'The WORST thing you can do to a Les Paul'? | Friday Fretworks

[@Matthew_Eitzman]

The worst thing you can do to a Les Paul is coat the strings and fretboard with marshmallow cream. It will really slow you down because it’s really sticky.

[@birchh1]

Bwaaa...haaaa!!!! OH man...

[@gaboxd4407]

Gotta try this on my bigsby 1959 sg

[@jed02]

can confirm

[@chinaski6979]

Be gone Satan

[@jeffreym4273]

LOL!!

[@annunacky4463]

The worst is leaving it in an unlocked car. They tend to evaporate...

[@everettlethem6747]

Ah yes, man made evaporation is a big problem these days.

[@annunacky4463]

@@everettlethem6747 Now thats funny.

[@russell_szabados]

LOL

[@oskarileikos]

Even worse is to leave it in a locked car when it's hot outside. You wouldn't want to do that with little children or dogs either

[@everettlethem6747]

@@oskarileikos well that got dark.

[@michaelhudson745]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone so effortlessly melodic in their playing. Fantastic as ever, Chris.

[@Glicksman1]

Amen to that.

[@chipgaasche4933]

Keep listening, mike.

[@briandillon8041]

Michael Hudson except maybe George Harrison and Phil Keggi. But Chris is top notch!!

[@SuperJiggawhat]

I couldn't agree more.

[@foogazer9458]

Enter Johnny marr

[@glennwhitlock1272]

I beg to differ. The absolute worst thing to do with a LP is let me play it.

[@markknight6445]

I feel that pain too🤣🙉🥺

[@danieldean9989]

I finally had to sell mine for that same reason. 😂

[@therover4141]

Damn fellas play it even more until its not the worst thing. I guess if your gonna give up just get a Tele they sound like shit no matter who is playing. Except page he is always the exception. When asked why Hendrix didn't play a tele. He said they got 2 sounds good and bad.

[@j_freed]

The Rover - Hendrix used a Tele on some solos in the studio. Purple Haze is one. See, no whammy right?

[@virgilrw]

#STOP IT! 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@donaldryder5534]

“Who knows...who cares” excellent point

[@richsackett3423]

Just people who care about playing music.

[@LennyJohnson5]

@@richsackett3423 I don't think true musicians give it that much thought to be honest; Chris summed it up with "who knows, who cares"... life's too short. I guess it never kept Hendrix, Lennon or Peter Green awake at night. It's something you think about when you've got too much time on your hands. Maybe players stress over it when they're learning...

[@richsackett3423]

@@LennyJohnson5 Funny, no other areas of art or expertise think ignorance concerning their tools is desirable, or indeed preferable. I've seen none of the three players you mention playing just any old shit instruments. Guess they must have cared. It's something I think about because I build guitars.

[@juanfichtl2011]

Wankers will argue forever. Players will shut up n play yer guitars.

[@richsackett3423]

@@juanfichtl2011 Idiots on the internet will pontificate and bloviate, ultimately failing to have any interesting, useful or original ideas.

[@jirdesteva]

I find that everything that is done with feeling or by feel is a very personal thing. Guitars, musical instruments, bicycles, hot rods, motorcycles, and LIVING YOUR LIFE. If it feels good to YOU If it sounds good to YOU If that makes YOU play more Then that is what YOU should do. YOU! Great players do a bunch of different things but they are NOT you. What they do may not FEEL good to you try it then make it your own or not. At the end of it all WE all find OUR own way. Do YOU!

[@mobydick3895]

No. You can test for which way gives you maximum sustain, and Gibson should have done that already and issued a statement about it (but I doubt they ever have)

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

I remember in a interview from the mid 1970's with Bob Glidden the drag racer, he said "This how I do it but don't do it because I say so, learn to think for yourself"

[@nitrogen_777]

The worst thing one could do to a Les Paul is to equip it with a Floyd Rose and EMG active pickups :-D

[@Max_94]

James Hetfield and many legends won't agree with you guitar hero ;)

[@sid35gb]

Yeah take my money 💰😎😂

[@RastaSaiyaman]

The worst thing you can do to a Les Paul? - Fit it with a Floyd Rose.

[@salatieljyrustumanan4929]

came here from sammy g?

[@patrickrosington1174]

LMAO now this man speaks truth. Whos cares if someone top wraps or not. I top wrap all my Gibsons. Les pauls, sg and my es 335td. The best thing to do to a LP is a bigsby

[@brostoevsky22]

@@patrickrosington1174 No, the best thing to do is play your Les Paul everyday ;)

[@patrickrosington1174]

@@brostoevsky22 that is true!

[@nosleep637]

Single cuts and floyd rose do not mix well

[@DavidDantePhoenix]

I remember the first time I top wrapped... I was so enthused to have found a better sound and feel out of my guitar, and at no cost whatsoever. Glorious.

[@greenfly1264]

Same I did it yesterday on my SG 61. Lovely metallic harmonics also I went from 9s to 11s a combination of the two things is indeed Glorious.

[@cechichan]

@@greenfly1264 so it does make thicker strings more playable my friend ? id love to form 9s to 10s on my lp

[@Jason-wo5rr]

I’ve never really heard too much of a sonic difference between sting through or top wrapping but where I’ve noticed a difference is in its playability. Top wrapping for me feels better in string tension making it feel more comfortable to play and by that changes the sound for me. Anyways, that where I come from

[@GerardWaysHun20]

Absolutely agree. To my ear, acoustically, strings seem to ring slightly more with a bit more open sound, topwrapped - but plugged in I don't think there's any difference. The most important thing is the slinkier feel which makes it easier to play and in turn I play better with more control. My opinion.

[@benallmark9671]

Top wrapping meaning ? I ask because I recently got a 2019 SG jr but after reading all kinds of comments ordered in the 2020 that has this lightning bar bridge. I’m I making a mistake ?

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

@@benallmark9671 Personally speakung Ben, the type of metal used to make the bridge actually makes the biggest difference . Go for alumunium only because I have noticed Gibson using heavy-weight metal for bridges.

[@macauley70]

and if dont have more sustain and is only playability, why you dont rise the tailpiece for looking less tension with the same angle of top wraping?

[@silvanorocha3]

@@macauley70 i did it

[@paulrogers6037]

I wouldn't beat a 1959 LP with a violin bow night after night, but, hey, Page....

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

A Les Paul will always win that fight.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

@Spike Elwood I saw Led Zep 3 times in 1969/70. The volin bow appeared every time and it was ALL Les Paul.

[@jonahhoward5109]

@@PaulMcCaffreyfmac I watched the Dazed And Confused live video from The Song Remains The Same, it definitely won that fight. Within two minutes the strings on the bow were hanging off everywhere. Those things aren't cheap.

[@theboofin]

@Spike Elwood In the Yardbirds maybe...

[@Alex-ve3it]

@Spike Elwood he only used telecaster with Led Zeppelin from September ‘68 to May ‘69

[@dpepsi68]

Being that I’m a touch older - here’s what happened at Gibson - the person they hired to do the illustrations in the catalog simply looked at the previous year and because it was a wraparound tailpiece, they simply assumed that that’s how you would do it for the next year - it was actually 100% a mistake and was corrected the year after - as soon as they put out the next catalog - so the whole thing about wraparound being affirmed in the Gibson catalog is simply the mistake of an illustrator

[@RandyFricke]

Interesting.

[@charleshoernemann8661]

Wow! You live and learn!

[@therover4141]

Also before the tune o matic bridge the stop tails were always wraparound so when old school wrap arounders strung up the new tune o mattic the naturally wrapped it over thinking its how it should be done. I top wrap because it puts direct downward force on the bridge and no chance of the string touching the bridge itself before it breaks over the actual saddle. Strings feel somewhat slinkier to me and it looks cooler. You can slam the stop tail as well no matter how high or low the bridge is. Put old string balls on your strings before you go through the stoptail if your gonna top wrap though.

[@keithadams812]

That's an awesome piece of information.... I have more info about Les Paul him self and the SG..... Les Paul loved and designed the SG but Gibson made the mistake of releasing it weeks before his divorce to mary ford... It was cheaper for him to disavow all knowledge and collaboration than it was to pay Mary Ford royalties on the design of the sg... Mary didn't settle for less at all she took him for all he was worth

[@therover4141]

@@keithadams812 also he wanted a neck through design like the firebird. The original Sg was the double cut special in late 58 59. Called the SG. Its why the call the SG the sg after 63

[@alexcrouse]

I think the effect is to lengthen the string under tension. That means the strings bend easier, because you have a string willing to stretch the same percentage, which is a larger distance since the string is "longer".

[@dragonpundit.6443]

The scale is the exact same. It's the angle.

[@philberry1981]

​@@dragonpundit.6443 But the total string length is longer by the width of tail piece - so say another 12mm. When a string is bent it will stretch across its entire length from end to end. The angle will reduce friction and downward pressure on the bridge which will help with bends and prevent long term damage to the bridge and reduce string breakages.

[@dragonpundit.6443]

@@philberry1981 That assumes the strings actually move across the bridge and nut under normal string bending. I believe there is more contact and less angle so it effects something, mostly fewer breaks but the idea your strings are always moving across the connection points after leaving the tuners or tailpiece, is suspect.

[@philberry1981]

@@dragonpundit.6443 It’s not a lot of movement granted but that’s why they make nut juice etc to help stabilise tuning. Try plucking the string between the nut and tuner peg then bend the string and do the same - the pitch goes up - hence that section of string is now tighter and will have therefore moved fractionally.

[@markhill9275]

​@@philberry1981Nut juice is for girls!😂😂😂

[@michaelbrooks5178]

That intro jam was sensational! Again.

[@brandonrook9062]

Indeed...luscious

[@jacobpullen6949]

Jimmy Page’s tele is probably the guitar that has sold the single most les pauls in history.

[@patricksommer3971]

?

[@jacobpullen6949]

@@patricksommer3971 He used his telecaster on most of the early zep albums, notably on the stairway solo and all of Zep 1. He only used his Les Paul live, but people heard the recordings, and went out and bought Les Pauls because they thought he used his Les Paul on the recordings

[@patricksommer3971]

@@jacobpullen6949 he used les paul in tons of recordings. Sure there was also a lot of tele, but from like 71 on most is LP

[@jacobpullen6949]

@@patricksommer3971 Yeah but all the early most famous stuff is tele

[@patricksommer3971]

@@jacobpullen6949 ok, you've probably got a point

[@yetanotherbassdude]

Gonna give a shoutout to Johan Segborn's channel as it was his video that made me decide to top-wrap my Epi LP. His test videos are always done with a real sense of scientific rigour, with all possible variables removed to really just look at the differences in sound from what he's testing. His top-wrap video had the same R8 through the same amp (a dimed Marshall) mic'd the same way and completely left untouched for both tests, and with a new set of strings for both tests too. There's still clearly a difference in sound. It's not that I think one was better than the other, but I could definitely hear a difference and I preferred the top-wrap sound so that's what I've done ever since!

[@mattgilbert7347]

Johan is based. Coolest head in the guitar YT community.

[@cechichan]

Would it make the difference between 010 and 09 ;-? id love to put 010s but they are too stiff for me, would top wrapping make that difference in playability so i can play 010 ?

[@jonsnow9428]

Chris, you deserve more recognition than you get for turning out such excellent content each week. Thanks, and keep it up 👏

[@joecalandrella3330]

Chris, your explanation is as artful and articulate as your playing. I’m a Page, Beck, Gibbons, Green (you didn’t cite him, but RIP) fan, and had never heard of top-wrapping. Thanks.

[@alejandromoro]

you might have been in lockdown your whole life my friend...

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

It makes more sense to me that resonance would be transferred to the body from the bridge not the tailpiece. I go through and raise the tailpiece just enough to prevent the strings leaning on the back of the bridge (nowhere near as high as in your picture) and hastening its ultimate sagging. Preventing bridge collapse seems the only good reason to do it.

[@Gichanasa]

7:30 The fact that top-wrapped strings produce more tension when bent to the same position also means that you don't NEED to bend the strings as much in order to produce the desired higher pitches, hence making it easier overall to play. All makes sense. A great video and playing, please keep it up!

[@flake-49-shino]

No. In the video mentioned, Dylan compares how far you have to bend a string to reach a full step up. The top wrapped strings needed to be bent further with greater force to reach the same pitch. That were the findings of his video, i'd love for someone to repeat the test to see if it can be corroborated as the testing methodology could probably be improved. Certainly a fascinating question though, makes you wonder if there is also a difference between string through and top loader Tele's and stuff.

[@andrewgarcia3136]

@@flake-49-shino yes. this is true. i top wrapped my les paul again and it's actually a bitch to play and i regret it. turns out it adds a lot more tension than i remembered.

[@davidfellows6250]

yes that also applies to heavier strings.

[@wbertie2604]

More contact and more resonance would mean LESS sustain. Energy goes into the guitar, and some of it and very slightly heats up the wood. If you look at Les Paul's original experiments, he got the most sustain with least resonance, as you'd expect.

[@AmpAHolic-wn6mr]

I used to think I absolutely needed to screw down my stop tail until I started to experiment. My findings were, each guitar is different. As of now none of my LP’s are screwed down. I hate the tight feel. I top wrap and bring the tail up until I find the feel and tone that works best for me and the guitar. I prefer a shallow angle between the bridge and tail. Feels like playing a wrap around bridge. Like a jr. Coupling is important, but you have plenty of it from the string tension alone. Experiment, you may find something you like in between much better.

[@Dartheomus]

Nice breakdown. Either configuration does not appear to affect sustain considerably. I could see where tension could feel a bit lower. However, the one thing that people ALWAYS neglect to mention is that if your tension is lower when you bend, it just means that you have to bend FURTHER. Don't believe me? Try Silk & Steel strings on an acoustic. Those things are so slinky that you can bend the strings right off the fret board, but you'll only get about a half step bend when you do. What does this mean? Well as Joe B. put it, you get a little bit of buffering when you dig in. You won't bend your strings out of pitch too far if you hit them hard enough to deflect them. Also, you should see less sensitivity to detuning when it comes to the pressure that you apply to hold down the sting. On the other hand, your vibratos will require larger movements, which could be difficult if you like very fast vibratos. Finally, your bends will have to bend farther to hit the same note.

[@macauley70]

if you want less tension and bend better rise the tailpiece. problem solved

[@ODwan]

In the early nineties I somewhere read an interview with a guitar tech, who said that players like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons originally did topwrap as a way to reduce chance of string breakage at the bridge. So maybe nothing about tone or playability, just about reliability...

[@Atttuner]

This is why I watch Chris. Nuclear proliferation, climate change, human rights......top wrapping. Beautiful

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Haha! All the important issues covered...

[@plaga9_ioc954]

Yea but why does he have Reagan wobble-head on the shelf..?

[@therover4141]

Well as long as he isnt pushing climate change is man's fault then im ok cause Our sun has way more to do with it than the UNs and liberal lefts bullshit agenda lies. I agree there is climate change I've seen the reports and who and how all the "facts " That get pushed are far from facts manipulated data manipulated surveys to say 97% of scientist agree is bullshit. Canada's climate guru woman is a lying fraud that uses her own false data and research as proof. It was proven wrong she even got in hot water over it yet still using it as if its valid. All lies. The truth mainly the sun. The berkland currents the ocean itself. Its normal earth cycles. Will it be good for us meh maybe not maybe nothing much at all. Depends on our sun our weaking magnetic fields. So stop buying MSM climate bullshit they are trying to make money.

[@therover4141]

@@plaga9_ioc954 cause he was a great president like Trump is now. Why would you allow that to bother you. Get your leftist mental disorder under control.

[@jamespollock11]

Wow you're stupid.

[@chippelindberg1776]

Wow, I never thought there would be such a difference in the clarity to the tone. Top wrapped wins in my book.

[@davidep6481]

I am surprised that Slash never used the top wrapping and his tailpiece is kept really hight to avoid an extreme angle.But still amazing sustain and tone.And he uses 11 48 half step down

[@RockNRollBrewers]

The geniuses of adam day😂

[@switchbacksentence1244]

I've always preferred the feel of top wrapping 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LennyJohnson5]

Superb episode of Friday Fretworks Chris. Eloquent and well researched.

[@pocketsdoesstuff3880]

Another KZbinr, Robert Baker, did a video on this where he discovered that when he top wrapped his les paul the strings actually had more tension, which corroborates Dylan Talks Tone's results. Baker tried to figure out why and through speaking with a friend of his he may have discovered that it simply doesn't work the same on every les paul. I believe it was the angle at which the neck joins the body that determines whether or not it increases or decreases string tension when you top wrap.

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

I tried it out of curiosity. There was definitely an increase in resonance throughout the guitar, just like a one piece wraparound bridge. Bends were a little easier too.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Great post, Chris. A clear distinction. Top Wrapping has both cleaner tone and balanced EQ. I'll do the change on my LP.

[@leeevans7814]

Loved this one buddy. I personally top wrap both my LP’s. Why? Its basically because i use heavy 11/52’ strings and top wrapping definitely makes it easier for me to play and bend these chunkier strings. It 100% works for me. Plus it looks cooler and more rocknroll ha ha

[@joeyfarley9916]

I wondered if you were gona get to the extra ball end, to me that is the only way to do it. I switched back to just going trough because I didn't want to mark up my stop bar. after just a year it was marked pretty badly. I couldn't feel a real difference anyway so I just went back to through the stop bar. I think even if it is a mental thing, it still helps because thats all any of it really is. My feelings on tone and guitars and music is always evolving. I can look back even a year ago and see mistakes and misconceptions I had about everything. That is what I love about music, it never gets old and every time you think you know what's what, something comes along and smacks you right in the face and shows you that there is still plenty to learn at any level. I will never stop being a student of music, I love it. Great video and awesome playing like always.

[@markknight6445]

I thought this might involve a Floyd Rose. 😅

[@NolanDerosia]

That bit at 6:00 ish was pretty clever. I always knew the length of the string behind the nut/bridge made a difference, but never really thought to prove it the way you have.

[@kenimiller3896]

When I read the title and then saw Jimmy Page in the thumbnail I thought this would be about sanding the back of the neck to make it thinner!

[@brown22sugar25]

Exactly what I thought

[@MrKimMarkus]

Don't think he sanded it. Believe Joe Walsh had it sanded before selling it to Page

[@Noseheros]

Jimmy had it done by some company in cali on the first US tour

[@jltrem]

@@MrKimMarkus You are correct, good father. It was done here. www.laysguitar.com/

[@therover4141]

@@Noseheros no Walsh did

[@insearchofmelody6319]

independently of this video inwant to say: you have an amazing style of playing. You are now one of five YT-Guitarists i admire the most. Thanks!

[@DunsfoldDave]

I m lucky to have 2 Les Paul’s, and from the factory the 2016 58’ True Historic was not top wrapped, but the Collectors Choice No8 “The Beast” was. So I continue stringing both exactly as Gibson intended and with the same gauge strings on both I cannot tell any discernible difference in string tension.

[@coreyevans835]

I wonder how many of those early Les Paul players top wrapped simply because that's how the guitar was setup when they bought it and never thought about stringing up differently.

[@delbertstringbreaker7686]

Amazing to get the view out of that window - I had always imagined you were in a cottage deep in the Welsh countryside gazing out at the mountains. Magic playing as always! Pob hywl!

[@ChrisBuckGuitar]

Haha. That was in France a few months back. My everyday view isn't quite as...French as that unfortunately!

[@clipdump]

Yep. Best guitarist on KZbin. Friday fretworks is amazing!

[@TorToroPorco]

I thought for sure Chris was going to say “put in a pair of single coils”.

[@Glicksman1]

Um, that would be an improvement if they were good ones.

[@Daverotherham]

The first four years did have single coils, and they didn’t put humbuckers on the budget models when they did get them.

[@Glicksman1]

@@Daverotherham Of course they did. I have a '54 Goldtop with the sweetest P-90s in it. I should have been more specific, I was referring to "Bursts".

[@big_bicep_bill7594]

P90s?

[@Glicksman1]

@@big_bicep_bill7594After having some success with the 1935 single-coil "bar" pickup and later the modified single-coil "Charlie Christian" pickup, in 1946, an improved and much simpler, smaller and lighter design designated P-90 became Gibson's flagsihp pickup. Like the bar and Charlie Chritian pickups, they, too, are single-coil and were installed in virtually every Gibson electric guitar until 1957 when they were joined by the dual-coil PAF (patent appied for) "Humbucker" (which sucessfuly "bucked the hum" of a single-coil) pickup which was the "preferred" (but not by me) deluxe pickup and was installed in all of the higher-end Gibson electrics. The original Juniors, Specials and ES-330s retained P-90s, but all others now had Humbuckers.

[@MichealBT]

“Who knows, who cares” 🙌 sounds great man

[@eikbike]

Longer strings require more tension to bring up to tune. Strats, with 25-1/2" scale feel different than Les Pauls with 24-3/4" scale length because of the difference in string tension. Short Scale bass guitars is were you really notice the lighter tension of 30" or 28-1/2" scale length compared to standard 34" length.

[@j_freed]

That is so. But here's the truth: the longer the length behind the nut or the bridge, the less tension there seems to be on the fretboard. So if you get a Fender Strat vibrato block that is longer than usual and holds a greater length of string, the instrument tuned at pitch has a less tight feel than if the length of the strings in the block were very short.

[@reileyb]

The scientific breakdown of how top rapping actually increases string tension just goes to show how your brain can really trick you into believing something that isn't correct, even the most skilled guitarists. Our brains are really amazing at tricking us with things like this.

[@barrymiller2272]

That kid is SIIIIKKKK! What a talent...his technique, flawless

[@rileyioacura]

Dude your playing is just amazing!! Your feel is divine!!

[@stevegardiner8473]

I'd played Les Paul's for around twenty years before I tried top wrapping for the first time this year (first week of 2020), and I can say it definitely does make a difference. I'd say it makes the guitar feel a little slinkier, and to my ears, gives it a slightly fuller tone. I was a little concerned that the stings could pop out of the saddles when I'm going for those Gilmouresque bends but, so far so good. Haven't done it on all my LP's yet but I think I probably will. Haven't tried the double ball end thing yet.

[@hubbsllc]

Before I replaced my Dean's arrangement with a Babicz Full Contact bridge, I was top-wrapping with the string run through a loose ball end and it was just fine that way. Now with the Babicz I run with the tailpiece elevated to produce a modest breakover angle at the saddles; I don't see any reason to just crush the bridge into the top of the guitar (the point of the Babicz is that it rests directly on the body).

[@therover4141]

@@hubbsllc yes I always cut the ball ends off an old set and run my strings through the ball end then the stopbar to top wrap. It keeps your string end backed off the break over the tail peice cause if you dont that break over the back can cut into or break the string where its wound around the ball and over itself. That's w weak place the bend the string so use a loose ball on the string to back that ballend up away from the breakover of the tail peice. Hope that makes sense.

[@hubbsllc]

@@stevegardiner8473 I wasn't talking about the Gibson Tune-O-Matic; I was talking about the Babicz bridge on my guitar.

[@enricrodriguez-llorens304]

I'm truly AMAZED. I've never thought that this could make such a great impact, the tone is SO much better with top loaded strigs, at least for me. Thanks for the insight!!

[@LostPlectrum]

Glad to see the channel subscribers growing quickly. Well done Chris!

[@calvinrose18938]

I love your analytical and informative approach in these videos! The angle made by the string as it passes over the bridge determines the amount of force exerted onto the guitar body by the bridge. I think this downward force probably plays a larger part on the sound than the amount of tail piece area resting on the body. If you think about it, a guitar body with no strings will have a certain fundamental resonance and a set of overtones. When you apply the force of the strings to the bridge, the fundamental body resonance and overtones will be pushed higher. The larger the downward force of the bridge on the body, the more the resonances will be moved higher in frequency. This is because you are increasing the body stiffness as you apply higher downward force. I don't know if you noticed or not, but the top wrapped examples you played had a slightly deeper, fuller sound, while the strung through examples had a much thinner sound. I think this is because the top wrapped examples were placing less force on the bridge and body, and therefore a lower fundamental resonance and overtones. This is the same effect I noticed when I performed acoustical research on Steinway Pianos in 1980 as an Acoustical Engineer at CBS. You were correct, that the tension in the string is the same no matter what the angle as it comes over the bridge, but the smaller the angle, the higher the downward force on the body - and this is what matters most. Let's take that to an extreme. If the angle between the bridge and the string were 90 degrees (flat string with no bend or angle), the downward force world be zero. I love your playing BTW!

[@jojokeo]

yep, what I was thinking. Excellent logic, reasoning, and common sense.

[@elliothewitt9156]

If top wrapping makes me play like that intro, count me in! 😆

[@johnulrich5572]

An old guitarist told me to just raise the tail piece to lessen the take off angle - that's what the adjustments are for. I find that 10s feel like 9s when I raise the tail piece. Nice video.

[@RobertoMuricy]

I loved the version of Bistro Fada at the end of the video. Nice sound.

[@piggybarn7621]

That intro jam was amazing can't stop listening to it

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

I'm deformed from years of playing a LP Custom three times week and most weekend nights. The thing was so heavy, my left shoulder is lower than the other AND my left arm is longer than the right. And I won't even talk about guitar nipple.

[@j_freed]

Class action!! Those heavy Norlins were designed to kill people. But I'm sure you looked cool while you were up there maiming yourself.

[@captaincrash9286]

John Martyn famously blamed the loss of his leg on years of wearing a Les Paul...

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

Chryptopher It’s like strapping a small piano to your body. That’s why I bought a Strat.

[@MisterTMH]

@@AFaceintheCrowd01 The Les Paul studio I have from 2008 has a chambered body. It weighs the same as my 1991 strat.. :-).

[@guncore]

I've had a lot of experience over the years, and as far as it goes for me there's a couple of things about top wrapping that is undeniably true. I had a lot of breakage of strings at the saddles specifically. I always looked to the sharp saddles as the culprit, but it's the break angle between the tailpiece and the saddles that causes this specific kind of string break. The tension theory in the video rings true. Top wrapping also makes your tuning more stable during dynamic playing. Strum hard, and the note will go less sharp than they would if the bridge wasn't top wrapped. I'm not entirely sure why this is, but what Joe says is true. However, I have noticed that bending up to a certain pitch actually requires more extreme bending when the bridge is top wrapped. You need to bend more to get to the same pitch as you would non-top wrapped. I think this and the above mentioned tuning stability are connected. Because you need to bend more to get to the same pitch, top-wrapping will also give you more control over the range of your bending/vibrato. Overall they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Pick whichever suits you best.

[@UmVtCg]

I swore I could hear a difference in your examples. Then I converted your video to an audio file, chopped the examples out of it and have a friend play those to me at random, then we swithed. If our life depended on ot we could not hear a difference. It became nothing but simple guessing.

[@reenoNO]

Thank you for your nice guitar playing and your KZbin episodes :) If we want to set the tailpiece down to the wood without spacers, the strings sometimes hit the back edge of the ABR bridge as the Gibson neck angle is "big" on some of the Les Paul's. May be the main reason "top wrapping" was done in the old days.

[@charleshoernemann8661]

"The BEST thing you can do to a Les Paul?" Is to play 'Bistro Fada' like Chris Buck 😊

[@stbreal]

Just stated and I love it. Takes some undwanted plinky tones away, softer feel, better tuning. Also, it makes sense since the stop bar was used on les pauls and juniors as a wrap around anyway.

[@attichatchsound-bobkowal5328]

I think the term "tension" is misused here. The term "flexibility" is more appropriate. To have a particular gauge of string reach a particular pitch at a particular scale length - it MUST BE at a particular tension between the nut and bridge. Reducing the grip in the bridge peak and the nut frees up more length of string to be affected by stretching of notes. This gives more flex which SEEMS like less tension. Regarding increased sustain with more post contact: the less downward force on a bridge the less it transfers energy to the body, so the sustain benefit is a wash. Of course in the fog of war on stage none of this makes a nickel's difference! LOL!

[@mijorchard6206]

Totally. Just posted something similar (but more long-winded!).

[@JensenSpeakersVideos]

Very interesting, Chris! I top wrap both my LP and my Collings I-35LC. The difference on that specific LP is... close to nothing both in tone and in feel. I admit I just do it for the fun and the look of it. BUT on the I-35 the difference is truly noticeable: the guitar comes factory set for 11-49s, that I found a bit heavy for my taste. Before goin' down to 10-46s, I tried to top wrap, and man...the new set of 11s felt like 10s. Went back and forth for a few times, and finally decided I'll top wrap her from now on. Tone, something changes, but it's hard to put the finger on it. Feel, depending on the guitar, may change substantially.

[@scottshaw1043]

Love the Django-esque outro!!

[@roughcutguitars]

"Bistro Fada" by Stephane Wrembel

[@andrewwilliamson4064]

Hi Chris, thanks so much for this video. I have a 1950 Gibson SG prototype with P90's that I has never played 'Right' to me. Almost sold it a few time, but by trying the Wrap Around, it's a different guitar . It all seems to be coming into place with this change, so thanks and stay safe.

[@davidbeal8054]

How did Danny Kirwan do it? That's how I'll do it.

[@greenmanalishi6963]

Or green

[@dmytromorozov2593]

Epic ending. Brilliant conclusion and melody right after.

[@philfyphil]

The fact there is more tension on strings when top wrapped makes sense to me because you would then need less bend to increase by a tone. This would then give the impression that it is easier to play as you would need to bend the string less to reach the desired pitch. I have a 57 historic gold top and 10 - 46 strings, and for me it is almost too easy to play especially compared to my Strat and Telecasters. No top wrap needed.

[@adamfox9599]

I’ve top wrapped for years. I personally prefer it. Seemed to help tuning stability as Bonamassa said. I also use gage 12 but don’t feel hard to play but I wasn’t aware that top wrapping makes it easier to play.

[@AudreyDurden]

I thought this was going to be about neck shaving. But it still is about Les Pauls so im staying.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

So when can we expect the follow-up *_”pickguard on/pickguard off”_* debate?

[@weschilton]

Who knows? who cares? Exactly, man!

[@BizarrePudding]

Hey Chris, off topic here but I felt compelled to tell you that I just ordered up a Yamaha RS502T (Bowden Green, of course!) SOLELY due to your influence...I had never heard of the guitar before I saw/heard you playing it on an outro to one of your vids and was immensely curious - and impressed...I think I saw another vid later where you went into more detail and that convinced me more than ever that I should own one... It's on back order, so I don't know when I'll get it but when I do I'll let you know...In the meantime you can tell the folks at Yamaha that at least one person out there bought one of their instruments after having fallen under the "Chris Buck effect"...Thanks man, I'm really excited to get it!!!... p.s...I don't top wrap my LP...

[@asambatyon]

Top wrap does feel slinkier but looks ugly as hell, so I just went back to through wrapping

[@freto_cognito9001]

Damn, I think it looks cool.

[@64north20west]

Before the internet, there was a lotta staying up all night testing these theories with different string sets, spring tensions on floating bridges, etc. Thanks to channels like these where the info can come to light in a faster and more credible level with actual footage of what the greats do with their guitars.

[@videobeach]

Now that this is solved let's talk about tone wood. /s

[@therover4141]

It matters on electrics but accoustics more. Hard wood gonna be brighter softer wood darker. Use all the fancy names for the woods you want but it boils down to hard and soft dry and wet.

[@sYnchr0_]

I caught your solo in Paul David's video a couple of weeks back. I've now seen a couple of your videos. I'll just say, every solo you do is not just easy on the ears, but it's cool, swaggy even, it has boldness and character, and damn it, I'm going to try and replicate some of that.

[@alec7364]

I thought this was going to be about Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh shaving their guitar necks

[@markusfinkler9625]

😂😂😂👍👍👍🎸 unbeleavable issn't.

[@TempoDrift1480]

No Bueno.

[@alec7364]

Thomas Jefferson true, he did buy his #1 from joe already shaved down, but when he bought his #2 1959 les Paul he had that one shaved down to match his #1

[@TempoDrift1480]

Doesn't that null and void the entire idea of buying a million dollar guitar?

[@alec7364]

Wizzle well, this was all taking place in the late 60s and early 70s when bursts were just considered “used guitars” I guess

[@Trial212]

Great video!!! I tried it for the first time because I just bought a used R8 that was top wrapped. I think it does make the strings feel a bit looser. I could not tell any difference in the sustain. As you said, no harm in trying it and if you don't care for it then switch it back. Cheers!!

[@Sco3000]

I expected this video to be about how Jimmy ruined one of his LP Deluxes by installing a B bender.

[@thomasspencer8157]

When you're jimmy page, you get to do anything you want to your guitars, even sanding down the neck of your '59

[@Sco3000]

@@thomasspencer8157 That's more of a personal preference thing; not only did the guitar come to him that way, but that was done in the 60's.... The B bender addition was done in the 90's-2000's. Page even admitted the Lp deluxe was therefor ruined.

[@thomasspencer8157]

@@Sco3000 oh ok I thought he had done the b bender mod in the mid 70s

[@rs700910]

I really look forward to Friday Fretworks 👍👍 thanks Chris..

[@kylestair4803]

I can't imagine wanting to have less tension on a Gibson scale guitar

[@AcceleratingUniverse]

try a mustang some time

[@kylestair4803]

@@AcceleratingUniverse Mustangs are cool but gotta have 10s on mine

[@Nikoo033]

I haven’t had much experience on this but: one lespaul type with strings through (G string often out of tune), PRS and another Lespaul type with top-wrapping: no tuning problems 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@eljones8672]

This intro jam here deserves a YT guitar channel award

[@mettimanom]

Thanks mate, awesome vid.... bought a Yamaha SL500 that had been top-wrapped by the previous owner and had wondered about the pros and cons. Love your work. 👍

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

I ordered a SL500 from Japan the other day, I don't know what to expect, how do like yours?

[@covfefe4409]

Is lend it to Pete Townsend when he was in his 20's

[@malupaural1494]

yes

[@diegoschwartz3519]

i think top wrapping is just a result of the orginal lp's where, like Chris says, you had not choice but to top wrap. When the two piece bridge came out, top wrapping seems to become a thing of preference ultimately

[@apstech4618]

exactly, old habits die hard. This video was for nothing.

[@PalpitoMcCray]

I'll be honest, the two Gibsons I own are the biggest pieces of shit I've ever bought. My ES-335 and Les Paul have hands down, easily the worst intonation I've ever had on any guitar. Sadly, they are also the most expensive. I also bought them as an adult and have treated them with far more care than my others. I'm massively unimpressed with this company and I'm just giving my honest opinion. Chris Buck can make any guitar sound good, doesn't mean the guitar itself is worth price they ask.

[@justaguitarplayer7512]

I will purchase them from you :)

[@Joe_whatuknow]

I top wrap my SG. My friend just did it for me when I bought it and he set it up. I didn't know it was a controversial thing. I liked it because I could palm mute much easier in my punk band. Robert Baker has a good video about top wrapping and why you physically can't do it on some Gibsons.

[@jegr3398]

There's no string vibration on the tailpiece, the string note rings out from the nut to the bridge, so it wouldn't matter how far down the tail piece is screwed into the body, it wouldn't make a difference. The tension on the string is gonna be the same either way, because if there was less tension on the string behind the bridge, the string would be detuned. The only real difference is break angle, does that make an actual difference in tone and playability? 🤷‍♂️ Personally I think this is all hocus pocus snake oil.

[@grooverstone9553]

You are absolutely correct, but I think the lesser break angle would help with preventing string breakages. It mayyyyy also make the strings feel ever so slightly slinkier? But it’s almost non existent. If you want slinkier feeling strings, just get thinner strings lmao

[@johngrey7089]

Hmmm, If what you said is true, then there is no string vibration above the nut either... so a headstock tuner shouldn't work. My Les Paul has a Bigsby tremolo so to test my theory I put a clip on tuner at the very end of the tremolo arm, which is basically a long extention of what would be the tailpiece and I was easily able to tune the guitar.

[@jegr3398]

@@johngrey7089 huh? That's not what I was saying at all.

[@stephenkeddy6849]

Wouldn’t stringing regular put way more pressure downward towards the top therefore creating more sustain?

[@poprostumati585]

after 11 minutes of material bout wrapping around u say ,, who cares" xD really

[@fredscofield180]

In 43 years of playing les pauls my experience is... better tone (imo), less tuning issues, better sustain, and a much lighter action. I spent years trying not to do it but it just flat out works. Its really a personal preference thing but I do it now and likely always will.

[@tato4612]

More like "Best Thing You Can Do to A Les Paul".

[@releshred1272]

I agree! Less string breakage- slinkier strings and more sustain with a top wrapped bridge

[@ryanstark2350]

This is the best way to set up the stop bar. I have tested all methods. You get bolts that allow you to lock it down but not right down to the body. You use spacers to have it at a more normal height. There is no need for severe break angles.

[@KevyNova]

I’ve seen some live clips of Page playing so horribly that I thought his playing was the worst thing you could do to a Les Paul.

[@DMSProduktions]

SMACK, is a HELL of a drug!

[@johnk-ht4yj]

@@DMSProduktions Jack Daniels,heroin & coke....actually made me play better.LOL. I've actually seen Jimmy & he was spot on all four times...fortunately.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@johnk-ht4yj Wow! TRUE professional then! \m/

[@johnk-ht4yj]

@@DMSProduktions LOL. I am a professional amatuer.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@johnk-ht4yj I meant JIMMY!

[@fromoutofuniverse]

Chris, please tell me what's the melody you play at the end?

[@GerardWaysHun20]

Id like to know as well!

[@BAJARACER43X]

The worst thing you can do to a Les Paul is buy one, PRS better for the money

[@EddieHeinzelman]

One thing to also consider: Page and Gibbons use super light strings so any added sustain and tonal difference from top wrapping makes a lot of sense as well. But the worst thing you can apparenlty do is just talk about Gibson on the internet at all. :) Great vid. Rock on!