Top Wrapping or Over Wrapping trick 

I’ve just started top wrapping and had this problem with sharp strings from the winds sticking up on my stopbar this is a brilliant little tip Dave love it

Joe Bonamossa guitar tech uses the old eye fittings to correct that issue on the wrap around aswell

Dave, the string wraps are called servings. The end bit is a bead or ball end. Hope that clears things up for you. Great channel matey

I've top-wrapped strings for a long time now, but I've never seen it done like that. I'll have to give it a shot. cool trick.

Thanks, good analysis and good avoidance of the more contentious aspects of the subject. I'm stringing heavier flatwounds on 335 and 335-like guitars. With those strings, the twisted portion may be a bit longer and the string does not want to bend sharply at the exit point. Went to the hardware store to try to find a spacer, but the string ball ends are exactly the right dimensions. As to overwrapping as a practice: the break angle across the bridge does change the sound of course, but you can easily experiment with overwrapping whilst keeping the break angle constant. Overwrapping gives you a little extra overall string length and therefore a bit more elasticity to the feel (in the direction of a nylon-string guitar). If you bend, the elasticity means that you'll have to push the string a little farther across the fingerboard to get the same pitch change as before. I actually prefer trapeze tailpieces (me and one other guitar player in South Dakota), and overwrapping changes the response in that direction. Not by very much, but noticeably.

I've heard people call it "string retainer" or "end-ball". But I like the "eye" better. Well done Dave, keep on rocking!

i was in the adjacent room and i swore I heard Nigel Tufnel say "I overwrap differently than everyone else." but Nigel, there's only one way to overwrap.(Nigel) "That's true, yet I still do it different.Go ahead and try if you must, but you'll never figure it out.I can't even recreate how i over wrapped it differently when I did it the other way.thats different than everyone else's.so I haven't restrung my '59 LP since 1960,plus it could still be sustaining."

I’ve only top wrapped once before and cut my hand to bits on the stray bit of string you described, think I’ll try it again now, cool trick 🤘🤣🤘

Give your wraparound bridge a much needed microalignment! FIRE IN THE HOLE! More tuning stability! Better dynamics! This is excellent for three reasons. 1. You're adding brass to the bridge. It's probably a little tighter and more touch sensitive sounding to a trained ear. 2. Your'e adding a guidepost. And it's brass. This sends a whole new message to the strings. The two metals merge here. One is supporting and assisting the other to be more musically invigorating. By the way that the string is vibrating. More Low end rumble but with tightness. Clearer high frequencies. All BUFFERED BY BRASS. 3. Centering each string perfectly, preventing underhang/overhang, creates a unique new alignment for all six strings which causes them to work slightly different in the hole! Strings are much less likely to break. Especially the high E... Additionally one should note, that fender bullets attempt to do something along these lines! Further, there was another company about 10 years ago that tried to do a center-mounted string relief after the wrap. It should be further noted that this effort failed! Additionally, Your above video demonstrates a marvelous do-it-yourself approach that works 100%!!

i learned this by messing with set up, i found that the less of an angle you have between the bridge and tail, the more flexible the string is, it dosen't feel as tight, and figured this out on my own years ago, but just recently i have seen that other people do it also, i like my strings to feel like rubber bands, not so stiff

It has helped tuning and it has improved my tone on my sg

Nice 1 pal just over wrapped my Gibson sg . The way you showed and stretched strings 3 times and re-tune and holy crap on my sg the tone is 100% better . Keep rocking dude nice 1 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

I love those Ibanez SureGrip knobs. I use them on most of my axes.

Great tip! I would call that nameless piece and "eyelette".

Interesting. Thanks for the video. I've been over-wrapping for a year now and I've never had the problems you've described, but this could be affected by the brand and gauge of string (I use D'Addario 10s). A lot of people try this because they want the stings to bend easier and feel "slinkier," but I actually found it has the opposite effect (making it feel more like a Fender). I over-wrap because it improves sustain (especially when you're playing loud and clean) when the tailpiece is screwed all the way down and pressed in place by the strings - it exerts more downward pressure onto the contact points. I'd think that having a ferrule between the end of the string and the tailpiece would absorb some of this pressure and make the connection less direct, in which case the over-wrap is mainly cosmetic and as such it's probably better to just pass the strings through the tailpiece normally.

I do same thing with my Les Paul. Over wrapping..Yes. It does work.. I've cut a few sets of string ferrels off old strings? That's what I'm calling them. Some day I'll ask the good people at Ernie Ball the real name of those brass string thingies... The point is you are correct in your method..When you use the string ends it helps lengthen the string just enough to skip the problem...It does eliminate the tuning, stretching, and eliminates the pointy strings where you want to rest your palm.. It's an old hack that really does the trick..Thanks for passing that on.!🇺🇸🇬🇧

Starting at 2:25 there's a 10 second bird for all of RU-vid!

I began top wrapping out of necessity and just stuck with it. I had a Gibson SG Standard they made for Guitar Center (vintage cherry and zebra pups). The way the neck was glued in was not ideal. The angle meant normal stringing resulted in having to raise the stop bar about 5mm or so, or the strings would not clear the edge of the bridge. I did not like that so top wrapped it. I have a 1997 Les Paul now and still top wrap it. I can not say for sure, but it seems like I get strings breaking less this way. It does feel a little different too. No issue for me with the spliced end of the string coming around and having jagged bits. Ernie Ball Slinkies -- cheap and good.

The last time I re-stringing my guitar, I tried this method. I haven't noticed any real difference tone/sustain-wise, but I have noticed an improved ease of playibility. You don't have to press as hard to form chords or pull as hard for bending, etc. There's no right or wrong way really....just a matter of preference and what works best for you!

Great idea using an eyelet as a spacer on an overwrap. This would also be a good idea for a Fender Mustang vibrato. Or just get the only string without a twist, Fender Bullets.

I love how complex his tune-o-matic bridge is set up. 😯

Great video never in all my years playing have I strung a wrap around . This will make it loads easier 👍🎸

Trying to share a simple perspective with the community prior to the invention of the stop tailpiece there was something I believe known as a claw which held the strings and was attached to the butt end of the guitar where the strap button is located this claw maintained an angle from the rear of the guitar to the tune-o-matic bridge the height of the tuna Matic Bridge maintains the correct distance from the fretboard in relation to the next set the claw maintain the correct angle from the tune omatic bridge to the rear base of the guitar with the invention of the stop tailpiece people were top rapping to maintain the correct angle of the claw and avoid the strings coming in contact with a rear of the tuna Matic Bridge the claw angle is important to maintain

Dead right Dave, found out (before I have seen your video), that overwrapping gives a a bit a "clearer" sound at my Paula... and it feels like bending is slightly easier. The trick with the eyes is something new to me- will have a try next time! Thanks mate!

Nice tip - I am using it now. Thanks

Thanks much!! Had this exact problem.... solved now. Owe ya a beer!

Gonna have to give it a try!

I do the same thing. When you wrap the strings it changes the break angle and puts less tension on the strings making it easier to play. I drop my tail peice to the body and that gives more sustain. I learned the ball end trick from Joe bonamassa's guitar tech. I believe it was his tech. Some guitars it works and some it don't and it will scratch up your tail peice after a while but that doesn't 'fect me none . Good bit of knowledge.

Great idea, I'll try this next set of strings.

If this makes guitarists happy then go for it I guess. I have never once considered doing this wrap. I prefer the original way simple and has always been effective.

I've done this for many years .... in my Strat. Later in my Gibson LP Special .... and my L.P. with the standard procedure.

Dave, where to begin? You’re truly Dave of guitars! And I mean it! You do have great ideas, like with those eyelets in this videos! I remember watching you when you put IronGear pickups into LP and claimed they work better in this guitar than any other. I do have Gibson LP with IronGear pickups and yes it’s true! They do! But sometimes you failing to explain to your followers why? I know why, am astrophysics, but not all of the metal heads know why. Same here, great advice, but you should explain a bit about tension, friction and possibly how you find it out! Anyway am subscribing to you as is a pleasure to watch it anyway! All the best!

Great video Dave...a perfect explanation for me...

String Eyelet solution , BRILLIANT !!

That's smart-I just started top wrapping my S G,but I notice the G's twist was exposed a lil-Next time i will add the eye

Perfect trick buddy, I'm going to try it out

The round piece is called a ferrule. If you were to manufacture strings, you would place an order for a ferrule from a supplier, not a little round thing or a ball end or any other name.

Great idea! I'll use it. Thanks!

Genius! Thanks Dave great tip 👍

Love the idea of top wrapping I'm gonna do it on my melody maker n lower the action so I can finally tamper the bleeding thing n chug on it😎something I ain't been able to do as is! Bridge too damn high so thanks for that like the string eye thing as well! Tight strings \m/

I can’t thank you enough for this tidbit of added information. PS, I couldn’t help but imagining you being a luthier for the Bard’s College in Solitude 😂🤘🏼

I don't know how anyone can believe it gives less tension on the string, it changes the break angle yes but fact is the scale length is STILL the same and the tension required to bring that string to pitch is STILL the same. 2 things change the tension. 1: Detuning 2: Lighter String Guage.

My strings were pressing against the bridge, and I didn't want to raise the tailpiece to the ceiling...it works perfectly...i had the sharp ends sticking up and just pressed them down a bit then put some grey tape over it...

thanks for the tip, definitely gonna give it a try

I used to do this because Slash and Zakk Wylde were doing this and I thought it was cool. The I realized there really wasn't any advantage. Haven't done this since '89.

Right on bro! That IS the correct name! Fully read a pack of Blue Steel strings! Of course no one ever reads instructions for anything, except me! Cause I am a little too meticulous!! They just might learn something though if they did! Big lol!

Thats a really neat trick thanks.

It's just my assumption... I could easily be wrong about this; but I think the reason it takes longer for the strings to stretch when overwrapped is... because the break angle is smaller. with a wider break angle the strings are more taught, with more tension they stretch more quickly. Just my assumption. For those wondering, break angle is the angle of the string behind the bridge /---.

Cool video. Thanks

Brilliant. I'm trying that

What a great idea thanks a lot for this

The wrapping, I just call it the "Braided" end, and the Eyes I call it the "Ball" end. That is a cool trick, cutting off the Ball end and sliding down the new string! It acts as a "Spacer". Very inventive 👍. *Question*: What is the difference when you string it Wrap-around vs. just pushing it Straight Through the tailpiece?? Thank you 👍

I don't remember watching this one Dave. Do you find the string breaks where the string comes out over the tail piece at all because of the severe bend compared to the conventional way of stringing a guitar? It's a clever and cheap solution to the over wrapping problem though. Cheers

Thanks for the tip...just bought cheap LTD Les Paul like guitar ..always played Ibanez guitars ..so just had to do some research here lol...cheers 👍

very cool tip/idea ! thanks !

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks

Ferrule. I believe it is a ferrule. Great video thanks. Just about to attempt overwrapping...

I've never thought of that eye trick. I wonder if that's why PRS wraparound saddles are wider?

I still don't get why people top/over wrap... I read it was to reduce the break angle of the strings, but the studs are threaded and adjust up/down for that reason. Booklet that comes with these guitars even says to adjust the studs if break angle too much. Adjust the tail up, then won't need any tricks to reduce the chances of cutting your hands open. :D

Great info. Cheers

Nice tip Dave, i will give it a try.

Iv always heard it called the ball end of a string also . As long as I know what were talkin about , call it what u want , I dont care .

Fender bullets as they are called is because the end is shaped like a bullet.

The end is called a ball Dave. The ball end of the string.

I have a les Paul Special-Been chasing intonation for several weeks. I've seen the Pigtail bridges with saddles-but not sure how to notch the saddles. Noticed that yours are notched.

Badassery thanks man awesome tip

Yes Dave, the ends are called "Eyelets".

Great tips. Nice video,friend.

I think it looks pretty cool regardless.

Hey Dave just found the channel and enjoy it! I had a chance to talk to a tech at Ernie Ball and he told me they are technically called "ferrules". Almost everyone calls them "ball ends", though... Just FYI. Keep up the great vids.

jeez, thats a beautiful fucking guitar!

I don't tailwrap. I think it has more sustain the standard way.

That’s a great idea!

An old video I know but........ FYI, I have top wrapped my LP and similar guitars in the past few years. Last week a string broke on one of them ate the tailpiece. To my HORROR I found that each and every string has CUT its way into the corner of the tailpiece to various depths. Some really deep. I expected the strings to mark the top, but not beginning cutting it in half! If you do this I recommend using a generic tailpiece and save your guitars original in the case.

brilliant! thx for sharing that trick.

Hi, I've played Gibson Les Paul but FOR a lifetime and the one thing that I just don't get is why people do this top wrap thing. I thought that I'd try this a few years ago because Billy Gibbons did it. My guitar did not play one bit better or differently. There was no difference in sustain or anything. I know Jimmy Page did this for a while, but sorry, I just don't get it. Please explain why.

Brilliant! No it's an old post,,, but that's great,,,,,

I tried to do this but it wont let me tune to drop B it because of depends on the braid of lp?

So you added a bushing in stop tail using an old ball end.

Hey, what is that intro song? It is awesome. I am surprised no one asked you about it in the comments. Thank you.

Great man!

My Gibson Les Paul junior u havta tug on string or they seat as u play n u gotta retune but thanks for advice coz I'm trying this trick.

There is a post by a guy who found that by examining a guitar that had both wrap and non wrap. The wrap actually made you have to bend the string harder to get the same pitch, and it increased the string tension. Gibson say that if you want to decrease the string angle over the bridge. use the bolts to adjust the hight, that is what it is for. The post also showed there was no improvement in sustain or tone. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GaJjjVKcXJM.html&ab_channel=DylanTalksTone I tend to agree that wrap is just a waste of time.

3:54 BALL END !!!! Quiz tomorrow.

Just found your channel, I'm digging it! On top-wrapping; have you ever noticed any damage to the tailpiece from the strings rubbing?

Way back in 68 things We're great

Is there any benefit in top wrapping? I have an SG that i'm considering doing this with but I find a lot of conflicting reports on the internet. A lot of people say it increases sustain.. is that true?

Ned Stark? Your head's back!

Cool trick, thx.

whoever says that the wood the guitar is made of doesn't have an effect on the sound of an electric guitar when it's plugged in, is clueless. If that was the case you could make a guitar out of anything, plywood, balsa wood, whatever, and supposedly it would sound just like a les Paul made of mahogany given the same pickups and hardware. Nonsense! Maybe if your a metal head playing with insanely hot pickups and amps the differences get obliterated and you literally could play a plywood guitar. But in general if you plug in a super light swamp ash tele, and then an alder tele with the same pickups and hardware, they sound different. Typically a scoop in the mids of the swamp ash. It's because of the resonant interaction between the body and the strings and that effects the tone. How the fundamental note layers with the harmonic overtones dictates whether a guitar sounds midrangey, Bassy, or trebley, soft or focused, etc. With the stop piece down tight you get increased transference good or bad. Why is a maple fretboard brighter sounding than a rosewood? Same thing. Wood matters. That's why the best sounding unplugged guitars are also the best sounding guitars plugged in.

Why is the bridge backwards?

Thats what Bonamassa's guitar tech does.

So I am thinking of swapping my stock TP with an alum. with overwrapping like you did through a Schaller nickel roller. Would that increase sustain in a LP studio tribute? Keep in mind you are chambered. I also have already upgraded my pups to Sheptone heartbreakers with nickel plates that have high roll off decreasing sustenance, but can it be adjusted outward for longer sustain. Is your technique really gonna make a difference for my situation?

I guess using super bullets would work as well?

Clever!

That doesn't put enough pressure on a full contact bridge like a Babicz. There is no way that I would abuse the top of my $250 Babicz by overwrapping. I'm a luthier too, by the way.

I've done it both ways and I can't tell a difference

Lessen the break angle of the string.

When trying this at one specific Gibson Les Paul I had some problems with getting out of tune quite fast. Also my stoppiece would tilt up a little bit because the string tension would pull its rear end upwards (there is a small amount of space between the stopbar bolts and the piece itself) Any suggestions?

I notice the bridge saddles are all forward. Interesting.