Anyone ever try this toploader and string thru?

Mark Davis · October 13th, 2005, 12:17 PM

Was wondering if anyone has ever tried this if not I think I might.

Get a bridge thats stringthru and toploader.

Use the stringthru part for the wound strings and the toploader part for the plain strings.

Since the string angle break isnt so sharp on the toploader side the strings should be a little easier to bend.

Let me know if you have tried it or you think it would be worth a test to see if the theory works.

bahilton · October 13th, 2005, 12:56 PM

Interesting thought... I had planned to purchase just such a bridge this weekend. I'll try it out and post the results.

So what exactly is the advantage of string-through, anyway? I can see the logic in running the B and E straight thru, for bending and quick changes, but why not run the rest straight as well? I figure there must be a reason, since someone bothered to engineer the design, but I never thought to ask before.

bo · October 13th, 2005, 01:03 PM

I have a bridge drilled to do both on one of my Teles. I didn't see that much difference in the unwound strings. The wound strings should definitely be routed through the body. YMMV.

Mark Davis · October 13th, 2005, 01:17 PM

I had a steel guitar you could string up either way and when I used the string thru it did have more sustain but since its a steel without frets was unable to see if the strings were easier to bend when strung toploader.

Doug 54 · October 13th, 2005, 01:39 PM

yep

3-4 yrs ago.

My next project Tele will have 1-4 top-load option-- 5@6 just string thru

bwanasonic · October 13th, 2005, 01:53 PM

I'm pretty sure I read about that here on a thread about favorite tele mods. Personally, my favorite way to make strings easier to bend, is to make my fingers stronger 8) . Get used to a set of .012s, then switch down! :)

Kerry M

Mark Davis · October 13th, 2005, 02:01 PM

Not really having a problem bending the strings 10's feel like 8's on this big necked Esquire with maple fretboard.

I think I will try it and see what happens. $8 for a new bridge isnt a very expensive project.

kickz28 · October 13th, 2005, 06:12 PM

I may be wrong but I can't understand why the strings would be easier to bend.
If you use strings of the same gauge, tuned to the same pitch, and the scale lengths is the same, then the tension in the strings MUST be the same. Therefore, why would it be easier to bend?

Maybe their's another factor that I'm not thinking of now?

Mark Davis · October 13th, 2005, 07:38 PM

There is way less of a break angle at the saddles on the toploader vs string thru. This means the strings should exert less pressure on the saddles and be easier to bend.

Some guys like to add a shim in the neck and put quarters under the saddle adjuster screws to increase the break angle to its greatest degree to increse pop and sustain it really works. SO going to a lesser degree in theory should make the strings a wee bit easier to bend.

I will be able to tell easy being blind my sense of feel is real strong I can easily tell the difference between 10's and 9.5's. Just want to experiment a little.

bahilton · October 22nd, 2005, 02:49 PM

Well, I got a Wilkinson bridge with compensated brass saddles, which has holes for both straight and through body stringing. Problem is, the holes in my guitar don't line up with the ones on my new bridge. All I can do is string straight to the back of the bridge.

Wish I could have tried your experiment, it would have been interesting.

October 13th, 2005, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Anyone ever try this toploader and string thru? Was wondering if anyone has ever tried this if not I think I might. Get a bridge thats stringthru and toploader. Use the stringthru part for the wound strings and the toploader part for the plain strings. Since the string angle break isnt so sharp on the toploader side the strings should be a little easier to bend. Let me know if you have tried it or you think it would be worth a test to see if the theory works. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 13th, 2005, 01:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	I had a steel guitar you could string up either way and when I used the string thru it did have more sustain but since its a steel without frets was unable to see if the strings were easier to bend when strung toploader. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 13th, 2005, 01:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Doug 54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Dayton area Posts: 640	yep 3-4 yrs ago. My next project Tele will have 1-4 top-load option-- 5@6 just string thru __________________ The Bobby Mcfarrin of guitar

October 13th, 2005, 02:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	Not really having a problem bending the strings 10's feel like 8's on this big necked Esquire with maple fretboard. I think I will try it and see what happens. $8 for a new bridge isnt a very expensive project. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 13th, 2005, 07:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	There is way less of a break angle at the saddles on the toploader vs string thru. This means the strings should exert less pressure on the saddles and be easier to bend. Some guys like to add a shim in the neck and put quarters under the saddle adjuster screws to increase the break angle to its greatest degree to increse pop and sustain it really works. SO going to a lesser degree in theory should make the strings a wee bit easier to bend. I will be able to tell easy being blind my sense of feel is real strong I can easily tell the difference between 10's and 9.5's. Just want to experiment a little. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

October 13th, 2005, 12:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
bahilton TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 38	Interesting thought... I had planned to purchase just such a bridge this weekend. I'll try it out and post the results. So what exactly is the advantage of string-through, anyway? I can see the logic in running the B and E straight thru, for bending and quick changes, but why not run the rest straight as well? I figure there must be a reason, since someone bothered to engineer the design, but I never thought to ask before.

October 13th, 2005, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
bo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,776	I have a bridge drilled to do both on one of my Teles. I didn't see that much difference in the unwound strings. The wound strings should definitely be routed through the body. YMMV.

October 13th, 2005, 01:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
bwanasonic Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arlington, MA Age: 50 Posts: 269 9 Photos	I'm pretty sure I read about that here on a thread about favorite tele mods. Personally, my favorite way to make strings easier to bend, is to make my fingers stronger 8) . Get used to a set of .012s, then switch down! :) Kerry M

October 13th, 2005, 06:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
kickz28 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada Age: 23 Posts: 748 1 Photos	I may be wrong but I can't understand why the strings would be easier to bend. If you use strings of the same gauge, tuned to the same pitch, and the scale lengths is the same, then the tension in the strings MUST be the same. Therefore, why would it be easier to bend? Maybe their's another factor that I'm not thinking of now?

October 22nd, 2005, 02:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
bahilton TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 38	No Luck Well, I got a Wilkinson bridge with compensated brass saddles, which has holes for both straight and through body stringing. Problem is, the holes in my guitar don't line up with the ones on my new bridge. All I can do is string straight to the back of the bridge. Wish I could have tried your experiment, it would have been interesting.