The String OVER Dispute...

[Gary Moore Tribute]

I know this has been brought up before but deciced this weekend to finish off my Bonamassa studio with the strings correctly reversed over the bridge

I made sure to do it properly and no have the bridge edges get touched correctly angled with the tailpiece dropped

 

 

 

From some testing between this and my traditional as a suitable comparison I found:

 

# Sustain (string vibration) was 4-5 seconds longer

# It felt easier to bend the strings (But not a HUGE difference)

 

The sustain I get the impression was because the tailpiece was deeper into the body with less range to move

[strat-o-steve]

This is a myth that will never cease to be debated LOL. Too many variables come in to play with these tests. Everything needs to be done on the SAME guitar. 2 different guitars will each have differing wood densities (and on LP's one may be chambered and the other solid or weight relieved)and the humidity content of the wood, and the age of the strings (if one was freshly strung up) could play a role as well. Not to mention even a slight variation in each guitars' setup will factor in too :P I'm not denying you hear what you hear. I'm just saying that until we devise some instrument other than our ears to measure any differences in tone/sustain, there will be people on both sides of the fence. Personally, I feel wrapping your strings over the stop bar just ruins the finish on the stop bar :) Everyone will have to decide for themselves...what feels right and sounds good to their ears. No one can determine if your guitar sounds good or bad but you!

[CajunBlues]

Is it possible that the sustain increase is due to having new strings ? \:D/

[Gary Moore Tribute]

"Strat" I think I see where your coming from.

Essentially the variety of factors means that it is very difficult to test & prove one way or another

 

The Trad strings are "New" but have had a while to settle... I chose the Trad as it also weighed 9.4lb's with similiar weight relief body

 

Its similiar but as you said its imposible to prove one way or another even a different set of strings could provide a change in the results thanks to impurities and bends...

[glp2012]

I'm not sure why someone would believe this. Is the assumption that the string will resonate more because it is touching a larger (and in this case metal) surface area? If anything, I would think this would have a dampening effect.

 

At some point, we should spend a weekend experimenting with an oscillator (or whatever) and several guitars to test this theory. We could also test the resonance of the various materials that Gibson is using for fretboards. If anyone from the R&D Department is reading this, can you supply additional information?

 

Thanks,

[pippy]

If you're happy after the changes you made then, I suppose, that's the most important thing.

 

 

P.