Reso strings over, or under, tailpiece?

[Gary C. Dygert]

I have strung resos both ways, with the strings going over the tailpiece & the balls underneath, & with the strings going under it & the balls coming out on top of the tailpiece. I don't see any difference in the sound. Going over the tailpiece seems to be the accepted way, but why?

Engineers & physicists, please don't overload my pea brain with technical details!

[Gary C. Dygert]

And no jokes about my balls!

[John Bushouse]

Bob Brozman sez:

Understringing, meaning passing the strings under the tailpiece, then poking the string-end out of the hole and bending it into place, is NOT A GOOD THING.
It is what I call the "poor man's neck re-set", because people do it to increase the angle break over the saddle, when the neck angle (due to age and stress) s what causes the insufficient angle beak. However it places a "wrong" kind of pressure on the cone(s) and is generally bad for sound and for the instrument. New Nationals never need this, though many old ones do--it is better to have the neck re-set to restore proper break-angle, rather than understringing.

Pete Woodman sez:

Most of us overstring. Understringing increases the break angle over the bridge, so increasing the downward pressure on the cone/spider assembly. Sometimes this can be a good thing - for example on a roundneck with a break angle that's too shallow it's an easier alternative than resetting the neck - but most of the time it's unnecessary.

I say nothing, because all my info is from these guys.

[Derek Lark]

My Johnson came with them under as the guy who I bought it off said the angle over the biscuit is larger with the new raised nut. I am not sure it is my preference though as the intonation on the low E is a bit out for my liking.

But hey I am new here too .....

So looking forward to any other info from the guys and gals here!

regards from Australia

[Michael Hardee]

I don't think understringing is either a good thing or a bad thing. Try it both ways and see if the slight increase in break angle improves the tone of your guitar. John Quarterman mentioned once that most builders only load his cones to 60% of his design limit, a small increase in break angle is no big deal for a quality cone.

[Todd Clinesmith]

Alot of the overseas resonator guitars come this way. Usually the saddles are too low and the factories do this to achieve a greater break angle.... rather than set up the guitar correctly in the first place. It is a cheap easy fix to a guitar with low string tension (break angle) resulting in buzzing strings. I have done alot of set ups on non USA reso guitars . I put a higher saddle in the spider bridge.... and there is no need for stringing under . Many times the tail piece is a little tweaked from stringing under, so I really don't think they were designed for this kind of pressure.
Basically, I do not recomend stringing under unless it is temporary . More cases than not, overseas guitars need a new set up when they leave the factory.
Quarteman cones can handle alot more pressure than your below average cone as well.

[Gary C. Dygert]

Thanks to all. I guess I was too lazy to look it up on the Brozman site. I'll be stringing over the tailpiece from now on, and I'll try to hear the difference.

[Jim Bates]

FYI, the first person I knew who advocated the 'under' method is Tut Taylor. MY Tut Taylor reso guitar came from factory that way and I have kept the same with all strings I put on. I also have several other reso brands and have them strung on top, because they came that way.

I do not necessarily agree with Bob Brozman's comment when dealing with square necks, but agree with the less stronger round necks.

Again, do some experiments on your guitar. If there is a better sound to you one way, then do it, especially if it is on a square neck guitar.

Thanx,
Jim

[Todd Clinesmith]

Even if Tut did it ,I don't belive the Dopera's tailpieces were designed to be strung up this way. As I said before I have seen quite a few tail pieces tweaked from this.
Todd

[Jim Bates]

I regularly will bend (curve) a tailpiece to keep it from buzzing on the guitar, or adjust down bearing on the bridge. I have found no problem with my Taylor reso in the 10+ years I have played it.

To each his own.

Thanx,
Jim

[John Billings]

I will sometimes cut a thin, 1/8" strip of Dr. Scholl's "Moleskin" and put it under the front edge of the tailpiece. That will eliminate rattles and buzzes caused by the tailpiece vibrating against the guitar's top.