Tele bridge - string through bridge or body - which and why?

[DCikes88]

Two Squier Tele's I had and a friends Fender were all string through bridge.
I'm completely modding an Affinity body so it would be no problem to convert to string through body.

What are the benefits, differences in sound or feel, in you experience?
I might not even notice the difference, but would love to hear your experiences.
it will be mostly a metal axe, if it matters.

Oh, also it will definitely be a "classic" tele style plate bridge, but sized for a HB. No Schallers or any too fancy stuff.

 

[jeremy]

i find the top loading usually has a bit less tension but thats purely anecdotal. i dont have a huge preference either way

 

[beaubrummels]

String through body. Best sound, tone, sustain. Even with a heavy Bigsby strung on top, it's thinner and weaker in comparison.

 

[JamesPaul]

^ This.

 

[alex1fly]

No difference in sound/feel. I like the string through body but just because I think the ferrules are neat.

 

[DCikes88]

No difference in sound/feel. I like the string through body but just because I think the ferrules are neat.

Well, disregarding all other opinions then, I also think the ferrules are neat. Therefore, a string through body it shall be.

Oh, and I've already ordered a bridge that has both options

 

[GuitarStv]

I have convinced myself that I like string through body. There's very little difference between the two, it's maybe marginally more difficult to restring with string through.

 

[treyhaislip]

I must be the odd man out here but to me (on the same Tele) strings through the bridge feel more like an Acoustic to me than when I string through the body...as in finger picking on the Tele feels better to me with through the bridge than through the body. I go through phases with it--currently all of my Teles are strung up through the body.

 

[LRS]

No difference in sound/feel. I like the string through body but just because I think the ferrules are neat.

^^^ What he said!

 

[Wattage]

I don't know? Just having compared two very similar teles, one thru the bridge and one thru the body, I totally thought the thru bridge had a bit lighter string tension. Sonically I don't know that it makes much difference but who knows what one person hears over another?

 

[Chistopher]

Seconding "string through the body is pretty neat"

 

[alex1fly]

Well, disregarding all other opinions then, I also think the ferrules are neat. Therefore, a string through body it shall be.

Oh, and I've already ordered a bridge that has both options

Cool. It's a classic choice. You might consider gluing the ferrules in - I've had a couple pop out during string changes. Not a big deal to pop them back in, just something to think about.

 

[jeremy]

Oh, and I've already ordered a bridge that has both options

i have a few tele bridges that offer both. i usually go through body but i have one tele that i keep breaking e strings at the saddle so ive been top loading just the high e and i seem to break less strings. less down pressure on the saddle i assume, but it doesnt really feel different while playing in a live environment

 

[beaubrummels]

Easy way to tell: if you have a guitar that does both, record it both ways and listen to it back as a passive listener. Listen to how long open chords sustain for each, listen for tone changes in the top end, mids and bass. The other half is how the strings feel while playing. As mentioned, you might find top loading is looser and feels easier on the fingers while through the body can be stiffer when bending.

 

[JamesPaul]

Easy way to tell: if you have a guitar that does both, record it both ways and listen to it back as a passive listener. Listen to how long open chords sustain for each, listen for tone changes in the top end, mids and bass. The other half is how the strings feel while playing. As mentioned, you might find top loading is looser and feels easier on the fingers while through the body can be stiffer when bending.

This seems like a great test, you should just have someone else play them back. Or maybe do a shuffle and listen for a while. Then when you have found the one you like best,check and see which it is.

Perhaps I am biased. My Bullet S-3 was (it is Kahler'd now) string through, my Lead II is string through, my Lead III is string through, and my Telecaster is string through.

I must admit, I think DCikes88 cannot go wrong a bridge which permits both.

 

[DCikes88]

I must admit, I think DCikes88 cannot go wrong a bridge which permits both.

And all this string-tension talk considered, I might test out some combinations as well. Like maybe set the high, unwound strings through the bridge, and the low, wound ones through body for some tightness. I'll play around when time comes, and report my scientific findings.

 

[DCikes88]

You might consider gluing the ferrules in - I've had a couple pop out during string changes. Not a big deal to pop them back in, just something to think about.

Oh yeah, my hardtail Dinky will just spit out the top-E ferrule every string change.
Correction: USED TO spit out...

 

[GuitarDoc]

I've used both string thru body and top load and haven't noticed any difference in feel, tone, or sustain. I think your mind can play lots of tricks on you...especially if you have preconceived notions about it.

If, and that's a really big "IF", there is any difference in any of those parameters, it is so insignificant that you can just ignore them.

 

[alex1fly]

Oh yeah, my hardtail Dinky will just spit out the top-E ferrule every string change.
Correction: USED TO spit out...

Glue? What'd you do?

I haven't done anything to mine as it's fairly new (8 months) and I tend to keep strings on for a long time.

 

[jeremy]

i had an issue with a ferrule falling out, i put a small dab of glue on the next string change and it was never an issue again