Mailing a bass: should strings be tight or loose?

**Ukiah Bass** · #1 04-22-2008, 08:56 AM

I'm getting ready to ship a Steinberger bass I just sold on eBay. The buyer requested I loosen the string tension prior to shipping. I've heard it's better to leave them in tune. Is one way better than the other, and why? Seems like you'd want to keep neck tension normal. Thanks.

walruswaspaul · #2 04-22-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

I'm getting ready to ship a Steinberger bass I just sold on eBay. The buyer requested I loosen the string tension prior to shipping. I've heard it's better to leave them in tune. Is one way better than the other, and why? Seems like you'd want to keep neck tension normal. Thanks.

Usually you would want to keep strings at normal pitch as leaving strings loose for a long time could cause the neck to warp , however with Steinberger basses the neck is usually graphite so this should not be an issue .

The BurgerMeister · #3 04-22-2008, 01:11 PM

the most you want to lower the strings by is a whole step... but it's best to keep them tuned up. necks like normal string tension.

that being said, if the buyer wants the strings loosened, then loosen the strings.

grace & groove · #4 04-22-2008, 01:12 PM

No try to keep it I'd say either a half-step or full-step down. If somethings pulls or moves the strings or the neck during shipping you have a better chance of the strings not snapping.

RAM · #5 04-22-2008, 01:30 PM

Necks on basses and guitars are designed with a certain amount of tension with strings. Changing the amount of tension prior to shipping leaves the necks far more susceptible to damage, as the tension from the strings is no longer counteracting the tension built into the neck.

Never, never, never ship basses or guitars with the strings loosened!

That said, I'd ship the bass with a note explaining why you didn't loosen the strings. The buyer is expecting the strings to be loosened, but he could end up with a damaged bass if that happens. Rather than simply doing what he's asking by shipping the bass as he requested, it's better to protect the bass and explain how you're protecting it.

There are a number of posts by luthiers on this forum and all over the web that back up my statement if you want to quote them.

J.D.B. · #6 04-22-2008, 01:32 PM

Yup, I knock them down a bit, just for humidity/temp changes so they don't get tighter than normal pitch.
Josh

makaky · #7 04-22-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grace & groove

No try to keep it I'd say either a half-step or full-step down. If somethings pulls or moves the strings or the neck during shipping you have a better chance of the strings not snapping.

Half step up, down, sideways. If something makes the strings snaps. Its pretty much over

makaky · #8 04-22-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM

Necks on basses and guitars are designed with a certain amount of tension with strings. Changing the amount of tension prior to shipping leaves the necks far more susceptible to damage, as the tension from the strings is no longer counteracting the tension built into the neck.

Never, never, never ship basses or guitars with the strings loosened!

That said, I'd ship the bass with a note explaining why you didn't loosen the strings. The buyer is expecting the strings to be loosened, but he could end up with a damaged bass if that happens. Rather than simply doing what he's asking by shipping the bass as he requested, it's better to protect the bass and explain how you're protecting it.

There are a number of posts by luthiers on this forum and all over the web that back up my statement if you want to quote them.

+1

**Ukiah Bass** · #9 04-22-2008, 04:12 PM

If it were my druthers I'd leave it tuned up. It's a wooden Steinberger Spirit. Since the destination is quite humid, it's possible the buyer knows something I don't so I went ahead and detuned a half step or so to comply with his instructions. Thanks for all your suggetions!

buffordbass · #10 04-22-2008, 04:16 PM

Well you learn something every day. I always heard the cold from being on a plane could do damage the neck if you didnt de-tune?!?!?

LowBSix · #11 04-22-2008, 04:19 PM

Leave it alone.... It's a myth....

Dave Muscato · #12 04-22-2008, 04:20 PM

There was a good thread about this not long ago... Check the insurance policy with your shipping company. Some companies will not reimburse if the strings are at regular tension and something happens; other companies will not reimburse if the strings AREN'T loosened.

FWIW, Fender etc ship all their instruments tuned to pitch. It will not hurt the instrument to ship in tune, and is usually the preferred method. Guitar necks are designed to have tension on them. If for some reason you do decide to loosen the strings, loosen the truss rod, also. YMMV. Hope this helps.

JTE · #13 04-23-2008, 10:18 AM

Wow- First, let's look at logic. The truss rod is made to balance the string tenison. If you lower the string tension without slacking the truss rod, you're asking for truss rod problems.

Second, look at history. We used to be advised to reduce string tension when shipping flat-top acoustics, but that's because if the top got damaged the string tension could very well cause furhter damage. The only way that affects a solid-body instrument with a fixed bridge is if the bridge got peeled off the body, or the neck joint got snapped. But with a solid body, if either of those happen, the thing is trashed already and the string tension won't cause any furhter damage.

Third, look at precedent. Every bass and guitar that I got in my 11 years managing a guitar store (except for real cheappy Pacific rim imports) came tuned up to pitch. Heck, most of them came pretty close to being in tune! Now if Gibson, Martin, Guild, and Ovation are shipping solid-top acoustic guitars (including Guild 12-strings) tuned up to pitch, using regular UPS ("Useless Packaging Systems"), then why do you think a solid body instrument would be less fragile?

Keep it tuned to pitch, pad the fingerboard so impact on the neck won't cause the strings to damage the frets nor the fingerboard, pack it so the neck is supported the whole lenght, not just at the point the case holds it, keep the instrument for slipping in the case and prevent the neck from whipping around in the case and you'll be fine.

The cold won't hurt anything at all. It's NOT the cold, it's sudden changes between hot and cold that causes problems.

jte

Gubna · #14 04-23-2008, 10:31 AM

On the basses I shipped, I generally didn't do it. But one person asked me to tune it to D before it shipped. It was going to a "colder" state, though, so that may have had something to do with it.

RobertUI · #15 04-23-2008, 01:16 PM

I have received 2 basses lately that were completely slack when they arrived... nothing makes me angrier, as one of them took about a week for me to work out the truss rod adjustments before getting everything straight. I also imagine that the strings clacking around the fretboard and frets can't be such a good thing either, altho I'm sure that the resulting fret-ware is somewhat negligible.