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thru-body strings

M

muskyman

Nov 23, 2013
17
0
#1
Gentlemen:

I am about to install a new bridge. I have the choice of conventional "in-line" string anchoring points. Or, I can send the strings through the guitar body. I've heard that thru-body adds sustain. I've never had a shortage of sustain, so I'm not concerned about this parameter.

However, I'd like very much to brighten the tone.

How does sending the strings through the guitar body affect the tone?
 
#2
Unfortunately this topic really is one where "use the search function" applies. This topic returns with great regularity about once a month. Always the same discussions, same utter misunderstanding of physics, and no new revelations. Bottom line is it really makes no difference in sound at all. The only perceivable difference in feel might be if you do lots of very large bends (like guitar bends of a minor third or so).

Search in set-up and on strings for details of my true side-by-side test to control the variables most people conveniently ignore.
 
#3
I really like the idea of string-thru, because it just makes more sense from a construction aspect (the strings are not trying to pull screws out of the body). That said, I don't find a tone difference, but I've never tried identical basses with the same strings strung each way (of course, no one ever has because no two instruments made of wood are ever truly "identical").

For the same construction logic, I also really like the bridge design of my G&L: the bridge has a block that drops down into a rout in the body, so the strings are pulling the bridge against the end-grain of the body rather than pulling on the screws.
 
#4
This has been repeated a lot, but there's mainly a feel difference. The tension on the string is the same, but it feels different depending on through body vs through bridge, because the break angle over the bridge saddle is different.

Some B and E strings can have problems making the sharper bend from string through and will have problems with intonation. I've broken B strings trying to bend them sharply into a good witness point.
 
#5
It's not difficult or expensive to test it on your own. It'll be easier to decide for yourself, than figuring out 10 different answers from people. Some people hear a difference, some don't. Some people blow negligible differences way out of proportion.

How many times have people fiddled with eq not realizing it's disabled? People will swear, turning those knobs made audible difference.
 
#6
Major Softie said:
...but I've never tried identical basses with the same strings strung each way (of course, no one ever has because no two instruments made of wood are ever truly "identical").
Click to expand...

Nope, it's easy if your bass offers both options. String two strings top load, and two through body. That's the exact same chunk of wood and electronics, and strings of the same age and condition.

Ain't no difference.

John
 
#8
muskyman said:
Gentlemen:

I am about to install a new bridge. I have the choice of conventional "in-line" string anchoring points. Or, I can send the strings through the guitar body. I've heard that thru-body adds sustain. I've never had a shortage of sustain, so I'm not concerned about this parameter.

However, I'd like very much to brighten the tone.

How does sending the strings through the guitar body affect the tone?
Click to expand...

Good god - make it stop !!!
 
#11
Merely saying you hear the difference means nothing. If you can accurately guess which is which will mean something. You are already told, there will be differences, even before listening to the clips. Your mind is already expecting something.

Jensby design said:
I hear the difference in the attack Invalid Link Removed if you don't it's not a big deal the difference is subtle.
I think this video and/or similar should be a "Sticky" in Strings, Hardware Setup & Repair, and maybe even Luthier's Corner.
Click to expand...
 
#12
elBandito said:
Merely saying you hear the difference means nothing. If you can accurately guess which is which will mean something. You are already told, there will be differences, even before listening to the clips. Your mind is already expecting something.
Click to expand...

Jensby design said:
I hear the difference in the attack
Click to expand...
No guessing needed. I have experimented with this before by placing 2 of the same strings next to each other 1 thru, 1 top load. I know what I'm listening for.

If you don't think there is a difference in tone, be happy with your Fender Jazz basses just don't going around claiming to be an expert.

To the better listeners out there keep an open mind.
 
#13
Jensby, Bandito's point was not that you don't hear a difference, but that you can't truly know if you hear a difference. If you know which strings are which, then your perceptions are colored by your expectations. Hearing is possibly the most impacted by your mind's expectations, although taste is another that is tremendously influenced.

I know this sounds like it's saying you don't know what you're hearing, but 100 years of studies of human beings has shown that Bandito's point is 100% correct. I refer you to this recent study where expert concert violinists could not tell the difference between 2 Stradivari, a Guarneri:, and three brand new quality instruments. These players could all describe the difference in both the feel and sound of these instruments before they participated in the blind study, and were amazed at the results when it turned out they couldn't actually hear or feel any of those things when they didn't know which instrument they were playing: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/02/how-many-notes-violinist-stradivarius


In the test you describe, only if neither the player nor the listener know which strings are which, can you know for certain whether or not you really hear a difference.
 
#14
Major Softie said:
can you know for certain whether or not you really hear a difference.
Click to expand...

In the video I posted, I guessed all 5 correctly that's 1 in 32 odds (3.125% chance).
I realize the difference is small and could easily mistaken just like: ceramic vs alnico (pick-ups), active vs passive (electronics), rosewood vs maple (fingerboards), alder vs swamp ash (body), or even tube vs solid state (amps).

OP's question "How does sending the strings through the guitar body affect the tone?"
It could be the down force on the bridge.
 
#15
Major Softie said:
I really like the idea of string-thru, because it just makes more sense from a construction aspect (the strings are not trying to pull screws out of the body).
Click to expand...

That is exactly the way I looked at it. It just seems to be better mechanically.
However, later I found that the bend required in the string where it turns
down through the body is really hard on flat wounds -- especially the bigger
ones. So, I'm back to bridge-mounted strings. I can go either way on my P Bass.

Also, I've never noticed any tone or sustain difference between the two approaches.
 
#16
Hi.

Beaten to death subject I know, but so is dozens of other daily debated topics as well.

muskyman said:
How does sending the strings through the guitar body affect the tone?
Click to expand...

I can't hear a difference, which obviously doesn't mean it can't be there.
Same for different wood combinations though ;).

In my F#BEADG 6er D&G are strung through, the rest top load, I can't hear any difference there either.

While there's IME no tonal differences between string through and top load, there sure is tons of technical differences.
Every one of them with their pro's and con's.

I prefer string through.

Regards
Sam
 
#18
T-Bird said:
While there's IME no tonal differences between string through and top load, there sure is tons of technical differences.
Every one of them with their pro's and con's.

Regards
Sam
Click to expand...

Including, amongst other things:

*Appropriate string length. Too short and the full wrap doesn't clear the nut slot. Too long and the full wrap "hits" the tuning post. Neither is good.

*Severity of break angle when stringing thru body. This may make it more difficult to establish witness points, especially with larger gauge strings.

*Breakage when dealing with exposed core & tapered strings. I believe Lakland, at one time or another, recommends not stringing thru body for this reason.

Of my (6) 5 bangers, only one, a Millennium 5, offers the string thru option.

Riis
 

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