Fender Precision - String Through or Bridge Stringing ?

[Andy69]

I'm looking at upgrading to a USA precision, currently got a MIM.

Is there any advantage to a string through the body to a bridge stringing?

[Lozz196]

I’ve found that it seems to give a slightly higher tension. And it might be all in the mind but it seems to be a deeper more resonant sound. Though to be honest I string through the body mainly to both stop the ferrules in the back possibly falling out, plus in case of string breakage, it’s much easier to get the strings out than if strung through the hi-mass bridge - the ball ends can get pretty tight in there.

[TomasFlats]

Isn’t the accepted wisdom that string-through increases sustain?

So if you play with a foam mute and go for that old school thump, then it’s through the bridge, presumably.

What did Jamerson do?

[drTStingray]

3 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

I’ve found that it seems to give a slightly higher tension. And it might be all in the mind but it seems to be a deeper more resonant sound. Though to be honest I string through the body mainly to both stop the ferrules in the back possibly falling out, plus in case of string breakage, it’s much easier to get the strings out than if strung through the hi-mass bridge - the ball ends can get pretty tight in there.

Dare I say it also - more sustain.

The 60s and 70s Precisions did not feature string through bridges and those 60s players often played with foam rubber under the strings and very heavy gauge flatwound strings. But that was the 60s.

The original Precisions (51 onwards) had string through body bridges also IIRC. 

Edited October 20, 2020 by drTStingray

[AngelDeVille]

I hate string thru bodies, I’m to the point where I won’t even buy a bass or guitar with that feature. 
 

the whole sustain quest is quite silly, am I going to play a single note and let it ring out until the audience gets bored and leaves?

 

aren’t Les Paul’s famous for their sustain?  They don’t have a string thru body...

 

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

1 hour ago, AngelDeVille said:

I hate string thru bodies, I’m to the point where I won’t even buy a bass or guitar with that feature. 
the whole sustain quest is quite silly, am I going to play a single note and let it ring out until the audience gets bored and leaves? aren’t Les Paul’s famous for their sustain?  They don’t have a string thru body.

That a bit extreme isn’t it?

Lets ask @BigRedX. I believe Gus are string through.

[Geek99]

8 hours ago, Andy69 said:

I'm looking at upgrading to a USA precision, currently got a MIM.

Is there any advantage to a string through the body to a bridge stringing?

🍿 time .... I think lozz had the best answer; it’s easier to change strings. Otherwise imho the difference is negligible 

Edited October 20, 2020 by Geek99

[itu]

For a string through body you need slightly longer strings, if that is a hindrance or an advantage. Soundwise you can not hear or feel any difference on stage.

[Geek99]

8 hours ago, TomasFlats said:

Isn’t the accepted wisdom that string-through increases sustain?

So if you play with a foam mute and go for that old school thump, then it’s through the bridge, presumably.

What did Jamerson do?

Given that he never changed his strings and used a foam mute I think any difference in sustain in his case would be negligible 

his was a 62 which I think is not string thru - correct me if I’m wrong 

Edited October 20, 2020 by Geek99

[AngelDeVille]

8 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

That a bit extreme isn’t it?

 

nope, I'm not compromising.

[bassbiscuits]

I’ve had basses with and without thru body stringing. They all sounded good so I’ve got no way of knowing what the thru body stringing contributed.

Makes using flatwounds a bit tricky tho as it increases the angle they have to bend. 

[Rich]

I've tried both on my SIre V7 and can report that, to me at least, it made no difference whatsoever.

[Dan Dare]

1 hour ago, bassbiscuits said:

Makes using flatwounds a bit tricky tho as it increases the angle they have to bend. 

This. I don't believe through body stringing makes any difference to the sound, but if you use flats, as I do, they will likely fail sooner. Trough bride string changing easier, too.