Members u6crash Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think string through looks better, but can't imagine it make a huge difference. How is there more tension on the strings if you use the same gauge stings tuned to the same pitch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think string through looks better, but can't imagine it make a huge difference. How is there more tension on the strings if you use the same gauge stings tuned to the same pitch? i invite you to talk to Uma Floresta about string angle. if only for the lulz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 why not do halfsies? first 3 tops/last 3 bottoms I'll do it! Next string change on my tele, I'll keep the wound strings through the body and I'll route the plain strings as top loaders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members linusâ„¢ Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 Have access to a drill press? Do string-through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sgt mukuzi Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 at the end of the dayits all about the three saddles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sgt mukuzi Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 any questions? when he comes to new zealand can my band play with his? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jelloman Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 when he comes to new zealand can my band play with his? I think you're gonna hafta ask him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members STRANDMAN Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 Some will tell you it makes no difference. I truly believe string thru is the way to go. That extra down force on the saddles can't be a bad thing. Top load is the lazy approach. I'm one of those who will tell you that it makes no difference what so ever. As long as you have at least a 14 degree break angle on the strings you have enough to do the job as well as it can be done. Increased break angle doesn't help or hinder one way or the other. As a matter of fact a lot of Les Paul players top wrap their strings over the tail piece to get less string break angle because they think it makes the strings easier to bend which I don't believe in either because no matter how much downward pressure the string exerts on the saddle the string tension must remain the same in order to maintain pitch. I do find it kind of funny to hear the top wrap guys complaining how their strings keep popping out of their saddle slots though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I have both. The top loader is a much cheaper guitar tho, with lower quality hardware and budget single coils, and a heavier body. The string thru is light pine with a Wilkerson saddle like you are considering, and Wilde pickups. So comparing tone or sustain is useless. However, the string tension is greater (or at least feels like it) on the string thru. The top loader definitely feels slinkier. Next time I restring the pinecaster I will top load it and see if that bears out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abrasive Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I decided that string thru was more trouble than it was worth since I'd have had to find a larger drill press to do it on. Top load seems just fine to me. I have no sustain issues. Strings feel pretty loose and easy to move around where I want 'em, but that is subjective since it might just be that particular guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flummox Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 Have access to a drill press? Do string-through. That's the thing. It has to be a pretty big drill press due to the location of the holes. It's pretty much impossible to do any other way and have the holes line up correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lz4005 Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I think string through looks better, but can't imagine it make a huge difference. How is there more tension on the strings if you use the same gauge stings tuned to the same pitch? There's not more tension, but some people think the strings feel a little stiffer (not tighter) and have a little more sustain because the steeper break angle pulls down on the saddles harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members profgalen Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I've always felt that one of Leo Fenders greatest designs For a Tele type bridge was the original ASAT bridge. Its a top loader but the saddles lock together in a frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonny guitar Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 doesn't matter. Disagree. I have a guitar that has the option of string through or top load and it sounds pretty different. No other variables change except for the strings going through and the string through has a deeper, less poppy sound to it and more sustain...fuller rounder sound. There is a place for both however, I prefer the string through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 It's been a while, but I played two '83 US Teles. They were both top-loaders. They still sounded like Teles to me. That being said, I've become rather traditional in regards to my taste in instruments in my old age. Both of my Teles are string-through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members photon9 Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 As a matter of fact a lot of Les Paul players top wrap their strings over the tail piece to get less string break angle because they think it makes the strings easier to bend which I don't believe in either because no matter how much downward pressure the string exerts on the saddle the string tension must remain the same in order to maintain pitch. I do find it kind of funny to hear the top wrap guys complaining how their strings keep popping out of their saddle slots though. I've been top-wrapping for a few years now on my TOM/stoptail guitars. I've never had it pop out of the saddle. There's a few things that may be advantageous about top-wrapping: 1) Most important IMO. The stoptail can be screwed into the body all the way. 2) The lower break angle reduces stress on the string. - Although the tension between the nut and bridge is the same regardless of how you string it, the tension between the TOM and stoptail is increased with increased break angle. - Also, the pressure at the point of contact with the bridge decreases with the decreased break angle. - Finally, the angle the string is bent itself is more stressful at higher angles. 3) It just looks farking cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnhhngbfs Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 my strat has a telie bridge, top loader, zing zing zing! you too, huh? i never came across any one else with this setup before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members csm Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 On any Fender (-style) guitar ... string-through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members linusâ„¢ Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I've always felt that one of Leo Fenders greatest designs For a Tele type bridge was the original ASAT bridge. Its a top loader but the saddles lock together in a frame. i just wanted to point out that these can be bought direct: http://www.glguitars.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=175 ..they are awesome. also note: "The bottom side of the bridge has a large protrusion which fits into a route in the body. The protrusion fits snugly against the end grain of the body wood, allowing the highly resonant bridge to transfer much more of the string vibration energy directly to the core of the body, yielding much greater sustain than his earlier fixed bridge design. Again, Leo's innovative saddle design was used to minimize string breakage." ..so this is not equivalent to a standard top-loading tele bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 that is a nice looking bridge. Reminds me of my Hipshot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vintage clubber Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 If not pre-drilled for string thru and you don't have a good drill press, I would stay top load. Better yet, Bigsby it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members linusâ„¢ Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 Bigsby it! ..that does invalidate the whole argument.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I prefer string-through.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members meandi Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 that is a nice looking bridge. Reminds me of my Hipshot I like the hipshot bridges. I've built with them on a couple of occasions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted January 19, 2012 Members Share Posted January 19, 2012 I like the hipshot bridges. I've built with them on a couple of occasions. kind of expensive but they really are top notch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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