1/2 String-thru 1/2 Top load?

[Cannabass]

Does string-thru vs. top loaded setup change the string tension or feel of the strings in any way?

I feel like i've seen people string the E and A through the body and the D and G just through the bridge. would this tighten the E and A and leave the D and G nice and slinky?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

IME, there's no difference in the tension or the feel.

And no difference in the tone either, but I have only a really, really cheap basses to base that observation on .

In my case it's a necessary evil. The F#, B & E are top loaded because of the intonation requirements/mono-rail placement, and the A, D & G are ST because I wan't more break angle at the relatively low (cheap) mono-rail saddles. Shimming the neck would allow me to top load the "treble" strings as well .

Regards
Sam

[JTE]

I didn't do it that way, I strung both of my fretted Lakland 4-94 with alternating string-through/top-load. One had the E and D through-body and the A and G top-loaded. The other was reversed. I did it the opposite when I restrung. Doing it that way convinced me that there's absolutely no difference in either sound nor feel with going through-body versus top-load. It's the only real, valid, side-by-side test. It eliminated all the variables such as different woods, necks, set-ups, PUPs, etc.

But, I'm a musician so I can blissfully ignore facts and I still string 'em all through body.

John

[Phendyr_Loon]

I own two jazz basses. Both alder bodies with rosewood fretboards and strung with stainless rotosounds. One is strung thru a BA 3 bridge and the other a normal top load BA 2 bridge.
The electronic setup on the basses is different so to fairly compare them I played them unplugged.
The bass with the strung thru BA 3 has more of a "bell tone" compared to the top loaded BA 2. If the electronics were identical I could plug them in a see if that translates to stronger sustain.

[ddnidd1]

Originally Posted by Phendyr_Loon

I own two jazz basses. Both alder bodies with rosewood fretboards and strung with stainless rotosounds. One is strung thru a BA 3 bridge and the other a normal top load BA 2 bridge.
The electronic setup on the basses is different so to fairly compare them I played them unplugged.
The bass with the strung thru BA 3 has more of a "bell tone" compared to the top loaded BA 2. If the electronics were identical I could plug them in a see if that translates to stronger sustain.

Try comparing a complete top load to complete string through on the same bass and you'll hear no difference.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Cannabass

Does string-thru vs. top loaded setup change the string tension or feel of the strings in any way?

I feel like i've seen people string the E and A through the body and the D and G just through the bridge. would this tighten the E and A and leave the D and G nice and slinky?

No, but it looks flippin' cool, especially on a Lakland 5. BTW, the sequence is reversed...the B & E are strung thru-bridge while the A, D, and G are strung thru-body. This is done with respect to string diameter, resistance to bend, and the saddle distance from ballend. Other than that, there's no discernible benefit.

Riis