String-thru body: lots of questions

[GroovinOnFunk]

I'm acquiring a G&L L2500 Tribute with upgraded Seymour Duncan Basslines Preamp upgrade. I can't wait. I have very high hopes.

Anyway, it has the option to string through the body or string through the bridge.

I have no clue what the difference would be. Well, that's not true, I can deduce it would effect the tension of the strings. I like high tension strings. What's the difference between 34" and 35" scale (besides the obviouse 1"). I hear some people say that they hate 35" scale strings.

What is the difference in terms of tone? If I like high string tension, should I use 34" scale and go through-body? Will that make them snap?

[ixlramp]

Your choice of stringing won't affect the tension. Through body stringing just creates more downforce on the string at the saddle and perhaps a slightly more solid anchoring of the ball-end within the body. This may improve the tone. Tension is determied by the scale length of the instrument (nut to saddle) and the gauges of the strings, not by whether the strings are 34" or 35" scale strings. The 35" scale strings are just made slightly longer, otherwise they are identical.

[mmbongo]

You should definitely string through body with the L-2500 since the bridge is only held down with two little screws. As many have found out, the bridge rips out of the body if you don't string through the body.

Through body or through bridge has no effect on string tension.

35" scale is longer obviously, which makes the strings higher tension...seems backwards to me though I guess since the strings are longer, you have to tighten them more to get to the same pitch as 34"

And your G&L is 34"

Best thing you can do to your G&L is to wire up the single coil mod on it. It will kill.

[Slowgypsy]

This topic has been discussed endlessly, so you'll find lots of info via the search option.

That said, I've tried both stringing methods on my Fender MIA P and while I'm sure there are scientific instruments out there that can measure a difference, I can neither hear or feel and discernible difference that translates into anything meaningful in real world performing situations. Just my $.02

[maturanesa]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

Your choice of stringing won't affect the tension. Through body stringing just creates more downforce on the string at the saddle and perhaps a slightly more solid anchoring of the ball-end within the body. This may improve the tone. Tension is determied by the scale length of the instrument (nut to saddle) and the gauges of the strings, not by whether the strings are 34" or 35" scale strings. The 35" scale strings are just made slightly longer, otherwise they are identical.

dont sure if more preasure on the saddle improve the tone. I think it doesnt. If its make contact well and transfer the vibration properly its ok. More preasure would be the same...

[GroovinOnFunk]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

35" scale is longer obviously, which makes the strings higher tension...seems backwards to me though I guess since the strings are longer, you have to tighten them more to get to the same pitch as 34"

And your G&L is 34"

Best thing you can do to your G&L is to wire up the single coil mod on it. It will kill.

That definitely does seem counter-intuitive to me. Since this bass has an upgraded pre-amp, it actually doesn't have the passive/active/active with treble boost options. What I'm thinking of doing is making that 3-way switch the Parallel/Series/Single Coil and then making the middle switch active/passive since it's a 2 way only switch. mmBongo, I'll PM you some more questions.

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

This topic has been discussed endlessly, so you'll find lots of info via the search option.

That said, I've tried both stringing methods on my Fender MIA P and while I'm sure there are scientific instruments out there that can measure a difference, I can neither hear or feel and discernible difference that translates into anything meaningful in real world performing situations. Just my $.02

I tried searching, I swear... Couldn't get an answer as concise as what I got above

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by GroovinOnFunk

I have no clue what the difference would be. Well, that's not true, I can deduce it would effect the tension of the strings.

You'd be deducing incorrectly. The length of string outside the nut-to-bridge space is irrelevant to tension.