string through body?

ajklnr · #1 05-17-2008, 09:48 PM

so im refinishing/rebuilding a pbass. my question is how easy/practical is it to drill through the body and buy a new bridge to make it a string through (i think thats what it's called)? i have a friend who has built a few saga kits and he drilled through a tele. this makes me think it could work. i mean it wouldnt be perfect (but it wasnt perfect on the old school fenders either). thanks for your help/input guys!

Taylor Livingston · #2 05-17-2008, 09:59 PM

What are you trying to accomplish by stringing through the body?

ajklnr · #3 05-17-2008, 10:05 PM

well quite honestly i dont know what the point of them is... personally i think it looks sweet on the back of the body. and from what i do know about it is that its more of a vintage thing. am i wrong?

Al Heeley · #4 05-18-2008, 04:23 AM

You need a drill press and a set of ferrules. It's not easy drilling thru without ripping some grain, you have to start pilot holes from both sides and get them to meet up in the middle if you want to make a neat job of it. This is where the drill press comes in handy - its virtually impossible to drill 4 in-line vertical holes by hand.

Taylor Livingston · #5 05-18-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajklnr

well quite honestly i dont know what the point of them is... personally i think it looks sweet on the back of the body. and from what i do know about it is that its more of a vintage thing. am i wrong?

So you're going to drill some holes in your bass and you don't even know why?

I guess if you think it looks cool then go for it. People usually string through the body because they think it will give them more string tension, but they are wrong. I am not a Fender or vintage bass scholar, but I don't believe vintage basses typically string through the body.

jsingles · #6 05-18-2008, 09:15 PM

so what IS the point of string through?

Peaved · #7 05-18-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsingles

so what IS the point of string through?

Longer sustain.

Taylor Livingston · #8 05-18-2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsingles

so what IS the point of string through?

There is no point, IMO. As I said, people believe that they will get higher string tension, and this is provably false. Then, people also believe they will get more sustain, as the guy above me says, and this is something not easily measured, so I can't really argue with it. However, I don't believe it makes a bit of difference. Most people who have done it around here say there is no difference as well. Maybe it's time for a blind listening test?

Anybody have a bass that can be strung either way, and would be willing to record clips of it in both configurations?

ajklnr · #9 05-18-2008, 11:00 PM

i may have a bass of such sorts shortly (if i go through with this...).

one more question to vintage bass scholars (actually its probably just common knowledge and i have no idea) but im wondering why vintage fenders have the what i believe to be a finger rest or whatever... but its below the strings. if i ever need a rest its for my thumb on top of the strings. this is probably a lame question but ive just always wondered the point of the finger rest below the strings is.

Peaved · #10 05-18-2008, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajklnr

ive just always wondered the point of the finger rest below the strings is.

It's a "grab bar" actually. Supposed to provide an anchor point, but I guess it didn't catch on really.

ajklnr · #11 05-18-2008, 11:06 PM

so your fingers kinda wrap around it and you play with your thumb? like slap?

sorry if this is a noob question.. but i dont really slap.

boomba · #12 05-18-2008, 11:10 PM

Originally Leo thought that the correct way to pluck the strings was with the thumb hence the Thumb Rest was on the bottom.

Regarding drilling out the body for string through. Use forstner or brad point bits in a drill press. Drill from the front of the body to the back using a piece of scrap wood against the back of the body. You will get no tear out at all. Do not try to drill through from both sides. Your holes will never line up.

Peaved · #13 05-18-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomba

Originally Leo thought that the correct way to pluck the strings was with the thumb hence the Thumb Rest was on the bottom.

Hence it is a Grab Bar and not a Thumb Rest, lol.

ajklnr · #14 05-18-2008, 11:45 PM

what size drillbit would i use? i'll have to talk to my friend who has done this on a guitar... but just to get some bassist's pointers would be nice

Peaved · #15 05-18-2008, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajklnr

what size drillbit would i use? i'll have to talk to my friend who has done this on a guitar... but just to get some bassist's pointers would be nice

The hole size is derived by the ferrules, generally 3/8" holes.

#include <MK> · #16 05-19-2008, 05:50 AM

Given the early Fender bridge design, it's not difficult to understand it was not that solid regarding string vibration and why the string through will give more sustain. The idea was to try to minimise loss of vibrations. There's also more of a string break angle at the bridge on the string through body design.

There are many modern bridges that are far more solid that the original Fender type, so there may not be that much of a difference if at all. It all depends on the bridge and setup.

pilotjones · #17 05-19-2008, 05:59 AM

Except that old Fenders had string mutes, to decrease sustain.

#include <MK> · #18 05-19-2008, 07:19 AM

The original 1951 Fender pbass had string mutes? I haven't seen one with a bridge cover, maybe it was on those. In any case, they weren't permanently fixed to the body from what I remember.

Anyway, as I mentioned, it's my understanding that solidifying those early saddles to minimise vibration was a reason they designed the bridge section this way.

Another thing, is that they initially used a different type of string, modified catgut, because they only made them for upright basses then. So the bass strings we use now cetainly differ from the first electric bass strings.

Jensby design · #19 06-02-2008, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Heeley

You need a drill press and a set of ferrules. It's not easy drilling thru without ripping some grain, you have to start pilot holes from both sides and get them to meet up in the middle

meet up in the middle

Clamp a piece of scrap wood on each side of your bass,drill though the whole thing,then drill the back side to fit the ferrules.The scrap wood may have some grain ripping but your bass should be fine.I did mine before I got a drill press,they are pretty straight but I can tell there a little off

ehque · #20 06-02-2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jensby design

meet up in the middle

Clamp a piece of scrap wood on each side of your bass,drill though the whole thing,then drill the back side to fit the ferrules.The scrap wood may have some grain ripping but your bass should be fine.I did mine before I got a drill press,they are pretty straight but I can tell there a little off

Meeting up in the middle means drilling through the front half way through then drilling from the back. This allows your ferrules to line up, since the "misalignment" will be hidden INSIDE the wood.

Since you didn't do that, your holes can and will turn out a little off, especially without a drill press.