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Strings-thru-body vs. topload?

#3
If you are like me and you clean and re-use your strings on different basses then I perfer the topload method.. If you use string thru strings on a topload bridge you'll have issues with the string being kinked at the saddles. I have a American Delux P bass that gives you both options. I have tried both and don't really notice a huge difference, but that is just me. So I usually go for the topload option.
 
#4
In my experience, there's no noticable difference. I've strung my Laklands both ways and did not hear nor feel any difference. I went to the extent of stringing one of them with the E and D through the body and the other two top-load. Next time I changed strings I reveresed which ones were STB and which were top-load. No difference in sound and no difference in feel.

I used to think there was a difference ('though very slight) in the way they felt under my right (plucking) hand, but this test convinced me it was all in my head.

jte
 
#6
Personal preference (or what the particular bass your eye-balling comes with), and there's a lot of threads on this subject.

I'd rather have a "topload" than a string-thru because it's easier, has less break angle, and you don't have to worry if the new strings you purchased are going to be long enough.
Some say the ST's have longer sustain, but I don't think anyone can actually hear any difference. Some bridges/basses are setup for dual action. Mono's are a 3rd choice.
 
#7
mborok said:
I searched but haven't found much discussion on this...

Pros and cons?

I'm looking at a 2008 p-bass.
Click to expand...

Makes no difference, other than thru-body makes it harder to find strings of the right length.
I have a very vague intuition that top-loading tends to stay in tune slightly better. Seems like I had to grab the tuners slightly more on my bass when it had the thru-body strings on it.

I put bolts though the string-through holes in my L2500's bridge (screws are supposed to be there to hold the thing onto the body anyway) and now only top-load.

LS
 
#8
I've heard that topload allows higher string tension, which in turn allows lower action without buzzing.

Also heard that there may be a difference in the amount you need to move the individual saddles when intonating; i.e. one method may leave you with less wiggle room.

Also heard there may be differences in tone and/or sustain, though responses to this thread so far don't support this.

All of this is hearsay; looking for feedback from players!
 
#9
mborok said:
I've heard that topload allows higher string tension, which in turn allows lower action without buzzing.

Also heard that there may be a difference in the amount you need to move the individual saddles when intonating; i.e. one method may leave you with less wiggle room.

Also heard there may be differences in tone and/or sustain, though responses to this thread so far don't support this.

All of this is hearsay; looking for feedback from players!
Click to expand...

The string tension is only determined by the distance between the nut and the saddle, so through-body doesn't affect that (it's the same length in both cases).

There'd definitely be more of a limit on how far back you can move the saddle when intonating with through-body.....

Personally, I really wish the industry hadn't latched onto this through-body stringing hype. All these extra holes that weaken bridge attachments and make it harder to find long enough strings...... what a pain ;)

LS
 
#10
did quite a bit of investigating on this when I was weighing whether to include this as an available option on several of my bass models, and with mutiple recorded bass tracks as my witness - nobody could consistently determine which bass was strung which way in a blind taste test. results were about the same statistically as if the people would have made a random guess without ever listening to the tracks

the above said, you will get a noticable difference under one specific scenario: using taper core strings will have a noticable difference between the two stringing methods including a significant difference in feel. Note that this is because this really isn't a true like kind comparison since what you're effectively accomplishing is a bridge saddle with string wrap vs. string core type of comparison (a taper core string running thru-body is effectively a wrapped string on the saddle) You may experience significant difference in feel and sound when A/Bing a taper core style string - you WILL experience a significant difference in the set-up

all the best,

R
 
#12
I've got 2 basses currently that are string thru body or string thru bridge. I notice a little bit fuller of a sound when I string thru the body than if it's just thru the bridge, but very little. The 2 basses are a '08' Fender MIA Jazz V and a '07' Carvin LB75AP Anniversary.
 
#17
Rodent said:
the above said, you will get a noticable difference under one specific scenario: using taper core strings will have a noticable difference between the two stringing methods including a significant difference in feel. Note that this is because this really isn't a true like kind comparison since what you're effectively accomplishing is a bridge saddle with string wrap vs. string core type of comparison (a taper core string running thru-body is effectively a wrapped string on the saddle) You may experience significant difference in feel and sound when A/Bing a taper core style string
Click to expand...

Here's an informative thread on taper wound/core strings >> http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=547754
 
#19
I had a professional set up on a vintage string through body and because of the length of the neck the tech opted for a top-load. I had troubles with intonation (or maybe just because it was a fretless!) but when I re-strung with the through body, increasing the break angle (and I had to strip some of the silk off the top of the strings to clear the nut), I thought that the tone improved overall.

Could be just my imagination, but I definitely think through body vibrates differently producing a better sound.

I use TI flats (77 Gibson Ripper - ebony fretboard fretless).

-richard
 
#20
unclejane said:
I have a very vague intuition that top-loading tends to stay in tune slightly better. Seems like I had to grab the tuners slightly more on my bass when it had the thru-body strings on it.
Click to expand...

Yup and I believe the reason why is that when stringing the bass, if you go through the body the strings have more tendency to twist as they are brought up to tension due to the break angle at the saddle. The ball end has less freedom of movement. Strings that are at tension but twisted from end to end will warble in pitch. I prefer top loading for this reason.

Regarding tension, tone, sustain I don't believe it makes any difference.
 

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