String through body or not?

[Mr. C]

I'm just looking to see what everyone's opinion is on this. Is the sustain better on a guitar with strings through the body, or is there not that much of a difference? Just asking because I'm going to be working on a project and thought it would be easier not to have to put the strings through the body. (Although my current guitar is set up like that.)

 

[apl]

I just bought a Squier Bullet for hot rodding. It had a top load bridge and I changed it to string through mostly because I wanted to take the load off the screws that hold the bridge on the body. I don't know if the sustain is better.

 

[gvarko]

String thru

My Schecter C1 Elite has string thru and it has sustain for days. IMO - String thru is the best...

 

[Armistice]

My PRS sustains better than other guitars I have which are string through body, so I don't think it's a given

 

[ibanezrocks]

It probably makes a tiny difference, but not enough to be noticeable over the changes in different pieces of the same wood.

 

[Echelon]

I guess it probably depends on the guitar, my schecter is fantastic, but i've had other string through's that just seemed like a gimmick. I do think that they look cool and I do think that in most cases they will help with sustain.

 

[lpdeluxe]

My Les Paul doesn't have string-thru-body, and it sustains OK. It may be more of an issue with bolt-on necks.

 

[Farview]

With all things being equal, string through will sustain better. A string through Squire strat will not sustain better than a non-string through PRS. There are so many things that contribute to sustain that pinning your hopes on any one thing doesn't make sence.

 

[lesterpaul]

With all things being equal, string through will sustain better. A string through Squire strat will not sustain better than a non-string through PRS. There are so many things that contribute to sustain that pinning your hopes on any one thing doesn't make sence.

right like joined neck instead of bolt on and also heavy woods associated with LPs and PRSs...i think every lil bit of contact with the body and string can't hurt...at least that what i've always been led to believe ...oh yeah it looks cool too

 

[BroKenSticKs]

my bass player has a bass with the option of either way....we put it through the body...but why even have the option...is there anything better about none string through?(besides floating bridge)

 

[Rokket]

I have a cheap yamaha strat copy with string through and the sustain is shit, so I tend to believe that better build quality and better wood tend to give better sustain than the string through....

 

[glnflwrs]

According to ESP, the string through body is used more for added string tension than for sustain. It keeps the string longer and it therefore needs to be tighter for the same note. Helpful when drop tuning I guess.

My Viper bass has string through and I like it because it puts all the force of the string on the mahogany body and the anchors, not on the bridge screws.