Stopbar tailpiece post height/angle

I always had a tendency to break strings so I eventually put Graftech saddles in some of my Gibsons which helped, but I'm wondering about the effect of them and also the height of the tailpiece on tone/sustain/string breakage.

Does anyone feel or know that Graftech saddles effect tone or sustain?

It would seem to be a no-brainer that raising the tailpiece (decreasing the angle over the bridge), would lessen the chances of string breakage, but what about tone/sustain? It would make sense to me that having the tailpiece posts all the way down tight on the body of the guitar would give the best tone and sustain, but is the difference enough to worry about? I'm trying to get the best tone and sustain possible without going back to breaking strings all the time.

Any input appreciated.

Sure, they will change the tone, dynamics compared to the stock saddles.

The number one thing...

Keep the string off the backside of the bridge.

String should only "lay" on the saddle, with a small groove/ indent in the saddle to keep the string seated.

String should not touch anything else.

A. raise tail piece till no touch

B. top wrap strings on tailpiece.

that should elevate the string break close enough for not to raise the T/P. ( been a many thread on this)

Top wrapping is the solution I had not thought of. Thanks, Murkat!

Be aware that by going the top-wrap route there will be a slinkier feel to the strings, and you'll also scratch up the tailpiece a bit.

No problem for me. Slinkier should be good, and scratching up the tailpiece is just mojo.

Another solution is to use the Faber tone-loc washers on your raised tailpiece. These are essentially washers that allows the tailpiece to stay in tight contact with the body. I tend to like this system better than top wrapping -- for each his own...

CraigP said:

Another solution is to use the Faber tone-loc washers on your raised tailpiece. These are essentially washers that allows the tailpiece to stay in tight contact with the body. I tend to like this system better than top wrapping -- for each his own...

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Absolutely. I don't like the feel of top-wrapped strings. Too "spongy" for my taste. I prefer a straight, non-kinked line from tailpiece to bridge. Faber makes good stuff!

Replacing the Nashville bridge with an ABR-type helps with the break-angle of the strings, too. YMMV.

TOP WRAP THAT B*TCH!!

RobB said:

Replacing the Nashville bridge with an ABR-type helps with the break-angle of the strings, too. YMMV.

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I was able to bottom out the tailpiece on my 61RI SG by replacing the stock, Nashville bridge with a Callaham ABR-1 with the conversion studs. A tad pricy for a bridge, but highly recommended.

Lockbody said:

RobB said:

Replacing the Nashville bridge with an ABR-type helps with the break-angle of the strings, too. YMMV.

Click to expand...

I was able to bottom out the tailpiece on my 61RI SG by replacing the stock, Nashville bridge with a Callaham ABR-1 with the conversion studs. A tad pricy for a bridge, but highly recommended.

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Yes. I do this mod on original Gibson abr to TOM posts all the time. Works very well, great mod when you want that ABR tone compared to the TOM bridge tone when needed. Len's Les Paul is a fresh new example of.