Stringing thru the body

[Paul S]

I don't know how important your time is, or how often you change strings, but I find the Hipshot through-bridge stringing to be very fast and convenient because you don't have to thread the string through anything, just lay it into the slot.

[Dingus]

Just like chrizzmus, I find no real difference in the overall tone but certainly a slightly tauter feel to the string if you go through the body .

One way that through-body stringing can be useful is on some five string basses if you string EADG through the bridge and then the B through the body it can help even up the tension / compliance of that low B with the other four strings and make things feel a bit more uniform .

[xilddx]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1389118406' post='2330272']
I don't know how important your time is, or how often you change strings, but I find the Hipshot through-bridge stringing to be very fast and convenient because you don't have to thread the string through anything, just lay it into the slot.
[/quote]

Plus 1

[4000]

I had a Washburn B20 once which came strung through. I played it like that for a while; when I changed it to normal stringing it definitely felt and sounded different, although the difference in feel was more pronounced than the sound.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1389118406' post='2330272']
I don't know how important your time is, or how often you change strings, but I find the Hipshot through-bridge stringing to be very fast and convenient because you don't have to thread the string through anything, just lay it into the slot.
[/quote]

I always find slot held strings a pain when you need to do an emergency re-string, as the string keeps popping out of the slot until you've got some semblance of tension.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1389106932' post='2330047']
It's sometimes nice when other musos see you putting your Fender back in the case and you flip it over and they see the ferruled holes in the back and give you that 'Ooh its a US model' look. Pure snobbery I know...
[/quote]
.. or 'Oh it's US model 62 reissue which has no through-body stringing.'

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1389106727' post='2330042']
I always thought Leo Fender had a solid reason for every design decision, especially when it came to the unit cost of each instrument.

He went to the trouble of putting through body stringing on his Fenders, Musicman and G and L basses, so he must have thought there was a difference that was worth the additional cost.

[/quote]
... So as not to pull the bridge screws out of the body?

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1389047172' post='2329396']
... what are the pros and cons of stringing a bass in this way??
[/quote]

I am unconvinced that there are any real advantages.

Others will tell you different and say more sustain and lower compliance as the main advantages.

You'll need to try it.

[iriegnome]

Mostly what I notice is a tighter feel (not actual) to the low B strings. Since the bridge will be in the same position no matter where the string ball is, it is not going to make much difference.

[CamdenRob]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1389125592' post='2330420']
I always find slot held strings a pain when you need to do an emergency re-string, as the string keeps popping out of the slot until you've got some semblance of tension.
[/quote]

This... It's proper annoying...

[chris_b]

I'm surprised this is an issue.

I hold the string taught with one hand (usually the right) until the other has tightened the string enough for me to let go.

I also find this way helpful in keeping the string straight between the bridge and tuner.

[oakforest5961]

I always thought that through body stringing was quite new to bass manufacture, but perhaps I'm wrong. Does anybody know when strings through body was introduced to the bass?

[Guest bassman7755]

Well the physics of it dictate that there is a strict linear relationship between length mass tension and pitch, so I think this idea of "better compliance" is more psychological than real (as it probably is for many things about instruments and gear).

[Telebass]

The only difference i can see is that you do not need a substantial bridge, because the bridge is doing none of the work in anchoring the string. To me, that explains the lightweight bridge of the earliest Precisions. That's all that was needed. And Leo NEVER did more than was needed.

[spinynorman]

[quote name='oakforest5961' timestamp='1389212968' post='2331533']
I always thought that through body stringing was quite new to bass manufacture, but perhaps I'm wrong. Does anybody know when strings through body was introduced to the bass?
[/quote]

[i]"The first commercial unit of the Precision Bass was produced in October 1951. It had a “slab” (non-contoured) ash body with two “horns” .... a string-through-body bridge with a cover (with a mute), and two pressed fiber bridge saddles."[/i]

http://www.fender.com/news/the-precision-bass-in-the-1950s/

Edited January 8, 2014 by spinynorman

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1389213590' post='2331543']
Well the physics of it dictate that there is a strict linear relationship between length mass tension and pitch, so I think this idea of "better compliance" is more psychological than real (as it probably is for many things about instruments and gear).
[/quote]

[url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm"]http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm[/url]

[url="http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm"]http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm[/url]

[GreeneKing]

Tension and compliance are probably the same if your bass is totally rigid. A bass with a weak neck will have greater compliance in my experience. A Fender bent tin bridge likewise.

The tension is derived from the vibrating length. As those articles allude, any greater length of string from the nut to the tuner and from the bridge to the anchor point won't effect tension. If the string is allowed to move over the nut and bridge then the greater length will cause the string to be more compliant not less.

If a Fender seems to have reduced compliance strung through body then I'd suspect the bridge is flexing when the strings are anchored in it.

I'd say that if you have a well mounted and rigid bridge stringing through is little more than aesthetic.

Edited January 9, 2014 by GreeneKing

[spinynorman]

I've got two Gibson Rippers that are string-through. The advantages are, it keeps the silks off the saddles and there's no chance of pulling the 3-point bridge's post holes out.

[OldG]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1389125592' post='2330420']
I always find slot held strings a pain when you need to do an emergency re-string, as the string keeps popping out of the slot until you've got some semblance of tension.
[/quote]


[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1389199222' post='2331252']
This... It's proper annoying...
[/quote]

I keep a capo around for jobs like this....

Edited January 9, 2014 by OldG

[Telebass]

I guarantee that no one has ever detected any flex in a Fender BBOT. For the fairly simple reason is that it isn't a bent bit of tin. With the heaviest strings possible, you might tear it off the bass. If strung through, that would no longer be possible.

[oakforest5961]

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1389222554' post='2331706']
[i]"The first commercial unit of the Precision Bass was produced in October 1951. It had a “slab” (non-contoured) ash body with two “horns” .... a string-through-body bridge with a cover (with a mute), and two pressed fiber bridge saddles."[/i]

[url="http://www.fender.com/news/the-precision-bass-in-the-1950s/"]http://www.fender.co...s-in-the-1950s/[/url]
[/quote]

I was only about 50 years out in my 'knowledge' then... Thanks for the history lesson spinynorman!

[Kiwi]

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1389047172' post='2329396']
I'm sure that this has probably been discussed here before [/quote]

Yeaaaaaaah you could say that...

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/157251-string-thru-vs-bridge-anchored/page__p__1418117"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/157251-string-thru-vs-bridge-anchored/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/64841-effect-on-through-body-stringing-on-string-tension/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/64841-effect-on-through-body-stringing-on-string-tension/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/21840-thru-body-stringing-vs-bridge-only/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/21840-thru-body-stringing-vs-bridge-only/[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/1074-thru-body-v-top-loaded-stringing-equal-string-tension/page__p__11151"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/1074-thru-body-v-top-loaded-stringing-equal-string-tension/[/url]

[Mark Dyer]

I've strung the Jazz both ways and not noticed any difference in sound, maybe, and I might be imagining it, but through-the-body stringing does seem to give the string a little more tension, a tighter feel? I read somewhere that some slap players string the E & A through the bridge and the D & G through the body, but that just confused me when I tried it.

The biggest difference I made to the Jazz is replacing the standard bridge with a Hip Shot, any minor improvements in through body stringing were completely negated when I did that!

[peteb]

[quote name='Mark Dyer' timestamp='1389365121' post='2333392']
I've strung the Jazz both ways and not noticed any difference in sound, maybe, and I might be imagining it, but through-the-body stringing does seem to give the string a little more tension, a tighter feel? I read somewhere that some slap players string the E & A through the bridge and the D & G through the body, but that just confused me when I tried it.
[/quote]
A slightly tighter feel is all I'm hoping for, as the Bishop said to the Actress!

I will try and re-string the bass over the weekend and see how it goes...

[GreeneKing]

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1389213590' post='2331543']
Well the physics of it dictate that there is a strict linear relationship between length mass tension and pitch, so I think this idea of "better compliance" is more psychological than real (as it probably is for many things about instruments and gear).
[/quote]

Just because you don't understand something is no reason to say that it doesn't exist methinks

Yes tension is a calcuable constant given a number of factors that are themselves constants (scale length, string mass/unit length, pitch).

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.

The force applied to the fixed points of the string when its plucked are considerable and structures, including bridges, necks and joints will move significantly, some more than others.

Back on topic, to the subject of stringing through. The tension won't be changed as, as is given above, scale length, string type and pitch are the only things that effect this and they are unchanged.

Anchoring the string in the body may provide a more rigid anchor and therefore less compliance. But, as you will discover if you read the above references, added string length between the bridge and the body doesn't effect tension because it doesn't change any of the factors that govern it. Added string length actually increases compliance unless the string is locked at the saddle and that negates the very benefits that through body stringing provides anyway.

It's my opinion that through body stringing is only worthwhile if your bridge is not as rigid as it could be. It does look good and it takes the strain off your bridge screws as well but if your bass is well put together and made with decent components it shouldn't matter any.

As to how the bass sounds. If a less rigid bass with more compliance produces the tone you like then all power to you.

Peter

Edited January 11, 2014 by GreeneKing