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Chromes through body - how bad?

M

MadFloyd

Feb 7, 2010
67
5
#1
I wanted to try Chromes on my Fender and ordered ECB81SL (reg light gauge super long scale) thinking I needed to go through the body, but looking at my Fender, it looks like I have a choice - I can go through the bridge.

Should I dump these strings and re-order normal long scale?
 
#2
I've had Fenders with both stringing options and I've used Chromes through the body and top loaded with no problems with the strings or tonal differences, but I did switch to through body stringing to keep the string ferrules from falling out of the body.
 
#3
I string them through body of my Peavey Millennium and they sounded fine, the break angle wasnt that extreme. Some flats (like labellas) are advertised not for string-thru because of how the strings are made, but I;ve never used them. I still have the set of chromes I used string-thru body on my millennium, and they have sounded great on the 3 other basses I used them on.

I say go for string through body, in my case it made a small barely noticeable difference of more sustain, but it did no damage to the strings and as I said they still sound great.
 
#10
Lakland also warns against STB for their flats. I have a set of them (actually they're GHS Precision Flats) through the body of my Sting Precision with no problem. I suspect that some companies warn against it because if you're not careful to do the job neatly and correctly, you can damage the string. Having the warning gives them a potential "out" if there's a warranty problem. In my experience, most string companies would take care of the customer anyway, but that warning gives them an option if the customer is a jerk.

John
 
#11
JTE said:
Lakland also warns against STB for their flats. I have a set of them (actually they're GHS Precision Flats) through the body of my Sting Precision with no problem. I suspect that some companies warn against it because if you're not careful to do the job neatly and correctly, you can damage the string. Having the warning gives them a potential "out" if there's a warranty problem. In my experience, most string companies would take care of the customer anyway, but that warning gives them an option if the customer is a jerk.

John
Click to expand...

I've also strung GHS Precision Flats (no warning on that package that I saw) thru-body on my T-40 and they were excellent sounding, and no problems at all.
 
#13
mongo2 said:
Yeah, I know, I've put Labellas through the body with no ill effect. I was just being a bit ironic there.
Click to expand...

OTOH, I've experienced a flatwound Labella E-string snap cleanly off at the bridge before it ever even got fully up to pitch when strung through the body of my Am. Std. P. No, they're not just covering their butts, they mean it. I still use 'em top-loaded cause they're "the sound" for me, and I didn't get in touch with them since they'd warned me.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I've not had that problem with any other brand.
 
#15
TomB said:
OTOH, I've experienced a flatwound Labella E-string snap cleanly off at the bridge before it ever even got fully up to pitch when strung through the body of my Am. Std. P. No, they're not just covering their butts, they mean it. I still use 'em top-loaded cause they're "the sound" for me, and I didn't get in touch with them since they'd warned me.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I've not had that problem with any other brand.
Click to expand...

I also had a Labella flatwound E string snap but it was at the tuner on a top load bass. Go figure.
 

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