Through body question

[Brian Thomas]

I am working on a couple of bass builds .
I am using a bridge and a tail piece on one of them .
The tail piece can either be a through piece or use it as a tail piece.
Which way would you go ?
Through body or not ?
If so , will ferrules be enough to hold the strings ?
Flying V's some are through bodies , they have that V shaped piece of metal instead of a ferrule on top.
What are you thoughts ?
Any reply is appreciated

 

[Brian Thomas]

Picture for attention and conversation

 

[rockdoc11]

Realistically there probably isn't much tonal difference.

Psychologically, I personally love the idea of the strings passing through the body!

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Ferrules will work just fine. I'd go string-through, just so you have the option to use it in the future should you choose to. All of my basses are top-loaders currently, but my next build will have both options. It's nice to be able to experiment, I used to have an American Jazz Bass that was string-through, I strung the E through the body and A-G top-loaded. I find that through-body stringing does increased perceived tension (scale length is the same, so actual tension stays constant, but string-throughs feel a little stiffer under the fingers to me and a lot of other folks) on a given string at a given pitch, handy for 5/6-strings and/or downtuning.

 

[2saddleslab]

All my solid bodies are string thru. String ferrules work fine.

 

[micguy]

Having the option of string through is a very good practical idea - on the lowest string of a 34 inch scale bass with a Fender style headstock. Stings nowadays are being wound with longer windings, to accommodate 35 inch scales. On a Fender style headstock with a 34 inch scale, you can end up with the fat part of the string wound around the tuner. With a string through option, you have somewhere for that extra winding to go. Some of my basses have string through options on the lowest string only; this is the only string where this is an issue.

 

[Ghastly]

All my solid bodies are string thru. String ferrules work fine.
View attachment 3786891
View attachment 3786892

Agreed, and man is that a beauty. I always love seeing it.

I also designed this bass last year and went with string thru... string ferrules.

 

[2saddleslab]

Agreed, and man is that a beauty. I always love seeing it.

I also designed this bass last year and went with string thru... string ferrules.
View attachment 3787225
View attachment 3787230

Thanks for the kind words. I can easily say the same back to you. So many cool details on that stunner.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

I have heard of issues regarding string through stringing with flats. Probably tapes too. I think La Bella offers models designed for string through. A possible consideration when choosing.

I’ve got a bunch of basses and guitars and think I have one bass with through body stringing. (5 Strats and 5 teles with through the body) I have no issue and probably prefer top loading .