Chromes OK for Through Body Installation?

[Fender4Me]

Thinking abaout putting Chromes on my Jazz. Will they work OK strung through the body or should I top load them? Thanks

[BassBob1]

i have my chromes top loaded on my jazz and it sounds great. I never really liked rounds strung through the body though. I never tried to string chromes through the body. The angle might be harmful to the string but I really dont know.

[seanm]

They should work ok strung through the body. I had to do this with my G&L L2500 Tribute. It has a known problem with stringing through the bridge, so I went through the body.

I wouldn't bother stringing through the body on a jazz, but it should work.

[fivestringgecko]

I had Chromes strung through the body on my Pbass V for quite a while and didn't have any problems.

5sg.

[Crabby]

Same here. Sounded great on my P-bass but I am really enjoying them on my Stingray these days.

[acleex38]

I have been stringing chromes through-body on my fretless Birdsong for nearly 4 years. I change sets every 6-7 months and have only had one string break on me - and in all fairness, it was 7 months old and I was pounding the hell out of it when it broke, so I'm not sure how much the through-body stringing was the real issue.

[walknbluez]

I have Chromes strung through on my Fender P-bass. I wondered the same thing before I did it and I saw other threads saying it was ok to do as well. I haven't had any problems, although it does feel like there is more tension than I am used to with the rounds on my Jazz which are top loaded.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by acleex38

I have been stringing chromes through-body on my fretless Birdsong for nearly 4 years. I change sets every 6-7 months and have only had one string break on me - and in all fairness, it was 7 months old and I was pounding the hell out of it when it broke, so I'm not sure how much the through-body stringing was the real issue.

You change flats every 6-7 months? Why?

[acleex38]

Originally Posted by seanm

You change flats every 6-7 months? Why?

Just a tonal preference. I prefer flats on my fretless, but I want the brightness of the fresh Chromes. When I start having to EQ heavily to get a tone I'm happy with, it's time to change. For me, the ideal tone is in the 2-3 month range.

BTW, this ONLY applies to my fretless. I'm fine with chromes for a lot longer on fretted (I've changed them, but it's been because of switching between flats and rounds, not because of unhappiness with the flats).

[seanm]

Originally Posted by acleex38

Just a tonal preference. I prefer flats on my fretless, but I want the brightness of the fresh Chromes. When I start having to EQ heavily to get a tone I'm happy with, it's time to change. For me, the ideal tone is in the 2-3 month range.

That makes sense. It threw me because I was thinking, if you want a bright tone, it is going to be gone after 2 or 3 months. So basically you would like to replace every 2 or 3 months, but stretch it out to 6 or 7.

[acleex38]

I just started noticing that somewhere in the 5-6 month range, I start losing the ability to go back and forth between "fake upright fretless" and "bridge pickup fretless" without making shifts on the amp or my pedal board. That said, my tastes and goals have shifted lately, so I'm going to see how long I can make this set last. But then, I'm only in month 2.

[BassDaddy77]

I've strung through-body using Chromes on my Carvin B40 without issues. In fact, after I switched back to rounds on that bass, I threw the used set of Chromes back onto a top-load Jazz and there was no damage to the strings where the 90 degree bend occurs. They sound great to this day.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by BassDaddy77

I've strung through-body using Chromes on my Carvin B40 without issues. In fact, after I switched back to rounds on that bass, I threw the used set of Chromes back onto a top-load Jazz and there was no damage to the strings where the 90 degree bend occurs. They sound great to this day.

Nice!

[ljazz]

I'll be the "fly in the ointment"....... My first set of chromes strung through body on my P bass developed some horrible "fretless" like overtones on the D string after about 3 months. The flat windings at the bend point where they come through the bridge were visibly damaged. I could see the same thing developing on the A and E as well. I clamped up the ball end in a vise and tried straightening out the string, but the damaged windings were still visible...... I can only guess as to what kind of damage it caused to the core. I tried top loading them, but it was still there (the overtone thing). It only makes sense that extreme bend angles will cause the flat windings to push into each other on the inside of the bend, and pull apart on the outside of the bend. I believe this is why Labella recommends their regular DT Flats be top loaded.

I've top loaded the last two sets without a problem. And truth be told, I don't notice a tonal difference between top or through loading.

[Dave Siff]

Originally Posted by ljazz

My first set of chromes strung through body on my P bass developed some horrible "fretless" like overtones on the D string after about 3 months.

Interesting.. I recently put a set of Chromes on my Reverend 5-string (top load) and the entire D string sounds fretless. I'm kinda diggin' it. Not sure what's causing it, though.

[ljazz]

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

Interesting.. I recently put a set of Chromes on my Reverend 5-string (top load) and the entire D string sounds fretless. I'm kinda diggin' it. Not sure what's causing it, though.

That's usually a sign that the string is twisted...... many times that happens if you wrap the string around the post by hand. Try loosening it all up, and then retuning, making sure the ball end is allowed to turn naturally. If it it's held in one spot, and you're turning on the string, then things are twisting.