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Post subject: Can you leave the strings off your guitar?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:40 pm
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I broke a string while messing around. It will be a couple of days before I can get new strings. Is it safe to have the rest of the strings off the guitar for a couple of days or will this be bad for the neck?


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:52 pm
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I wouldn't recommend it. I mean, it's not going to ruin the guitar but the idea here is to keep things as stable and consistant as possible. Like you wouldn't take it out in the cold or store it in front of a window with a tone of sunshine beaming on it.

I've even known players that will only change one string at a time for the very same reason. In a perfect world, nothing would change... temp, RH, barometric pressure, amount of light, pressure on the neck, g-forces (angle that the guitar is stored at), etc. etc.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:13 pm
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If you are not changing the gauge of strings, changing one at a time is a good idea. Take (cut) one off, put the new one on, tune it up, repeat. This is quicker and stabler (in terms of tuning and getting the bridge floating).

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:17 pm
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I left the strings off of a Fender MIM Tele for 6 months and it didn't hurt it in any way. When I put strings back on it and did a setup it was just fine.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:17 pm
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Strataholic wrote:
I wouldn't recommend it. I mean, it's not going to ruin the guitar but the idea here is to keep things as stable and consistant as possible. Like you wouldn't take it out in the cold or store it in front of a window with a tone of sunshine beaming on it.

I've even known players that will only change one string at a time for the very same reason. In a perfect world, nothing would change... temp, RH, barometric pressure, amount of light, pressure on the neck, g-forces (angle that the guitar is stored at), etc. etc.


I change strings one at a time for that reason. To me it seems to help keep the tuning more stable after a string change. Then again, I could just think that.

I definately do it one string at a time with Gibson's. I keep forgetting it's a Gibson and the damn bridge keeps falling off if I take all the strings off at once. Then you might hit the height adjustment nut and then you need to set it up a bit....too much trouble.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:21 pm
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I don't have that problem with my Gibson's.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:23 pm
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CAFeathers wrote:
I don't have that problem with my Gibson's.


Neither do I now that I change em one at a time.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:25 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
I don't have that problem with my Gibson's.


Neither do I now that I change em one at a time.


I take all 6 strings off at the same time and when I restring unless I change string gauge my guitar setup is unchanged.

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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:27 pm
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Whatever works for you! :wink:

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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:51 am
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it wont affect it, unless there is something messed up majorly. i take all of them off, so that i can clean the fretboard when i change them. which I recommend more than worrying about neck tension.


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Post subject: RESTRINGING
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:58 am
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The strings provide the tension which is countered by the truss rod. Removing all strings may result in the neck losing its proper "bow" (which is necessary for strings to clear frets and not buzz).

ALL guitar manufacturers and technicians will advise against leaving a guitar without strings. Most technicians will recommend changing one string at a time in order to maintain proper/consistent tension on the neck.

"Detuning" (loosening strings 1/2 tone in pitch) when taking an acoustic guitar on an airline (not necessary for electrics) is the only "exception" to the "best practice" expressed above, other than the extreme of neck repairs which of course involves removal of all strings (and the repairs should of course be entrusted to competent professionals, as they are not do it yourself endeavors).

Leave the rest of the strings at normal tension/pitch, until you get new strings, and then change one at a time. If you change string gauge (which thus changes tension) a truss rod adjustment might even be necessary after the neck "adjusts" / "adapts" to the change in tension from the new gauge of strings.

Good luck, and enjoy your guitar.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:23 am
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ok. Thanks for the tip guys. When I busted my string I left the remaining on until I picked some up yesterday.

Thanks again


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:44 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
Strataholic wrote:
I wouldn't recommend it. I mean, it's not going to ruin the guitar but the idea here is to keep things as stable and consistant as possible. Like you wouldn't take it out in the cold or store it in front of a window with a tone of sunshine beaming on it.

I've even known players that will only change one string at a time for the very same reason. In a perfect world, nothing would change... temp, RH, barometric pressure, amount of light, pressure on the neck, g-forces (angle that the guitar is stored at), etc. etc.


I change strings one at a time for that reason. To me it seems to help keep the tuning more stable after a string change. Then again, I could just think that.

I definately do it one string at a time with Gibson's. I keep forgetting it's a Gibson and the damn bridge keeps falling off if I take all the strings off at once. Then you might hit the height adjustment nut and then you need to set it up a bit....too much trouble.


I don't understand that - if you take 'em off one at a time how are you supposed to clean your fingerboard????

I always take them all off for that reason!!

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:16 pm
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I can understand not leaving a guitar unstrung for a long (or short) period of time. But it does not take long to take em all of clean your fretboard and restring. I would be interested in learning how many guitars were damaged because of not restringing 1 string at a time. C'mon. :roll:


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 1:27 pm
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ratboy wrote:
I can understand not leaving a guitar unstrung for a long (or short) period of time. But it does not take long to take em all of clean your fretboard and restring. I would be interested in learning how many guitars were damaged because of not restringing 1 string at a time. C'mon. :roll:


I don't think anyone is saying that removing all your strings to clean the fretboard causes damage. Everyone does that once in a while I'm sure. I do find that when changing them all at once, it takes longer for the guitar to settle in and the tuning to become stable. This isn't as much of a problem when done one string at a time.

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