L-2500 Tribute bridge: Through-the-bridge?

[perucci]

After seeing that the L-2500 bridge is only held-on with 2 screws, and having problems with my current bass's bridge (an Ibanez SR), I was wondering...

...is the bridge installed in such a way that when you install strings "through the body", that the strings really rest against the body, preventing the strain on the 2 screws that hold-on the bridge? Rather than the body really doing the "work" of keeping the strings in place, I'm wondering if the "through-the-body" string configuration is still placing all of the stress on the bridge itself, hence the 2 lonely screws.

Basically I'm wondering if:
A) The bridge is essentially "once piece construction" with the body routed/drilled as necessary; or if
B) There are separate "eyelets" in the back of the body that the strings rest against, physically separate from the bridge screwed on the front of the bass.

[Jimtoonz]

In a "string through body" configuration, the string tension is applied to what are called ferrules, a sort of metal eyelet that is installed in the body. In such a configuration, the stress on the bridge is applied in a downward direction toward the body, in effect, having the action of "holding it on" rather than pulling on the bridge. I would recommend through body configuration on all L-2500s, not just Tributes.

[Temcat]

Originally Posted by Jimtoonz

I would recommend through body configuration on all L-2500s, not just Tributes.

This may depend on the strings. I found that my favorite strings, LaBella Slappers, sound mellower when NOT strung through body. The reason may be their taper-core design - to benefit from it, you want the tapered portion of the string to rest on the saddle, which is impossible in the through-body configuration.

[Jimtoonz]

Originally Posted by Temcat

This may depend on the strings. I found that my favorite strings, LaBella Slappers, sound mellower when NOT strung through body. The reason may be their taper-core design - to benefit from it, you want the tapered portion of the string to rest on the saddle, which is impossible in the through-body configuration.

Agreed. My remark about string-through configuration is made without respect to specific strings and the long-scale vs. "super" or extra long-scale issue. I know slap players who are 100% top loaded and will not even consider stringing through the body. It's all about what you like. In the case of the Tributes especially, I like the string-through loading in light of the 2 screw design.

One of my L-2500s is loaded 3 through body and 2 on top due to the way the tapers fall in the string I am using. Not my ideal situation, but a necessary compromise.

[chunkstyle]

there's a really good picture around here about a tribute bridge that got pulled out of the body. i do believe the recommendation was to string through the body to prevent this.

i personally prefer the sound of stringing through the bridge so i do NOT string my L-1505 through the body.

[Dave Ryan]

I have a G&L 2500L US made, it has the option of through or bridge loading. G&L claims the through body gives the "B" string a tighter tone. I believe this is crap. It's still a 34" scale.
To get the "B" string to sound great [in a lot of cases not all] is a longer scale which requires more tention to bring the strings to pitch. This makes the strings tighter & the result is ring & sustain. I switched to a 35" Schector bass & it smokes my G&L 2500L bass, especially on the low strings. Plus it's 3lb lighter.

[Jimtoonz]

Originally Posted by Dave Ryan

I have a G&L 2500L US made, it has the option of through or bridge loading. G&L claims the through body gives the "B" string a tighter tone. I believe this is crap. It's still a 34" scale.
To get the "B" string to sound great [in a lot of cases not all] is a longer scale which requires more tention to bring the strings to pitch. This makes the strings tighter & the result is ring & sustain. I switched to a 35" Schector bass & it smokes my G&L 2500L bass, especially on the low strings. Plus it's 3lb lighter.

Scale length is not the only factor that determines a good, solid B string. There are many 34" scale basses with great B strings. My L-2500s are among them. Often the difference in a good "B" and a lousy one is simply changing to a different string. Scale length is definitely part of the equation, not the only part.

[EW57]

Originally Posted by Dave Ryan

I switched to a 35" Schector bass & it smokes my G&L 2500L bass

What Schecter did you get?

[perucci]

FYI, I ended-up going 4-string (L-2000 Tribute). I was surprised to see that the bridge has 6 screws rather than 2 like the L-2500, but no string-through-body.