3 года назад +2

    It keeps the strings from riding the back of the bridge causing intonation issues. You want at least a piece of paper clearance between string and bridge... your pickups need lowered to bud. Nice guitar....it does make the guitar sustain more as well....

  • @type197
    @type197 3 года назад +2

    I've just come to this video now. I'll be interested to know how you got on with it a year or so later as I'm thinking of going this way with my LP Standard

    • @paulcowart3174
      @paulcowart3174 2 года назад

      Yes just got a 2019 50's LP and the top wrap seems to work for me

  • @MarceloKowalewski
    @MarceloKowalewski 4 месяца назад

    If it snaps at the bridge maybe take some fine grit sandpaper like 400 - 600, fold it and then clean out the notch where the string is placed in. Most times it isn't the downward force but a burr when the notch was cut first that wasn't removed. Take a look at it with a magnifying glass.

  • @michaelmcintyre5739
    @michaelmcintyre5739 2 года назад +1

    Good demo, thamks

  • @scottt2012
    @scottt2012 10 месяцев назад

    One of the reasons that folks do this (for tone) is that you can have the stop piece and its screws tightened down to the body. you should lower those stop piece studs all the way down.

  • @5eba
    @5eba 3 года назад +4

    In my experience it makes bending easier but the strings feel a bit rubbery/strechy as you do it, I don't like the feeling that much.

  • @greenfly1264
    @greenfly1264 3 года назад +2

    I did this today on my 61 reissue i normally use 9s i put on bright chrome 11s and played it in a little.
    After having to reset intonation.
    I heightened the bridge pick and a unheard before metallic harmonic started to ring out,it's beautiful.
    I tuned down to Eb and well I defiantly heard a change, got its own fuzz and snap.Obviously a combination of things resulted in this new sound and I love it.

  • @dvdpz89
    @dvdpz89 3 года назад +1

    Please tell me where you got that Gibson angus young headstock shirt. Love it.

  • @uncleswan3896
    @uncleswan3896 21 день назад

    breaking strings on the 4th ... do you do that on every guitar or just that guitar? if you are always breaking strings at the same place on at the bridge, then there is likely a problem with that bridge saddle.

  • @threeleggedman
    @threeleggedman 4 года назад +7

    In an alternate universe, top wrapping is the age-old standard. This is a video about a brilliant new idea - feeding the string straight through! Titled "You've been doing it all wrong". BTW - this video makes me want to get a black SG!

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад

      kerpital hah, It’s a nice idea. & yes I’ve always preferred the black SGs, but I do think I want a red one now also..

  • @dannyholloway2007
    @dannyholloway2007 3 месяца назад

    Everyone who said lower the tail piece as well is right. I did so on my Les Paul and instantly noticed a difference.

  • @jeffreyfoster4260
    @jeffreyfoster4260 4 года назад +5

    Dam, that SG sounds really GOOD!

  • @romanslegion7771
    @romanslegion7771 4 года назад +4

    How did you decide to have your bridge pick-up raised up so much more than the neck pick-up? Just curious🤷‍♂️

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад +3

      Romans Legion honestly that’s just how it was when I bought it, straight how it was from the factory!

    • @ericspann7127
      @ericspann7127 3 года назад +2

      Angus young

  • @mjmjersey
    @mjmjersey 2 года назад

    I loved that blues bending

  • @romanslegion7771
    @romanslegion7771 4 года назад +2

    How do u decide which SG to buy? I used to play a buddies’ SG back in 73. It was the traditional deep red SG , the more traditional type. Those are now very expensive. What’s the best but cheaper alternative?

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад +1

      Romans Legion to be honest the new Epiphone inspired by Gibson range looks amazing, I’m super tempted to get a second SG but an Epi!

    • @romanslegion7771
      @romanslegion7771 4 года назад

      Rob Galley I will definitely check em out. Thanks for the tip✌🏻

    • @zacru7007
      @zacru7007 2 года назад

      @@romanslegion7771 definitely check out Epiphone. If you want P90 for cleaner stuff, they have SG worn and SG special, there are models with humbuckers for gain stuff, like SG muse or SG 61. Those are the most budget, there is also SG Modern or Les Paul SG, which are more high end and expensive models. Depends on what you want and what you can afford

  • @bluegreensubmarine
    @bluegreensubmarine 3 года назад +1

    Try a different string brand. I use NY xl 10-46 and they never break an sound spanking

    • @j4zz58
      @j4zz58 3 года назад

      I'd say, if it is always the D string on the bridge, then there is some ridge that needs some smoothing. If you don't want to use some very fine sand paper on it, you could try to exchange the piece with the one of the A string and see if other string are also breaking. This can be done without even changing the strings.

  • @KoshNaranick
    @KoshNaranick 2 года назад

    link to the tail piece?

  • @Will-uu8ed
    @Will-uu8ed 4 года назад

    That background instrumental reminds me of ADTR. Love it

  • @CraigFlowersMusic
    @CraigFlowersMusic Год назад +1

    There's probably a burr on the saddle where you keep breaking the same string. I had that on one old guitar. Easy fix. Anyway, I've been top wrapping for like five years, and I've recently decided to stop because I've actually had slightly more string breakage from the near 180-degree bend coming out of the tailpiece itself. Plus like you said, if there is a difference it's too subtle to feel or hear. *edit: Also by the way, your audio during the dialog could stand to come up at least ten more decibels. It's one thing when a video is quiet; it's a whole different thing when PARTS of a video are too quiet. Frustrating actually, that so many content creators don't even look at their gain when editing video. *double edit: Lastly, you're using WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too much gain to demo anything like sustain or tone. That's very typical though: all guitarists go through a few years of ten times the gain they should be using. I know I did! All I can hear is the gainstaging in this demo though. The guitar is utterly lost. Anyway, just trying to help! Good day!

  • @danijels2859
    @danijels2859 3 года назад

    You have to bring the bridge closer to the body and then you will see the difference, especially in the sustain.

  • @subzero8410
    @subzero8410 4 года назад +2

    Will the string leave a scratch on the tailpiece?

    • @mitchmacdonald505
      @mitchmacdonald505 4 года назад +1

      Right away maybe not over time for sure! Wouldn’t recommend on a Gibson personally maybe on any other guitar that isn’t a Gibson... I’m going to try it on my cheap epiphone but I’ve been doing some research just to see if it is worth while and if it makes a difference. A guy I work with does it so that’s what made me look into it.

    • @tonywallens217
      @tonywallens217 2 года назад

      yes, it does for me

    • @keithclark486
      @keithclark486 2 года назад +3

      Who cares if it does ' you gonna worry about a scratching it or are you gonna play it ?

    • @jimmy66448
      @jimmy66448 2 года назад +1

      Yeah, but a tailpiece is like 20 bucks.

    • @tabbyjamil2300
      @tabbyjamil2300 2 года назад

      More scratches the better ... give a it the patina relic used look ..

  • @savagewakolee2116
    @savagewakolee2116 3 года назад

    What gauge strings did you use?

  • @williamkeithfunderburk1257
    @williamkeithfunderburk1257 4 месяца назад

    You forgot to lower that stopbar to ground out the brass to the top piece.

  • @romantea3506
    @romantea3506 3 года назад

    Take a 0000 steewool and touch the very point where your string always breaks, then take a pencil and mark thatvery spot. This will leave graphite back and smoothen the edge. Your string wont break there anymore.

    • @keithclark486
      @keithclark486 2 года назад +2

      Did exactly what you said ' guess what ?
      String broke and hit me in the eye causing me to having to go to the eye doctor and wear a patch over my left eye and missed out on going on vacation to go scuba diving and hunting for pearls to make a necklace out of to give to my landlord so she wouldn't evict me causing me to have to move in with my best friend and his wife causing her to come on to me and getting kicked out by my best friend.

  • @drewmartin7624
    @drewmartin7624 2 года назад

    I think the reason for the top wrapping is so you can screw the tail to the board , and easier tension,

  • @atneciv9512
    @atneciv9512 3 года назад +1

    6:13 🤨👏

  • @apuadofrancisco
    @apuadofrancisco 4 года назад +1

    try adding /inserting used ballend from your previous strings to prevent hurting your palm

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад +2

      I’ve seen a few people mention that! Definitely will try that next time if I decide to stay with top wrapping 🤟

  • @dongillette
    @dongillette 9 месяцев назад

    Personally, I wouldn't do this to my '76 SG (bought new). After almost 50 years, I'm not going to screw with the pressure the tailpiece puts on the screw pegs that go into the body.

  • @jamesjones-rp6cl
    @jamesjones-rp6cl 4 года назад +1

    The reason people do that is not for the way it looks , It is done so that you can lower the stop bar all the way down to the guitar body my friend inorder to get more sustain and also to stop the string from hitting the metal on the bar of the bridge before it makes it to the saddle , what i do is run a piece of paper i between the sting and the bridge if you can fit it through your good if not you gotta fix it !!!! I've done it on my les paul studio and i think it's great except for the horrible angle it puts on the string from wrapping it over the bridge i feel like it's practically breaking the string right from the rip with that horrible angle, lol However i do use those EB skinny Top Heavy Bottom strings i love those thigs i put em on all my Electrics !!! Anyway the strings have not broken and it works great !!! Reason I'm watching is i was wondering about doing it on the SG i just got i think i will !!! Thanks for the Video my friend!!!! God bless everyone spread some love in the world !!! Also lots of Gibson players do this Zakk Wylde being one of them and that's enough for me

  • @kuitaristi3003
    @kuitaristi3003 4 года назад +3

    Strings are more loose with top wrap and tone is more mellow/softer.

    • @ryuj1nj4kk4
      @ryuj1nj4kk4 4 года назад

      Kuitaristi I’ve definitely noticed my top wrapped SG feels a lot more slack and easy to bend. it takes a larger bend to get to pitch than my traditional string LP tho. May be the 24 frets on the SG and 22 LP makes some diff but even my 22 feet LP copy feels more slack top wound so I’m betting it’s a subtle reduction in overall tuned tension.

    • @victorlinge92
      @victorlinge92 4 года назад +1

      Check out, Dylan Talks Tone's video where he discovers that top wrapping actually makes it harder to bend.

  • @philipmarsh3522
    @philipmarsh3522 8 месяцев назад

    It was an interesting choice to raise the tailpiece when top wrapping. Usually, the idea is to lower it. Something about sustain but I haven’t seen anything convincing that says it makes a difference. But, raising it higher than when it is in the ‘normal’ setup is probably the opposite of what most people would choose, and probably doesn’t provide enough break angle. Something to consider if you want to try this. If you have an LP or SG with a relatively sharp neck angle it may be the only way to set up your guitar and not have the strings contact the back side of the bridge.

  • @sohft
    @sohft 3 года назад

    Wrapping looks cooler. Not sure of any other benefits other than that.

  • @Cracksoda
    @Cracksoda 2 года назад +1

    Its just for the look. Nothing more.
    The strings dont have any influence on the sound between the sadle and the bridge.
    And it surely wont affect the action like some are saying lol

  • @meanmud1
    @meanmud1 2 года назад

    locking the strings at the tuner, oh no - not again!

  • @sacheenheartbreakkid
    @sacheenheartbreakkid 4 года назад +1

    Amazing video dude 👍 Great job :) I use Floyd Rose bridge which is quite annoying in changing the strings but I'm used to it.

    • @RobGalley
      @RobGalley  4 года назад +2

      Thank for watching! I used to have an Ibanez floyd rose trem guitar & I remember that being a pain to restring! but it was a good guitar hah

  • @robmurrah3224
    @robmurrah3224 2 года назад

    you didn't actually do a comparison

  • @joeurbanowski321
    @joeurbanowski321 Год назад

    Probably have a burr in your saddle,Cowboy..