It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:14 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Guitar that hasn't had strings on it for months?
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:01 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2013 9:26 pm
Posts: 12
I have returned with another question! A few months ago, right before Gibson raised their prices, I bought a Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker. I was upgrading from a Fender HSS Squire Strat. I was going to lend the guitar to a friend, and took the strings off of it to replace them, but I never lent it to him, or ended up putting the strings back on.

So is there still hope for my old guitar? Would the neck be a little twisted from the change in tension? Is it just a truss rod adjustment I could do myself, or do you think I would have to have a professional do it? Would there be any difference at all? I think it's been between two to four months since it's had strings on it. I couldn't find anything on the subject, and it may not be an issue, but before I spend too much on strings I wanted to ask.

I want to make this my drop tuning guitar. I am using my Gibson for standard/drop d tuning, and I want this guitar to be for Drop B, Drop A, low tunings like that. Start out with .09 gauge strings and go up... Bla bla. :lol:


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Guitar that hasn't had strings on it for months?
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:57 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:48 pm
Posts: 2315
It should be okay--it might need a tweak of the truss rod, but it should be okay.
I've had guitars without strings just as long or longer--and no issues.

_________________
It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Guitar that hasn't had strings on it for months?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:08 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
Unless subjected to bizarre climate changes, well-made guitar necks rarely twist. If they do then the truss rod can't help you! The truss rod is only there to counteract the pull of the strings and adjust the backward and forward bow of the neck. (The exception to this rule would be Rickenbackers with their rather eccentric design.)

If you have to leave a guitar unstrung for any length of time then it's a good idea to release the truss rod then set it again when you restring. Maybe count the number of turns you take off then add the same number back on then measure the neck relief with a capo and feeler gauge to set it to spec.

It's also something that I check before I buy a used neck. Asking the seller if he or she has released the truss rod when the neck was removed saves a lot of unpleasant surprises when the neck arrives.

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Guitar that hasn't had strings on it for months?
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2014 9:41 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Nov 17, 2013 9:26 pm
Posts: 12
The guitar I'm speaking for was kind of a fixer-upper (Guitar Center kinda ripped me off), so the neck has already been adjusted by the people at Guitar Center. So it may not have too much trouble.

Thanks for the information/tips!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Guitar that hasn't had strings on it for months?
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:06 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Fender frequently as a common practice especially in the CBS era would inventory completed necks for many months. Thus why serials and neck dates are frequently so divergent. It was no problem then and no problem now.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 5 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: