There's More Than One Way To String An Axe

[CoreyT]

Interesting, do many here do the tow wrapping method?

http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/methods-for-stringing-a-guitar-0709-2012.aspx?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Gibson%20Guitar%20Corp.&utm_content=Editorial+eBlast+-+July+10%2C+2012

 

Regular way:

 

 

Toe Wrapping Way:

 

 

I had posted in another thread in the SG section that I remember changing my strings on my '73 Les Paul Deluxe back then, and I hated how the tailpiece would fall off since it was not screwed down all the way.

With this tow wrapping method, you can screw the tailpiece all the way down.

[Guest farnsbarns]

It will still fall of if you remove all the strings.

[CowboyBillyBob1]

It will still fall of if you remove all the strings.

The locking bridge and tailpiece is another cool feature of the 2012 LP Standard.

[BigKahune]

... With this tow wrapping method, you can screw the tailpiece all the way down.

 

There's been plenty of posts on top wrapping, so I won't go into that.

 

Regarding the adjustable stopbar: the particular height is sometimes a personal preference. Whether you top wrap or not, the usual advice is to lower the stopbar so that the strings just clear the back edge of the bridge.

 

Almost touching -

 

Could be lower -

[Texasbluezman]

I'm gonna try this the next time I change my strings. Just to to see what all the hype is about.

[AXE®]

Been doing it for years and years.

 

 

[surfpup]

I've been top wrapping for years too (ever since I saw that Axe® did it)

[Searcy]

I think most people do it because they saw somebody do it.

[CoreyT]

I gotta try it too then after my strings die and I put the Autotrim tuners on.

[rct]

Tried it when Ford was president.

 

rct

[Twiz]

I gotta try it too then after my strings die and I put the Autotrim tuners on.

 

One caveat, I noticed when I top-wrapped my SG Standard, after about a year, the strings started to dig into the stop bar a little, and caused 6 little burs in the chrome. Not a huge deal, but it was enough to make me go back to stringing it the regular way.

 

I didn't notice any difference in sustain. String bends were easier though.

[Texasbluezman]

String bends were easier though.

 

 

So the same thing could be done by just raising the tailpiece, so the angle is not so abupt. I change my strings one at a time, so no fear of falling off.

[Searcy]

T (Tension) = (UW x (2 x L x F)2) / 386.4

 

String bends are not made easier by adjusting the stop bar.

[NightTimeConcealmentX91]

comment deleted

[Hydra26]

There's been plenty of posts on top wrapping, so I won't go into that.

 

Regarding the adjustable stopbar: the particular height is sometimes a personal preference. Whether you top wrap or not, the usual advice is to lower the stopbar so that the strings just clear the back edge of the bridge.

 

I couldn't figure out why my Moderne kept breaking strings. I usually change mine out well before they get that worn and it's pretty much a new guitar. I haven't broken a string in years and yet I blew two on that axe in a pretty short amount of playing time. Turns out, I gave the setup a quick eyeball when I got it, but never really bothered to do a detailed check on it since it felt and sounded alright and the intonation was alright. Sure enough, the strings were hitting the back of the bridge. Wasn't real obvious and I know better (so I kind kicked myself mentally once I realized it wasn't barely clearing like it initially appeared; I couldn't get a single sheet of tissue paper underneath the strings). It's been taken care of since then. I guess I was more worried about the nut and when that turned out ok, I spaced out on the rest. Durr.

[damian]

I keep one Les Paul top wrapped for AXE®TONE........ [thumbup] .....

[AXE®]

I don't like wrapping the strings around the bar because it scratches the chrome on it after awhile.

I go straight through the tailpeice on my guitars

 

Don't use chromed tailpieces.

 

Aluminium. Al-U-MIN-I-UM.