benefits of string thru vs. stop tail (tech question w/ GP photo)

Aaron Posted 2002-09-06 10:29 AM (#218396) Subject: benefits of string thru vs. stop tail (tech question w/ GP photo) Joined: February 2002 Posts: 15 Location: St Louis Hey ya'll! First up...take a gander at Mr. Homme's modified GP: http://www.ovationfanclub.com/gallery/joshamazing.jpg Modded to be String Thru body Anyone know what advantage this would bring? More Sustain? Less Sustain? More String Tension? Less String Tension? Keep in mind he tunes his GP to C F Bb Eb G C low to high. Also, I recently read in some GTR mag about Billy Gibbons from ZZ top running his strings THE OPPOSITE way thru the tailpiece of his LP (over the stoptail) But this is the opposite end of the spectrum....as Gibbon's plays like .008's and Hommm plays like .014's!!! Comments? Answers? thanks! Aaron alpep Posted 2002-09-06 11:04 AM (#218397 - in reply to #218396) Subject: Re: benefits of string thru vs. stop tail (tech question w/ GP photo) Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10583 Location: NJ Arron many schools of thought here. If you put the strings through the body it will increase sustain and string length. wrapping the strings the opposite way on the tailpiece will increase string length and increase sustain especially if you screw the tailpiece down to the body it will also change the angle the strings cross the bridge. well increasing the string lengths will make thicker gauge strings seem easier to play and have a more "slinky" for lack of better term not brand recognition feel. I am not so sure if it does anything for sustain. Persoally those tricks never really worked for me except on my Hamer Monaco superpro where I was having trouble breaking too many e strings and when I wrapped the string in the opposite direction on the tailpiece it changed the angle the string went over the bridge and decreased my string breakage. It also does make the e string easier to bend since it has some additional length on it. obviously doing the string thru the body thing will alter the instrument. try reverse wrapping the string in the tailpiece and screwing it down to the body and see if it works for you. I have noticed that I may have to change to 11 gauge strings since 10's feel too light for me now. good luck with your experiements and remember feedback is always good.....