Release some string tension when not playing?

bass1000 · #1 11-05-2009, 06:50 AM

Hi Everyone, just wondered what the school of thought was on releasing some string tension when your bass isnt going to be played for a little while. Is it worse for the neck to do this? I always seem to have to tune up to pitch just slightly anyways before playing. I dont do this (release) with my BG, but wondered if it was different for my DB. I didnt see anything in the newbie threads, or possibly I over looked.

Eric Hochberg · #2 11-05-2009, 08:11 AM

Don't know of any reason to do this.

drurb · #3 11-05-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass1000

Hi Everyone, just wondered what the school of thought was on releasing some string tension when your bass isnt going to be played for a little while. Is it worse for the neck to do this? I always seem to have to tune up to pitch just slightly anyways before playing. I dont do this (release) with my BG, but wondered if it was different for my DB. I didnt see anything in the newbie threads, or possibly I over looked.

Seems this would not be a good idea. De-tuning and re-tuning the strings is usually not so good for most strings. I can't imagine that reducing and increasing tension on the top can be all that healthy either.

What say ye luthiers?

kurt ratering · #4 11-05-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Seems this would not be a good idea. De-tuning and re-tuning the strings is usually not so good for most strings. I can't imagine that reducing and increasing tension on the top can be all that healthy either.

What say ye luthiers?

apart from the wear and tear on the strings, i dont see how it could hurt, provided that tension wasnt dropped so low that the sound post falls.
what is the O.P.s concern? is your neck thin, is your top caving in, or are you thinking about preventitive action?

Stanley Design · #5 11-05-2009, 08:42 AM

IMHO you should keep everything as consistent as possible, tension on anything +/- back and forth all the time is not going to be ideal. Along the same lines as "It's not going to hurt", I'm going to say that it couldn't possibly help.

kurt ratering · #6 11-05-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Design

IMHO you should keep everything as consistent as possible, tension on anything +/- back and forth all the time is not going to be ideal. Along the same lines as "It's not going to hurt", I'm going to say that it couldn't possibly help.

i know its not the same animal, but what about bows? left under tension for long periods of time, the hair can pull out the camber. again, i know its apples to oranges, im just sayin...

hdiddy · #7 11-05-2009, 09:10 AM

I would think the strings would loosen up and start to detension themselves over a couple of weeks. Considering that we always keep everything tensioned when we play it often, I don't think it would hurt to leave it as is and will likely lengthen string lifetime rather then detension them and allow them to lose some life.

draftsmann · #8 11-05-2009, 09:16 AM

I've never seen anybody speak about slackening off a piano's strings when it's not being played...

drurb · #9 11-05-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt ratering

i know its not the same animal, but what about bows? left under tension for long periods of time, the hair can pull out the camber. again, i know its apples to oranges, im just sayin...

Good point but I think in the case of the bow, it's risk/benefit. The benefit of not losing the camber outweighs any risk of tensioning/de-tensioining. With strings on the bass, it seems to be the other way around. No?

kurt ratering · #10 11-05-2009, 10:02 AM

i guess it all depends on how long the down time for bass1000 will be. if its a few days or weeks, it probably doesnt matter much. but if its going to be months or years it may. if its the latter, i dont think tuning and detuning once every couple months will drasticaly reduce string life. not to mention what if a seam in the lower bout pops loose and goes un-noticed untill next use. if days or weeks, maybe nothing. but, those of us who work with an uncountable fleet of rental instruments can tell you that when those seems go un-noticed (or unadressed) it can lead to the lower block letting loose and the tension warps the snot out the lower ribs. i would also like to note that none of the fine instruments at the Shrine To Music museum in Vermillion, South Dakota are kept under tension. just playing devils advocate...

GerardSamija · #11 11-05-2009, 10:13 AM

Compare to the situation for removable-neck basses in cases where the bassist travels a lot, thereby having to remove all string tension for every trip on a plane or whatever. There are quite a few string types which will become damaged if used in this way. Pirastro's Obligato strings come with a specific warning, that they are not to be de-tensioned after initial installation, and my experience in re-stringing with this string after repairs tells me that there is often some visible delamination of the outer winding at bridge and nut. The Dominant is not very tough either, though a bit better. Dlugolecki's silver-wound lower gut strings can show considerable creep of the wire even in normal use; I'd hate to see such expensive strings de-tuned regularly, as the winding wouldn't long survive. On the other hand, the Thomastik Belcanto seems to thrive no matter how often one de-tunes and re-tunes, an ideal string for a removable-neck bass. A Spirocore should be okay as well, these strings having a veyr long track record of being strong and stable.

As for wear and tear on the instrument; if your neck is going to warp forwards, it is too weak and needs to be reinforced with a carbon fiber insert, thicker fingerboard, or perhaps even be replaced if it has been severely over-thinned. It's going to warp anyway, so jumping around with string tension isn't very relevant. Most bass necks won't easily warp even with a high tension string, provided the fingerboard is thick enough and well glued on such that it contributes sufficient stiffness. Maple fingerboards are notorious for allowing warp, as even a very decent piece of maple just isn't as stiff as good ebony. Epiphone, Englehardt, and Kay necks seem most obviously prone to bending, as they are usually too thin, especially once the fingerboard has been dressed smooth a number of times over decades.

If the belly is collapsing, likewise there are problems which should be repaired. If a belly was worked too thin or the bassbar is of insufficient stiffness, it will not support the bridge properly. Similarly some pieces of spruce (or plywood) are just not stiff enough and will slowly collapse. Finding the proper balance between structural integrity and good sound and response is the art of the luthier; easier to get wrong than right. Too often with cheaper basses the wood is left weak in hope of bigger sound... but soon costing the owner as repairs are needed to restore the shape of a collapsed belly, or simply being discarded as it is not valuable enough to merit such repairs.

I agree with those saying leave string tension alone, in terms of daily use or short periods of storage. If you're leaving the bass un-played for months or years though, I'd say the opposite, simply because the strings will become deadened if left at pitch even when not being played. Why waste $200+ when not playing? The post may fall, but at least when you tune up after a long period without playing your strings will be as good as they were when last you played.

bass1000 · #12 11-05-2009, 11:36 AM

Thanks Everyone... so I gather for short periods of time, leave it tuned. Makes sense, i just didnt know if a DB should be treated differently than a BG, i never detune my BG's.