break angle over bridge

[pete692]

My R7 has a real steep break angle between the bridge and the tail piece. The tail piece is screwed all the way down on the deck, the strings don't hit the back of the bridge, but the guitar plays real stiff and is very forward and closed sounding. I would like to lessen the break angle and loosen it up a bit without topwrapping, because when I topwrapped it, the angle is not great enough. Do any of you guys just raise the tail piece to find the optimum angle? Is it safe? Will the studs bend?

[Boleskinehouse]

You can safely raise the tailpiece to your preference.

[Badcard]

The studs won't bend...
As a matter of fact, your current configuration is putting the most strain on the bridge posts, and in time, those can bend! (although there are ways to avoid that).
The adjustable post were actually marketed as an adjustable tension feature.
Just be aware that some believe that raising the tailpiece will decrease sustain.
There might be some truth here, but I think it's marginal at best.
It's all a matter of taste.
(I have it top wrapped and like it that way.)

[Hawk]

Run a second set of wheels on it if you think it might lose some sustain. It'll allow you raise it a bit, still be tight to the guitar, and keep the posts from bending.

Also, thanks for your post. It reminded me that I wanted to get a second set of wheels, but forgot all about it...


Edit: I mis-read your post thinking you were talking only about the bridge. My bad.

[weirdotis]

Do the Billy Gibbons trick and crank your tailpiece all the way down.