The original Gibson stop bar tailpiece was designed in the early 1950s by the legendary Gibson president, Ted McCarty, as a customized version of the earlier wraparound bridge/tailpiece. Paired with Gibson's pioneering Tune-o-matic bridge, the stop bar tailpiece enhances sustain, improves harmonic overtones, and enhances tuning stability. Together, they set an industry standard considered the pinnacle of form and function in electric guitar bridge design.