String through body or bridge?

[adivin]

If this has been discussed lately, forgive me. For the first time, I have a bass that gives me the choice to string it through the body or bridge. What are the pros and cons here, if any. If this has been discussed and you can point me to the thread, that's cool.

 

[Jimbob Jones]

In theory, stringing through the body gives more sustain, but you may need to buy longer scale strings.

Given the two options, I would definitely go for through-body.

 

[adivin]

In theory, stringing through the body gives more sustain, but you may need to buy longer scale strings.

Given the two options, I would definitely go for through-body.

Thanks. Does it affect string tension at all?

 

[Jimbob Jones]

Not as far as I know.

 

[Slowgypsy]

I've tried both on my Fender MIA P. I'm sure there'll be folks who have strong opinions about which way to go, and will feel strongly that they can both hear and feel the difference. Speaking only for myself, I could neither hear or feel a difference. I'm sure there is some measurable difference, but it was not at all apparent to me.

 

[knarleybass]

I like string through the body, not for tone reasons, I just like the idea of the strings holding the bridge down, as opposed to the strings pulling the bridge off the body and only the wood screws holding it down. I know it sounds crazy, but I sometimes think that over time those screws are going to strip the wood out and the bridge will eventually fly off.

 

[JTE]

It's time for the monthly thread on this again?

No difference in any way. None. Try a REAL test. String the E and D through the body, the A and G top-load. Play it until the strings are dead. When you restring, reverse the top-load/string-through so that the E and D are top-load and the A and G are through the body. That way you've eliminated EVERY variable. And when you do that you'll find it makes absolutely no difference, despite the people with no understanding of phyiscs, or the advertising people who say otherwise.

I used to be one of those who swore there was a noticeable difference in feel and sound until I did that very side-by-side experiment (on two Laklands). The facts forced me to change my mind on this one. The only reasons I still string through the body are that it keeps the ferrules from falling out, and it won't mar the finish where the strings go into the bridge plate. Both reasons have nothing to do with sound or feel.

John

 

[Jimbob Jones]

I've had the bridge thing happen to me.

I was restringing a 5 with heavy gauge steels and POP, two of the four screws holding the bridge in place stripped, and the bridge ended up at a 45 degree angle to the body.

In the end I drilled two new holes in the bridge and used bigger screws in the old holes, it worked fine after that!

 

[The Mouse]

I know that some flatwound strings "prefer" to be strung through the bridge.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

This should be a sticky. Or rather, the zillion posts on this subject before...

 

[Slowgypsy]

This should be a sticky. Or rather, the zillion posts on this subject before...

I agree, it should be. But... it still wouldn't stop the thread from re-appearing

 

[adivin]

Thanks for replying guys. I knew I might catch a little heat for asking. I did try a search but it was probably too vague.

 

[JTE]

I know that some flatwound strings "prefer" to be strung through the bridge.

Huh???

 

[darkstorm]

In my experience with qaulity high mass bridges, theres no diff in tone or sustain with string thru bridge versus thru body. However there is a small feeling of a little greater tension with the thru body. However with thin bent metal bridges one could expect and find they get better sound (fuller tone) and better sustain with doing those type strung thru body.

 

[Rockmusician]

I have owned both types and never noticed a difference in tone or sustain.

 

[georgestrings]

I've tried both on my Fender MIA P. I'm sure there'll be folks who have strong opinions about which way to go, and will feel strongly that they can both hear and feel the difference. Speaking only for myself, I could neither hear or feel a difference. I'm sure there is some measurable difference, but it was not at all apparent to me.

Yup - I've tried both methods on my Hellraiser-4, and couldn't detect a noticeable difference... Cons of string-thru are the need of longscale+ strings, and more hassle to string than top loading...


- georgestrings

 

[HMZ]

I like string through the body, not for tone reasons, I just like the idea of the strings holding the bridge down, as opposed to the strings pulling the bridge off the body and only the wood screws holding it down. I know it sounds crazy, but I sometimes think that over time those screws are going to strip the wood out and the bridge will eventually fly off.

Fender has been making basses for 60 years and I have never heard of a bridge "fly off" the body of the bass.

 

[JTE]

Fender has been making basses for 60 years and I have never heard of a bridge "fly off" the body of the bass.

Those heavy LaBella flats that so many people (not just Jamerson) used on old Precisions certainly don't have a reputation for pulling bridges out of the bodies...

John

 

[xaxxat]

Huh???

Important note: La Bella flat wound strings are not suitable for use on instruments that require through-body stringing.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Handyman]

Huh???

The sharp turn that occurs where the string bends around to go through the body can mess with some flats.

Given the choice, I'll go through the bridge, as it makes re-stringing a bit less of a chore.