Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Stringing thru the body


peteb
 Share

Recommended Posts

Personally, I string through the body when possible simply because it makes more sense to me to have the pressure pulling through the whole body of the bass rather than pulling on the screws that hold the bridge in place. Probably makes no difference to the sound though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had couple of string-thru body Fenders. One was string-thru only so never gave it much thought, the other had a top load option (Fender HMV bridge). I prefered that bass top load only actually as the bass sounded more alive acoustically with a clearer fundamental which was great at home. Amped up with the band it mattered not a jot which way it was strung in my experience.
For the record I have used TI, Chromes and Roto flats strung thru body and they were fine, no probs. Also, to stop the string-thru ferrules falling out if you go top load, a wee bit of super glue sorts that one out ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BTW - I restrung the bass yesterday and, yes, it does feel tighter and more responsive! Of course, that could be partly because I have used stiffer strings (DR Low Riders) but it certainly does have a different feel to it...

No idea if this will influence the sound in any way, but I have a rehearsal with one band on Tuesday an two gigs with another next weekend so I shall see then...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some say it will increase the sustain of the instrument, which might have scientific foundation or merit to it (more downward pressure on saddles - less vibration absorbed by saddle). Although if you really want more sustain, there are far more effective ways to get it - changing the bridge would be my first and possibly only step.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest bassman7755

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1389430113' post='2334046']
Is every B string the same on every bass for the same string, pitch and scale length? No it isn't. This is because the structure of the bass itself and it's readiness to move under stress (strain) is a real issue that can't be ignored. I've owned American basses with one piece quartersawn maple necks and bridges made of bent steel and the B string in particular (the highest tension string) has been 'floppy' and unpleasant to use. The same strings and scale length put onto my ACG with a 7 piece wedge and bubinga neck, Hipshot bridge and very rigid neck joint are very different and the string feels much more taught (the tension however is the same). This is compliance, or relative lack of it in the case of the ACG.
[/quote]

Jesus do people really pluck the strings of their bass hard enough to structurally stress it and "bend" bits ??. I must be doing it wrong. Anyway cant say I have noticed any difference between my status (graphite neck) and any other of my basses.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1389430113' post='2334046']
Is every B string the same on every bass for the same string, pitch and scale length? No it isn't. This is because the structure of the bass itself and it's readiness to move under stress (strain) is a real issue that can't be ignored. I've owned American basses with one piece quartersawn maple necks and bridges made of bent steel and the B string in particular (the highest tension string) has been 'floppy' and unpleasant to use. The same strings and scale length put onto my ACG with a 7 piece wedge and bubinga neck, Hipshot bridge and very rigid neck joint are very different and the string feels much more taught (the tension however is the same). This is compliance, or relative lack of it in the case of the ACG.
[/quote]

Do you really mean the B string?

Looking at the tension figures (for those manufacturers that actually give them) the highest tension string is usually the D followed by the G and then the others in order of thickness.

This IMO is partly why it's difficult to get a decent sounding B string on many 5-string basses as the standard strings used simply aren't heavy enough for the tension to match the E string let alone any of the others. And why none of the manufacturers making "balanced tension" strings are making sets with low B. Therefore the basses with the best sounding and feeling B-strings are using tricks (like through body stringing) to decrease the compliance of the string to make it feel as stiff as the others even though the tension is lower.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1389635862' post='2336388']

No you are right. It's not the B that has the highest tension. That's why a bass with less rigid structure causes problems as low tension plus greater compliance leaves you with a floppy B. The difference is relative and you don't need to dig in to notice it.

Do you really mean the B string?

Looking at the tension figures (for those manufacturers that actually give them) the highest tension string is usually the D followed by the G and then the others in order of thickness.

This IMO is partly why it's difficult to get a decent sounding B string on many 5-string basses as the standard strings used simply aren't heavy enough for the tension to match the E string let alone any of the others. And why none of the manufacturers making "balanced tension" strings are making sets with low B. Therefore the basses with the best sounding and feeling B-strings are using tricks (like through body stringing) to decrease the compliance of the string to make it feel as stiff as the others even though the tension is lower.
[/quote]

Edited by GreeneKing
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...