String through body

[Cliff Bordwell]

For those that have a bass with a string through body option, do you put all your strings through the body or just the lower ones?

Have any of you noticed a different feel or tone when doing the higher strings through the body?

 

[Zooberwerx]

For those that have a bass with a string through body option, do you put all your strings through the body or just the lower ones?

Have any of you noticed a different feel or tone when doing the higher strings through the body?

Yes, my Peavey Mill 5 has the string-thru option. No, I don't use it. If you're going to run any strings thru-body, limit yourself to the A, D, & G. The B & E should be top / bridge mounted. I think it safe to say you won't notice any difference in tone or feel.

Riis

 

[Ewo]

I've owned a few basses with a string-through option. Never noticed any difference, one way or the other.

I use a alcohol soak tube to get more uses out of strings, and top-loading is better for that--avoids stressing the metal by uncoiling and coiling the wrap around the tuning peg. I just lift the strings off, soak them for a week or so, and drop them back on.

 

[StuartV]

I have a G&L L-2500 and a Peavey Mill 5 with string-thru body option. I don't use it at all on either bass.

I like to be able to move strings around between basses. If you string them through the body, then they get a kink in them that makes it where you can no longer use those strings on a top loader.

 

[lomo]

No difference IMHE either.

 

[Freewheelin]

For those that have a bass with a string through body option, do you put all your strings through the body or just the lower ones?

Have any of you noticed a different feel or tone when doing the higher strings through the body?

To answer your question, I think it is going to depend on the bass you are playing. I just had my Fender Big Block P Bass convert to string through and am using GHS XL strings. The bridge has some idiosyncrasies that make intonation very difficult. In addition, there is a problem with string tension creating the dead spots critics complained about and why it never took off which is sad because the necks on these basses are freaking awesome. The conversion solved both issues, but the luthier had to do some minor grinding on the saddles for the E and G strings to get them to seat properly. The upside is the bridge on the bass is already designed for string through so I didn't have to buy a new bridge. Now the tone in amazing, the intonation is dead on at every fret, on every string and it stays in tune no matter how fast or hard you are playing. Although not originally a string through design, the conversion made all the difference in the world.

 

[TheBluePhoenix]

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option. Do they claim that it does affect the sound?

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I tried string-thru on my LB76 once. It didn't do anything different except require longer strings. Hence, I have never done it again. I probably never will either. Plus, let's be honest, getting the damn string through the damn hole can be so damn frustrating some times. (maybe I am just really bad at it)

 

[Freewheelin]

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option. Do they claim that it does affect the sound?

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option. Do they claim that it does affect the sound?

I hear ya and would agree in about 99.9% of the cases. However, in the case of my big block, it did make a huge difference. I had spend the last five years trying to get the intonation right and never could. What finally made me take to a luthier was during rehearsal A string just went dead. Fretted notes were bright and clear, A string was dead as a stone. Finally had enough and took it in to have it fixed. Since bridge is set up for it already, the conversion plus fixing a jack issue was $130. True the strings are a pain since the cost a bit more, but in this case the difference in the tone and clarity is night and day. The bass always played fast, but now it is the entire package.

 

[lz4005]

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option. Do they claim that it does affect the sound?

It doesn't impact tone to my ears, but the difference in break angle over the saddle can change the feel of the strings. I have a couple of basses that can be strung either way and the same strings feel different depending on which way you do it.

 

[elBandito]

Through body holes are behind the saddles. Should have zero effect on intonation.

I hear ya and would agree in about 99.9% of the cases. However, in the case of my big block, it did make a huge difference. I had spend the last five years trying to get the intonation right and never could. What finally made me take to a luthier was during rehearsal A string just went dead. Fretted notes were bright and clear, A string was dead as a stone. Finally had enough and took it in to have it fixed. Since bridge is set up for it already, the conversion plus fixing a jack issue was $130. True the strings are a pain since the cost a bit more, but in this case the difference in the tone and clarity is night and day. The bass always played fast, but now it is the entire package.

 

[David Jayne]

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option.

For the same reason amp makers are still pushing the 410 + 115 combination.

 

[Jared Lash]

While the ferrules are hidden, both of my hollowbodies are string through body. In my case it was just a practical issue. They are 32" scale basses and going through the body lets me use standard length strings with no issues.

 

[Cliff Bordwell]

I was expecting half the posts to say that there is a huge difference in the sound and the other half to say that there is no difference. The consensus is that there is no difference in the sound so I’m wondering why some manufacturers offer the string through body option. Do they claim that it does affect the sound?

It's a good option for 32" and 33" scale basses, allowing you to choose any of the standard length strings.

 

[2saddleslab]

Never been able to do a perfect side by side comparison between top and thru body. However, many years ago I would bring a 58 P bass, 69 Jazz, and 68 Tele bass to gigs and always found the Tele delivered more solid lows and an overall fuller tone. Was it the bridge, the pickup, the wood, all of the above? Who knows, but I've gravitated to string thru ever since.

 

[lz4005]

Through body holes are behind the saddles. Should have zero effect on intonation.

Thicker strings can have problems bending sharply enough to establish a good witness point when strung through body. That impacts intonation.

Also, the steeper angle over the bridge saddles from through body can keep them from shifting side-to-side. That also impacts intonation.

 

[Marcus Willett]

IME, stringing through body can make a difference, but not for the reasons people usually suspect.

If your saddles are far back in order to intonate properly, then the witness point is going to be very close to the ball end of the string. The strings is least flexible here, and is usually wrapped much thicker and unevenly. This results in odd harmonics and other artifacts that are especially noticeable on heavier strings like the B and E.

Moving the witness point to a more flexible part of the string (by straining through, adding length) of course has no effect on tension (it can't, otherwise it would also change pitch) but it can change the way the string behaves and sounds IMO. Not a drastic difference by any means, but noticeable.

Of course, if your witness point is already a fair distance from the ball end of the sting then probably this would have minimal to zero impact.

 

[blowinblue]

Ah...a topic that is one of my hot buttons. I absolutely, positively refuse to own a bass with a string through body bridge. Many players can't hear a difference. If the bassist can't hear a difference how is the audience going to? But mostly, it's a matter of convenience (or lack of). If you want to switch out string sets but preserve the coiling on the tuner ends for easy reuse at a later time, string through body messes with that. And tears up the silk. So does a bridge that is not quick release, for that matter. I don't have basses with those, either. Some have their reasons for preferring through body, as has been mentioned, but for me it's no sale, no cigar.

M. M.

 

[Thornton Davis]

As a rule I prefer neck through basses with string through bridges. As for bolt on necks, I also prefer string through bridges as pictured below in my Schecter Hellraiser Extreme-5 and my American Standard Jaguar. But if a bass I really like doesn't have string through body design, that won't stop me from buying it.

TD

 

[elBandito]

Witness point is important for top loading also. It's not unique to through body stringing. Having to bend thicker strings to extreme angle does not give you better intonation. In fact, many people complain about that bend. Speaking length is between the nut and the saddles.

Through body stringing will not prevent the saddles from walking. No intonation benefit there.

Thicker strings can have problems bending sharply enough to establish a good witness point when strung through body. That impacts intonation.

Also, the steeper angle over the bridge saddles from through body can keep them from shifting side-to-side. That also impacts intonation.