Putting flats on a 5 string through body bass?

[Falkner]

A few of the 5 string basses I'm looking at have through-body stringing at the bridge. Is it possible to use flats on a 5 string through body bass or is the bend too great for them?

[Falkner]

Bump. Anyone?

I think I recall reading somewhere that flats and through body are a no-no, but I can't remember for sure.

[emblymouse]

It is a no no officially. If you imagine the way the different outer wraps would look at a sharp bend angle it makes sense.

[Falkner]

That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure. Thanks.

[DavePlaysBass]

I did it with TI Flats. No problems.

[peterpalmieri]

Originally Posted by emblymouse

It is a no no officially. If you imagine the way the different outer wraps would look at a sharp bend angle it makes sense.

Really? I never heard that would be a problem...

[GeneralElectric]

I strung GHS Precision Flats through body for the longest time. The only time I've ever had a break (I've had two) was over the fretboard and not by the bridge.

LaBella doesn't recommend stringing their flats through body though.

[emblymouse]

Yeah, it says that on the Lakland Joe Osborn Flats too.

[fretlessguy]

Since their tension is low, I'd go with the TI flats. They are a little more "bendable". A higher tension set may break.

[Nakedfish]

Lakland recommend that you don't string flats thru body. I have D'Addario Chromes flats strung thru body on my Lakland DJ5. No problems at all and sounds great.

However, I tried a similar set of Chromes on my Joe Osborn 5 both thru the body and surface mounted. Couldn't get them to work at all - it may have just been that particular pack of strings though.

[PSPookie]

I have strung D'Addario chromes, EB flats, and TI flats through the body with no problems -- on a 5 string no less.

I have heard people say that this did not work with LaBellas.