I GOT AN AWESOME IDEA!!! (I think.)

Fratone · #1 07-23-2007, 01:14 PM

I think I've got an idea for a cheap modification to my ibanez GSR 100. A few months back I drilled out my Fender Jazz to accommodate for a string-thru-body bridge. It worked great, so I figured I'd do it to the GSR, but I didn't want to buy a new bridge for it. Then I came up with this idea:

I could just use the old bridge, drill behind it at an angle, and run the strings through the bridge and into the body. I could even set the ferrules at the same angle in the body. It'll take me 30-45 minutes and only cost me the price of a new set of ferrules! Wuddya yall think? I've never seen this done, Would it work right?

flakeh · #2 07-23-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fratone

I think I've got an idea for a cheap modification to my ibanez GSR 100. A few months back I drilled out my Fender Jazz to accommodate for a string-thru-body bridge. It worked great, so I figured I'd do it to the GSR, but I didn't want to buy a new bridge for it. Then I came up with this idea:

I could just use the old bridge, drill behind it at an angle, and run the strings through the bridge and into the body. I could even set the ferrules at the same angle in the body. It'll take me 30-45 minutes and only cost me the price of a new set of ferrules! Wuddya yall think? I've never seen this done, Would it work right?

I did thta exact same thing to gsr200. it worked great, the only downside was, i needed to buy longer strings due to the angle i drilled the hole at. I am now hoping to make this bass a set enck.

I say go for it

wilser · #3 07-23-2007, 01:19 PM

what exactly are you trying to achieve by sending the strings through the body?

flakeh · #4 07-23-2007, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilser

what exactly are you trying to achieve by sending the strings through the body?

it adds 12x the coolness, thats why. duh.

scottyd · #5 07-23-2007, 01:26 PM

Where the strings break over and goes through the rear of the bridge may cause a problem with the strings. If I were to persue this, I would smooth out the edges of those areas to help keep the metal from cutting into the strings which could cause premature wear or breaking.

Fratone · #6 07-23-2007, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flakeh

I did thta exact same thing to gsr200. it worked great, the only downside was, i needed to buy longer strings due to the angle i drilled the hole at. I am now hoping to make this bass a set enck.

I say go for it

Got any pics of it?

Fratone · #7 07-23-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyd

Where the strings break over and goes through the rear of the bridge may cause a problem with the strings. If I were to persue this, I would smooth out the edges of those areas to help keep the metal from cutting into the strings which could cause premature wear or breaking.

That's the only thing i was worried about, too.

pilotjones · #8 07-23-2007, 05:54 PM

Again, question for the original poster:

Quote:

what exactly are you trying to achieve by sending the strings through the body?

DigthemLows · #9 07-23-2007, 06:12 PM

It's lighter now I'm sure (I know smarta%#$) I'm curious why you did it as well.

T2W · #10 07-23-2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Again, question for the original poster:

Yea im also curious.

rockwarnick · #11 07-23-2007, 10:44 PM

guess he doesnt need a reason.

i think ill do it too.

Fratone · #12 07-23-2007, 10:50 PM

I've heard that string-thru-body set-ups increase sustain and add a little more punch to your tone. When I converted my MIM jazz to the string-thru-body set-up, it was apparent immediately. Besides, it's a cheap way to get a little more bang out of a cheap bass. Even if it doesn't work, it'll still look wicked.

**Rodent** · #13 07-23-2007, 11:03 PM

I've installed string-thru on several basses and ...

... I can't hear the difference between string-thru and in the bridge. I can't feel any difference either. But I did get an extra dose of $$$ to offset the royal pain in the arse it is to drill everything spot on.

I dislike installing this kind of stringing that I simply won't do it anymore unless I have no other option (like on an acoustic style bridge) But I've said this too many times in too many threads ... so I'll go back to my shop and sand a little longer now

all the best,

R

Skelf · #14 07-24-2007, 04:05 AM

I am with Rodent on this one. I could not hear any real difference and it was a pain to do.
Alan

wilser · #15 07-24-2007, 06:44 AM

done it twice, no difference heard just like Rodent and Skelf.

PaleMelanesian · #16 07-24-2007, 08:20 AM

I've gone back and forth on my goes-both-ways bass. Never noticed any difference.

Other than the Pain in the Anatomy of restringing through the body.

Fratone · #17 07-24-2007, 09:45 AM

That's crazy. After I strung it thru the body, I could definitely feel the bass resonating in my lap a little more. It wasn't a huge difference, but enough that I noticed. A friend of mine has a similar MIM jazz with the same p'ups as I do (duncan stk-j2's). I borrowed it from him and played them back to back. On a flat e.q., my jazz tended to have a little more low/low-mids and generally longer sustain. My tone also seemed tighter, and more focused. He does keep his strings a little higher than mine, but we're talking maybe 1/8".

I recorded with the bass a few years back when it had the stock bridge, and now I'm back in the studio with it again. I've laid bass lines for 4 tracks so far, and I can hear that tight, more focused tone there. I'm convinced it made a difference.

PaleMelanesian · #18 07-24-2007, 10:18 AM

You noticed a difference between the two styles, on two different basses. I noticed no difference on the same bass. Maybe, just maybe, the difference was the basses and not the stringing?

I tried thru-body for the benefits you're claiming. I wanted there to be a difference. If there was, I would have noticed it. There wasn't.

pilotjones · #19 07-24-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fratone

I recorded with the bass a few years back when it had the stock bridge, and now I'm back in the studio with it again. I've laid bass lines for 4 tracks so far, and I can hear that tight, more focused tone there. I'm convinced it made a difference.

Unless you've already been playing for 20 years, you should expect that you've improved over the course of a few years. That increase in skill brings you not only an improvement in speed, but in tone. Congratulate yourself, not the bridge!

DigthemLows · #20 07-24-2007, 02:35 PM

In the end it's all about feel...........if it feels better to the player then life is good. I know there are tons of threads on this issue where folks have disproved the notion of sustain and tension change using physics. Look it up if ya want...........