There’s a physics formula for determining the frequency of a string “The frequency of vibration of a string depends on the length L between the nodes, the tension F in the string and its mass per unit length m.” The above is an oversimplification of the formula but the concept is that tension, length and mass are related to frequency. If the string mass and length between the nodes are the same the tension also has to be the same to get the same frequency. By raising the tailpiece using one of two methods one is changing the down force on the bridge. The concept is to remove enough downward pressure on the bridge so that the string can slide (or not slide) on the bridge pieces much the same as you have to shape the string slots on the nut so the string doesn’t bind and cause tuning instability. By raising the tailpiece and allowing the strings to slide on top of the bridge pieces the string will be more compliant but the tension remains the same because you have tuned to the same pitch. The string maintains the same frequency but is more compliant because the string is defined by the distance from the tailpiece to the nut. But the frequency is defined by the distance between the nut and the bridge or a node like a fret. It’s kind of a hard one to get your head around. An exaggerated analogy is the standard Fender headstock. If one were to replace the 6inlne tuners with a 3x3 headstock or a reverse headstock the guitar would feel different to play because of compliance due to total string length. So there is two parts to the tailpiece issue. Tension on top of the bridge by adjusting break angle with tailpiece height AND proper string notching on the bridge pieces. One can also get bridges with roller bearings or with nylon or other synthetics to permit the string to slide on the bridge piece Me I replace the ABR bridge pieces with brass. And carefully shape the slots to the string gauge and to the fingerboard radius One can raise the tailpiece too high and the strings rattle on top of the bridge pieces (that’s too high). It does get a little more gritty or fuzzy and with less sustain and loss of low end. (I’ve found that to be too high). But it might be your thing😀 And one last thing ABR style bridges with rattles is not from the retaining spring it’s from the bridge adjustment screw not fitted properly. If you can rock the bridge piece from side to side (like a teeter-totter) on the bridge it’s gonna rattle. One has to remove just enough chrome from the bridge notch for the adjust screw or remove chrome from the screw notch so both sides of the bridge piece and the adjust screw apply equal pressure to the bridge. Just my $0.02 for what it’s worth.

Mate that opening tune was outrageous. Best one I've heard so far 👌❤

I’ve done both. Upsides were fewer broken strings, different playing experience, and fun experimenting. Downsides were string pop outs, and tarnishing the stop tail piece. I go back and forth depending on what I’m feeling. It’s a cheap way to mix things up as it only costs a pack of strings.

Simply adjust the tailpiece height. That's why Gibson made it adjustable in the first place rather than fixed. The main argument I've heard for top-wrapping is the belief that decking the tailpiece to the body is somehow supposed to increase sustain, but when combined with top-wrapping the more shallow break-angle changes the string tension and also prevents the strings from rattling on the back of the bridge whenever the break-angle is severe (i.e. when the tailpiece is decked and the bridge is high). Frankly, I've never noticed improved sustain from decking the tailpiece (it's more about the bridge), but instead by adjusting the tailpiece height for the right tension for your setup, which is more precise than choosing between top-wrapping or not top-wrapping. (As I mentioned, the main problem with decking the tailpiece is the strings can potentially touch the back of the bridge and rattle/buzz if the bridge is too high and the tailpiece too low. Height adjustment or top-wrapping avoids that.) But there are other considerations with top-wrapping, such as damaging the tailpiece with scratches (to the point of potentially wearing grooves into it), uneven tarnish, etc. So top-wrapping isn't completely reversible, for the long term. Aside from playability, the overall goal is to avoid excessive string tension and downward pressure on the bridge, as tune-o-matic/ABR-1 bridges are historically known for collapsing/flattening over time with strong downward string pressure.

Absolutely. Once you top wrap you will never go back! Love the heavier 11 to 50's on the Paul!

The forbidden guitar shop song

Ok- this is what my guitar tech Steve Prior reckons..he has worked with me since the mid 90s and also long term with Jeff Beck, Brian May, Dave gilmoir among tonnes of others.. I hope it sheds some light! 😎 “Aha! Yes, I have an opinion and it's based on the geometry and topography of each individual guitar. People have theories about the strings feeling looser or more slinky under the fingers, but that is only imagined - as for that to happen, the strings wouldn't be at pitch, surely? It's more to do with the 'break' angle of the strings over the saddle so they are not contacting the main body of the bridge, causing unwanted resonance. The stop tailpiece transfers vibration through the studs via a poorly contacting thread into the thimbles, so some would argue getting the tailpiece as low as possible to sit on the body is beneficial. More importantly, everything is variable from one pair of ears to the next, one playing style to the next and one guitar to the next - all very subjective, so it largely falls to personal taste once you have tested all the options.”

I think the controversy is also that the whole point of the design of the tail piece is that it's adjustable height so if you want to change the break angle just lift the tail piece and don't need to top wrap. Also over a long time of top wrapping the tail piece will start collapsing in the middle. Will be bent down a bit.

The guitar is very sensitive to small changes, as are guitarists. 😉 Besides changing the Break Angle, Top Wrapping increases string length.

Top wrap here. Other free and reversible change I’d endorse with a Les Paul is pickup height, both polepieces and the pickup as a whole.

I'm waiting for a Black Gibson Custom to show up on John's Channel, someday for sure.

Stairway to heaven in a new version, nice!

I've heard the reason is to stop the strings from unraveling their ball ends when we bend

Hi John. Maybe a year ago I decided to try top wrapping on a Les Paul Tribute to see if it made any difference and I noticed 2 differences. The 1st was the butter it added to bending as you spoke of, but it also added deeper resonance and a tad more low mids that thickened up the tone. Since then I top wrapped all 6 of my Les Pauls, noticed both differences on each one, and I will NEVER go back to non wrapped ever again. Hook, line, and sinker! Cheers!!

I started top-wrapping my 1975 Deluxe because the ABR-1 was collapsing. The top-wrapping allows for far less pressure down on the bridge to minimize collapsing. So once I got into that habit I also top-wrap my modern Tokai LP.

The opening tune reminded me of Marilion's guitarist, Steven Rothery. One of my favorite guitarists. He was the one that me got in to guitar playing.

I looked up if I should top wrap my Les Paul just yesterday…I guess I know who they’re selling cookies to. Well played John

I love your soloing in the latter half of that opening jam. It's the sort of melodic fluency I'm working toward. Sounds fantastic. My only LP is a Bonamassa Studio which is not currently top wrapped, but should be something I try out.

I did top wrap a Gibson SG I used to have because of tuning issues. Top wrapping meant I could screw the tailpiece right down to the body: it was screwed quite high and not too stable. I have two les Paul just now and haven’t done it to them. One has a bigsby so no need and the other has such a great playing feel I’m reluctant to mess with anything.

I learned top wrapping via Zakk Wylde (in magazine, not personally) he said the same thing as Joe Bonamassa is saying. It definitely does something that I prefer as I've done it for decades. Frankly at this point a Les Paul looks weird when it isn't top wrapped to me. Also that intro was fucking heroic mate. We all know you're an exceptional player but that, just had so much cinematic authority as a piece of music & melody. That's the sort of thing I want solo sections to be.

I am totally a top wrap guy…I think the difference is slight, but it’s there. And there’s no arguing that it just looks cool. If it’s good enough for Jimmy, Billy, and Joe, then it’s good enough for me!

I tried it years ago and never looked back. IMHO, the feel of the strings changes, I break less strings, it puts less pressure on the bridge posts and it certainly feels easier to bend. Also aesthetically is by far nicer. Can't stand an overly raised tailpiece.

I had to top wrap my Eastman T484 because even with the tailpiece adjusted way up in the air, it’s still too steep of a break angle. The string touches the back of the bridge after going over the saddle, and believe it or not, it affects the tone/sound. But I like the way it plays much better with less tension anyway so it’s fine.

One reason to do it is to extend bridge life -if you deck your tailpiece, the downward force will collapse your bridge after 20+ years. It happened to both of mine after ~20 yrs with .009s. LP neck angle is another reason, eg: a 4 degree angle will force you to raise your bridge which increases downward force and speeds up it's collapse. The difference between 3 and 4 degrees is quite noticeable.

It's an interesting concept and DylanTalksTone performed an experiment showing top wrap increased tension, though it does decrease break angles a lot can depend on bridge/saddle type. I say try both and go with what you like and no one can argue about Page, Gibbons or Bonamassa, though Page has been shown to bottom wrap as well and Gibbons plays other guitars now. I have tried both and prefer the bottom wrap with a Faber bridge that remedies a few vintage issues. Cheers and the music sounds great!

I've too wrapped both my les pauls for a long time now and i prefer it. Can't explain totally the difference but i can feel it.

I've just beginning to learn how to noodle pentatonics - it's instructive/helpful to see what you do

I've been top wrapping my LPs for a while and I've been really happy because I have an aggressive picking hand. ESPECIALLY if I play in drop D. So I like to have thicker strings and the top wrap definitely helps with the tension. It's not a cure all, but it does seem to help. Also... I dunno... I think it looks cool? And I like Les Pauls because I think they look cool as well. So visually it makes me happy.

I have also found I don’t break strings as often with the lower bridge angle.

been top wrapping for 30 years, it works for me... my tech at the time said it was the way to go. for sure.

I bought a tailpiece that has the holes at an angle so I get the best of both worlds , the angle is enough to clear adjustable parts , and I can bolt it on to the body , I found top wrapped strings cut into the tailpiece after a short time .

I top wrapped my Les Paul for a few years, I now use a bridge by Lightning Guitars which offers similar benefits of top wrapping but the strings feed through the traditional way, well worth checking out.

@johnnathancordy there’s a better solution by a UK company called Lightning Guitars. I. Love top wrapping but downside is over time it pulls on the posts which would would require pulling them & plugging with dowel & realising the stop tail, you also have to deck the stop tail. Lighting came up with a stop tail where the break angle is altered inside of the tail itself giving the same angle so all the same benefit without top wrapping. it doesn’t pull on the post, no sharp feeling resting your palm & you don’t have to deck the stop tail. I have 1 on my Gibson & the quality is also brilliant.

I have three LPs with tune-o-matics, I top wrap one of them. I think it helps that guitar. Also have a couple Specials with one-piece 'lightning bolt' bridges, they're actually kinda top-wrap by design. They can benefit from the extra ball end too. Intonation is good on my all My LPs with 9-46 Hybrid Slinkys.

Tried it once - didn’t like the look, didn’t like the feel but I don’t understand the controversy … whatever you prefer is good. I’d just add that it will damage the tailpiece - which wasn’t designed for top-wrapping 👍

I top wrap based on if the bridge is abr or nashville and neck break angle. My LP is nashville. Top wrap, tailpiece decked. SG & 335 abr. Non wrap, tailpiece decked w/good clearance leading up and over the bridge.

People forget when having these forum arguments is that every guitar is different. I top wrap my current guitar because I feel the sustain is massive with the stop bar right on the guitar. Other guitars I’ve had don’t make a difference at all.

The only stop tail guitar I've ever had (a used Gibson Firebird) was delivered to me top wrapped and I just left it that way so I can't compare it to non-top wrapped, but I also have a LP Special with a wrap tail and love the ever so slight increase in bendability. I also topload my Telecaster and always will. Definitely more slinky than string-through

Top wrap and wind the G string above the tuner whole on a Les Paul 👍🏼

It all depends on the neck angle. I own 3 Les Pauls and one of them needs top wrapping

It keeps the downward angle of the strings off the bridge...better angles

I do because the tail piece was to high otherwise. Because of the neck angle. Looked to be putting a lot of strain on the posts and inserts, when routed normally. i was worIed the wood my crack. I don't deck it though. Just clear the back edges of the bridge.

Gorgeous tone out of that guitar

Top Wrap here as well. Then I saw an advertisement for the Lightning Bridge which negates you having to string "over" the tail piece. While It does seem to offer the benefits-I am going back to my "top wrap" with the original tail piece. I use .09's which give that slinky feel, yet still gives me the tone. End result-it is a personal, small change you can make without busting your wallet. Now-I thought You Tube initiated a "Law" where if you have a video like this (Sounded so freaking great) that the person posting the video is "Required By Law" to list...just HOW IN HELL YOU FILMED THE VIDEO, AND HOW IN THE HELL DID IT SO FREAKING GOOD!!! I tried taking a video, on my Phone-It sounded like Shit!! Always amazes me how you guys get a great sound and tone. Are there any videos of "how to make a good sounding You Tube Video WITHOUT your damn phone??

For some LPs it can help to top wrap,it does make it harder to reuse the strings for another guitar,they get a permanent crease in them,I like it both ways,especially if you have an LP that feels stiff.

I do this because my strings would hit the bridge otherwise. Only other thing i could do is raise the tailpiece super high

That tone

Nice to learn that "gunk" is an international term.

Don't know if it's made any difference but I do it on my les Paul's The one advantage is that the bridge can be closed to the body

I keep my studio top wrapped and my standard, well, standard wrapped. I don’t care either way but the top wrap subjectively looks cooler. The strings can potentially cut grooves into the back of the tailpiece though.

I've been doing this for around 8 years, I also switched from 9's to 11's. I've not snapped a string since.

I wrap. My Les Pauls are both kind of sensitive to seasonal temperature / humidity changes and need the truss rod adjusted for that to play their best (to me) as well.

Actually I have never heard of that method. Maybe I would go one day for it with higher gouge but for now I stick on Les Paul with 9-42 which I prefer over any thicker. Keep rocking mate!

It's your instrument, you can wrap it, dent it, scratch it, burn it, do whatever you want to make it look the way you want. If you want the benefit of raising the tailpiece but don't like the way it looks, go for it. It doesn't offer any benefits that raising the tailpiece doesn't offer: Decreased friction on the bridge, better tuning stability, and a tad easier to play. I don't mind the raised tailpiece and prefer the cleaner look, and smoother feel on my palm as I do rest there occasionally (more often on an SG placement than LP). Plus, I can get my fingers underneath and grip it when I'm slinging it around and shaking it for dramatic effect, so I raise instead of wrap. In any case, all friction points on your guitar should be considered and alleviated if at all possible for longevity and performance. Nobody should hassle you about your setup on your instrument, or how you play your music.

I usually play with raising and lowering the stop bar instead of top wrapping to change the break angle. I do have the Tone Pros locking one on most of my guitars so it doesn’t move.

When the notification popped up with the title for this video, I thought John vinyl wrapped his guitar 😂 I’d never heard the term “top wrapping” even though I’ve owned an LP custom for almost 35 years now… I’d seen it done but didn’t know there was a term for it.

I have recently top wrapped my two les pauls and generally prefer it. My one LP I have 11-48 gauge strings and it did feel a bit looser. I also wasn't aware that it was controversial.

The only other downside I can see from top wrapping is if you use round wound strings, then over time it can eat into the chrome on the tailpiece. I've tried top wrapping, but it doesn't work for me. I prefer the traditional stringing. It feels more solid to me.

I top wrap my SG because the high E broke a few times at the bridge saddle. I have not broken any strings on that SG since I started top wrapping. I don't feel any difference in tension on my bends. I don't notice any difference in tone. It's just to reduce the angle of the strings to the bridge.

I’ve tried it. Didn’t notice much of a difference. I think Gibsons play like butter as is, compared to Fender scale length. I wish the strings were stiffer at times but I play more acoustic than electric, normally. So I tend to have a pretty heavy hand (not necessarily in a good way.)

I’ve heard some comparison videos and top wrapping always sounded as some bass gets lost in the process, as we would expect from a lessened string angle on the bridge. So it never attracted me and I always mount the strings traditionally. PS: String tension is the same unless you change your scale length, string gauge, string manufacturer or tuning… 😅

I am one of the firm believers in top wrapping as well, I have weak fingers and even 09's feel like 10's in my tune O matic guitars, however with top wrapping, tension falls in the 8.5 gauge ballpark which is a huge huge relief.

I top-wrap mine because it's more comfortable. I can't see how it would lessen the tension, though: the scale length doesn't change either way.

If I happened to own a Les Paul (which sadly I do not) I would be tempted to go FURTHER than John, by getting a short trapeze tailpiece put on, in order to increase the overall string length. This would enable me to tune down, as I have already done on my Gretsch P90 G2655 Streamliner. Here I replaced the Bigsby with a trapeze tailpiece, put on 12-54 gauge strings and tuned it down a minor 3rd (C#, F#, B, E, G#, C#). But then, tuning down has always been my preferred option, as is also the case with Tim Lerch.

I top wrap cuz I want to look cool and legit!!

Billy Gibbons uses very light gauge strings so I think the top wrap is more about tone than anything else. Why aren't you more famous :)

I tried it, couldn’t really tell a difference, looked cool but snapped a few strings at the windings were it wraps over.

Had Les Pauls for 20years on n off. Tried it with my current one last year one time...never really noticed anything different apart from the obvious visual difference..so gone back to the "normal" way ever since.

NO STAIRWAY? DENIED!

For a given scale length and string gauge, the tension of the string dictates the frequency (note). So any B on the B string has to be the same tension. I understand that top wrapping changes the feel as if the string tension is less, but I don't understand how that happens.

I don't understand how top wrapping (decreasing the break angle) would decrease the tension of the strings. Maybe I need to research this further

I have a Revstar 502 with a wrap over bridge and it bends easier than my strats, LP and PRS. Whether or not it’s the Revstar or wrap over can’t be 100% sure BUT plays easier and I haven’t yet broken a string on it but been through 2 sets on the LP (played the same amount)… may try on the LP with standard bridge..

Why would sell a guitar that sounds like that! That was one of the most beautiful tones ever.

Top wrap for sure.

I started top wrapping years ago, for me, 10’s feel like 9’s when I”m bending notes

Wrap the treble strings but not the bass?

Billy Gibbons uses 7s too. Tony Iomi 9s top wrapped down to C# standard. Slinky bois

Top wrapping was not invented by any of the persons mentioned. There are photos from 1956 showing les paul custom with top wrap. It depended on the top carve if the tail piece sat too low they would top wrap it. There was also a rumour that they used leftover early wrap style bridges without compensation that had no recesses for the ball ends at the rear.

In your hands, an LP is dope.

I don't understand how this can have any impact on string tension for a fixed gauge string and a fixed tuning. Break angle does not impact string tension for fixed gauge and pitch; that's just basic physics. Break angle impacts pressure on the top at the bridge (which can impact tone, but not pitch), and of course how easily a string can hop out of the saddle. So I don't see how it can make, say, 10s feel like 9.5s. What am I missing?

I figured “Good enough for Page and Gibbons, Good enough for me”. And while there’s no tonal change that I can tell (Don’t know that anyone has ever claimed that there would be), I definitely feel the difference enough to be sold.

Yeah, I’ve tried this with my “strings through body” Gibson. It didn’t work.

I’m gonna call the opening mashup “Stairway To Orion”

is it stairway or let it grow by eric clapton off 461ocean blvd. And did EC use Stairway as a base? Nice opening for sure. I just raise the tailpiece a bit, never noticed a difference. Zep 4 release date nov.71, 461 EC says Jan. 74.

I tried it for a while on two Les Pauls and found that the G-String sounded weird on a certain fret. The tension gets too low for my taste.

Never got round to trying this but may do at some point on one of my Epis - Cantrell or '59. On my '68 Custom I always had the tailpiece snug to the body and bridge very low-action so the break angle not sever, but I can see the logic in backing it off by top-wrapping altho 'clippage' might be a risk if you're de-tuning? Whatevs, not something to lose sleep over n'est-ce pas? 😅

Some aggressively bending guitarists stretch the ball ends of the treble string. The guitar keeps getting out of tune and eventually the strings come out. The topwrap helps avoid this.

Don’t know for sure, but think Duane Allman predates both Page and BG with the ‘top wrapping’ thing. LPs and SGs.

I think it might feel slightly different but not enough to bother me. It does mark the tailpiece over time so if you like your guitar pristine give it a miss. Great intro. Love your playing.

It just sounds better to me, i did a chibson like this 50s wired it n it was simply UN blvble waay more R Fordish imho....

Although I’d heard of the method, I’ve never tried it. Didn’t feel the need for a change. Maybe I’ll check it out now. But yes: gotta change those strings lol. What kind do you use? I like Curt Mangan

maybe a dumb question, but the tailpiece can actually be raised. why not just do that?

Nice intro. Im primarily a strat player, sometimes a tele. Bought a les Paul earlier this year. My first Gibson in 30 years playing. I like it but find it hard less comfortable, probably just less familiar, over the Strat but when I hear it back it's hard to argue with that sound!

I think it looks better.

I’ve Top Wrapped my Les Paul for last 10 years…I see / feel no reason to change…

I top wrap. Both my Les Pauls would go sharp if I used an agressive attack. When I top wrapped that problem went away. The same thing can be done by raising the tailpiece, I don't do that because I don't like the way a raised tailpiece looks on a Les Paul.

coming tomorrow "Why i no longer top wrap my Les Pauls"

Yup I top wrap my LP and I like it. But for some reason it didn’t work good for my SG.

I play in dropD. what if I normal wrap the low string so it has a bit more tension, and top-wrap the rest. Typically I just use a (slightly) thicker string for that dropped D string

If you have an expensive guitar it can mar the tailpiece, so you might want to change it out for something (Faber, Tonepros, or better?) first. I tried top-wrapping once, never did it again, because I prefer raising the tailpiece as it was designed to do. I think "guitar heroes" doing it has caused an echo in the matrix?