How do you Les Paul owners string up your axe?

[SachaPlusDeluxe]

So for ages now I've been breaking strings on my Les Paul at gigs right on the bridge saddles, no particular string, it happens sporadically on them all. I've fitted graphtec string saver saddles and religiously use graphite on the saddles when re-stringing. Non of my other gigging guitars (strats and Teles) suffer from this issue and they all have elixir strings with all the same gauges (9 11 16 32 42 52).

I can go for 3 - 6 months on a set of strings on the strats (3 gigs a month) but only one month for the Les Paul. As such I always change at monthly intervals before a string fails.

I can't get a roller bridge as they don't fit a 52 low E.

So I'm now gonna try the over the stop bar stringing to see if it allays the string breakages. Any one out there have the same issues?

 

[mabley123]

I use a Complete Pig Tail Bridge Assembly and had it Set Up and Pleked with a Benders Dress at Glaser instruments in Nashville..

I can bend the first string 22nd fret up to F#. C-F#. Best playing guitar Ive EVER Played

MIne isn't a Gibson but is as close to a 59 as it gets. All 50's era correct wood. Very Light at 8.2lbs. Tom Holmes Pickups.

This Is my guitar from Vintage Relic.

Kind of like a Set Neck Partscaster.

They built the Guitar and I Bought/Supplied the Electronics from them, and I also got parts from Retrospec, MojoAxe, Throbak.

I already had the Holmes Pickups.

I also use 10-38 Boomers. Same for Strats.




http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/mabley/media/tnbv_zps6f89c1f7.[/IMG

 

[Tidepoolbay]

No. Is there any sharp areas or burrs that may be causing breakage?

 

[SachaPlusDeluxe]

None whatsoever as the string saver saddles aren't metal.

 

[toomuchfun]

Top wrapping is popular on Les Pauls, and you definitely lowered the string angle so it should help. I've tried it and it gives a looser feel but don't have an issue breaking strings unless they're old and ready for a change.

That's a different string gauge combination than I'm used to, I guess a heavy bottom/ extra light top. Are you breaking only the unwound strings or wound too?

Before coated strings came long I always followed the old saying "change with the cycle of the moon" or about every month for a gigging guitar. Not sure if the unwound strings are coated or treated. Since your Fenders are not having the problem, could the scale difference (25-1/2 to 24-3/4) be the issue? The only other thing that comes to mind is if your string saver saddles are for heavy gauge and the light unwound ones might be rattling in the saddles.

 

[outbreak]

never had that issue, I did have the same problem on my strat back when I had that. graphtec saddles fixed that though.

 

[Vizcaster]

The OP has a Nashville bridge which is superior in terms of a greater saddle travel for accurate intonation (without flippng the saddles), sturdier studs, no loose wire, and saddles that don't fall out if you break a string. However it's very difficult to get a good down-angle behind the saddles because the wide bridge body gets in the way.

Unlike a vintage or historic Les Paul with an ABR-1 bridge, you probably can't tighten the tailpiece all the way down to the deck without having the strings pulling tight against the back edge of the bridge. Raising the tailpiece (or the extreme - top-wrapping) will start to alleviate this. Your breakage situation might be from the extra friction of the back edge of the bridge holding the string so lubricating the saddle might not help, the break point over the saddle becomes the weakest point.

So if you find that top-wrapping helps, but you might be annoyed by the change in slinkiness of the strings, then try regular threading of the strings but raise the tailpiece. And do be careful with that big flathead screwdriver...(don't ask me how I know that)

 

[Blazer]

I've got no choice in the matter.

(image removed)

 

[Mr_Mer]

I go both ways.

I mean... I top wrap and "regular".

 

[dog fart]

I top wrap. I tried both ways, went back and forth, experimented with various gauges and decided it's going to be top for me. I just prefer the slinkyness of it, plus I haven't broken a string since stringing this way.

 

[Paul in Colorado]

I just string them through the tailpiece. The tailpiece isn't all the way down, but close to it. I use DAD EXL 110's and haven't had any problems with breakage. The guitar is a Historic '56.

 

[String Tree]

I string mine over-the-top.
It seems to be just fine.
Plenty of 'Sustain', and holds it's tuning very well.

When I break a String, they seem to break in the area I Pick in.
I do pick hard when the song calls for it.
Often times my picking remains constant but I turn the Volume down on my Guitar.

 

[Derek Kiernan]

Where are the strings breaking?

 

[SachaPlusDeluxe]

They're breaking on the saddles. Hopefully top wrapping will cure it.

 

[Lunchie]

Top Wrap. Why? because it pisses people off, thats why . Ok, maybe it doesnt piss people off but now since the world knows I do it, everyone will go back to the regular method.

 

[Teledelphia]

I string over the stop tail on my MIJ Fuji Gen LP copy. Just feels better ( easier on my old fingers) with less break angle / string tension.