What are the advantages of a string-through bridge?

Question

Are there any disadvantages?

I'm looking at a Michael Kelly Custom Vs a Limited, the main difference is the Limited has a TonePros string-through the body, and the custom has a TonePros fully adjustable brdige.

Which is a "better" bridge?

Answer 1

A string-thru will deliver a lot more sustain, and a lot of people claim it makes the body resonate more fully.  There's also a difference in the actual string length that can affect the tension of the strings - a string-thru seems a lot tighter and less "mushy" to me. The profile of the bridge piece is different as well.  In my opinion, it makes a lot more difference in semihollow/hollowbody/acoustic guitars than it does in a solidbody electric.

It's mostly a matter of preference.

A string-thru setup is not going to warp the body any more than you'd pull the top off using a top mounted bridge.  Same kind of tension exists whether you're pulling on a ferrule routed through the body or a s***w sunk into it.

Answer 2

Well, a string-through body can be tricky sometimes. It can tend to pull on the body a lot more (giving you a better chance for the neck to break on you faster). The good side is, and I've seen to notice this is, that the strings tend to break less on you more than an adjustable bridge. With the adjustable bridge, your strings tend to break more often because of tension. There's a lot more pressure on the strings with an adjustable bridge compared to a string through bridge. Choose the TonePros string through, it's better in the long run.