|
|
Post by dbs on Aug 2, 2015 13:24:16 GMT
'lo-wondering if anyone has ever heard of stringing a reso (wood body or metal) w/ the strings going under the tail piece instead of over top as per usual-what would be the purpose of doing that?
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2015 14:29:24 GMT
Hi dbs,
It is called 'under-stringing' the tailpiece and it is a way of getting more break on the strings from the tailpiece to the bridge. It is what we all used to do in the old days before we knew how to adjust neck angles to create correct break angles. It is a 'quick fix' way of dealing with the problem. In theory it sounds fine and for a short-term-quick-fix-bodge, it is a good thing to know about. What we didn't know in the old days until it was too late, is that understringing the tailpiece causes a serious problem, which is that it pull the bridge back towards the tailpiece which over time can snap the bridge and dent the top of the cone as the biscuit pushes down with uneven pressure. You also have to bend the ball end of the string to a right angle with pliers before fitting each string. Then, as you pull the string under the tailpiece and across the coverplate, it scratches the coverplate!
All in all it is a really bad thing to do to a resonator guitar.
I hope that answers your question
Shine On
Michael
|
|
|
|
Post by dbs on Aug 2, 2015 14:50:21 GMT
oh my-thanks for that info-i was just looking at a guitar on e bay that was strung that way & when i e mailed the music store that was selling the guitar & asked about it the reply was that it creates more tension on the cone producing an improved tone-i was a bit suspicious of that answer-it just didn't sit right-so can the break angle be adjusted by tweaking the truss rod or is there more to it than that-it's a new guitar but a cheapo recording king dirty 30's resonator-just thought to pick it up so i don't have to bring my good guitars to clubs.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 15:16:17 GMT
There might not (yet) be a problem with the guitar - just the person who put the strings on.
TT
|
|
|
|
Post by dbs on Aug 2, 2015 15:44:36 GMT
'lo-i haven't got the guitar yet-should get it in a couple of days-it's new so hopefully there is no serious damage, as you say 'yet'-we shall see-just read some info on break angle-all very interesting-but this forum is much trusted for good advise....thanks
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 2, 2015 16:24:32 GMT
In my earlier post I forget to mention why this is done! The dealer is correct that it puts pressure on the cone when there isn't enough break angle to do that. BUT....it's a cowboy way of doing it.
Shine On
Michael.
|
|
|
|
Post by dbs on Aug 2, 2015 16:40:26 GMT
'lo- i believe these are string w/ light gage strings from the factory-so wouldn't just heavier strings like 15-56 work better than 'under stringing' the guitar?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 15:26:06 GMT
That's an interesting idea, theoretically stringing the strings underneath the tailpiece lip could allow you to get away w/ lighter gauge strings than 11s (like 10s and thinner) because it compensates for the reduced volume by increasing the break angle over the bridge, plus it also keeps the tailpiece from flopping free. A Floppy Tailpiece isn't pleasant.
|
|
|
|
Post by pete1951 on Mar 30, 2023 16:14:36 GMT
There are times this may need to be done . If the instrument has not been put together probably or it needs a neck-reset and the saddle has been taken down too low.
It will improve pressure on the bridge ( if very light strings are used) but the next time it’s strung with heavy strings there is a danger the owner will copy the under stringing and put too much pressure on the cone
Generally it is thought of as a bad thing to do
Pete
|
|
|
|
Post by slide496 on Mar 30, 2023 16:23:30 GMT
Both Gretche and Recording King use that understrung. I have read that that people have had problems as MM described and buzzing from the strings hitting the coverplate. The Recording King I took a chance on as I like the 25 1/4 scale and thought it might work better for me at a lower pitch, it has plenty of clearance - but there are other problems with it and the clearance might be the luck of the draw. Like the Gretche the RK has no replacement parts - it is flimsy compared to other resonators and uses light strings 12-54.
Harriet
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Mar 30, 2023 16:34:43 GMT
Under-stringing used to be a dealer's quick-fix trick for selling National guitars that needed work done on them. The under-stringing puts extra tension on the Bridge saddle. It is a very bad thing to do because over time it will do damage by pulling the saddle and biscuit back and eventually causing the biscuit to dent and destroy the cone. It will also cause the strings to mark and scratch the coverplate, oh and to do the under stringing you need to do further damage by bending the front of the tailpiece up a little to get it to work "properly". I have seen the damage done by under-stringing many times and if guitar manufacturers are stupid enough to send their guitars out to dealers setup in this way, it says a lot about the product and the companies that do this. Please do not do this to your guitars as it will ruin them.
Shine On
Michael
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 19:01:57 GMT
There are times this may need to be done . If the instrument has not been put together probably or it needs a neck-reset and the saddle has been taken down too low. It will improve pressure on the bridge ( if very light strings are used) but the next time it’s strung with heavy strings there is a danger the owner will copy the under stringing and put too much pressure on the cone Generally it is thought of as a bad thing to do Pete Yeah if you string the strings underneath the tailpiece, PLZ switch to really light gauges. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 19:02:51 GMT
'lo- i believe these are string w/ light gage strings from the factory-so wouldn't just heavier strings like 15-56 work better than 'under stringing' the guitar? Actually understringing the guitar w/ lighter gauge strings is safe because the tension is lower so no issues here. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 19:05:04 GMT
'lo- i believe these are string w/ light gage strings from the factory-so wouldn't just heavier strings like 15-56 work better than 'under stringing' the guitar? Actually lighter strings strung underneath the tailpiece is OK because you get easier playability w/o sacrificing the loss of volume |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2023 19:06:13 GMT
'lo-wondering if anyone has ever heard of stringing a reso (wood body or metal) w/ the strings going under the tail piece instead of over top as per usual-what would be the purpose of doing that? The purpose would be so you could switch to Lighter Gauge strings w/o sacrificing the loss of volume. |
|
