String changing question.........help

BigBud · #1 02-04-2009, 07:13 PM

Guys, help me out, I have a mental block....... gonna change the strings on my MM SR5 and can't remember if I should change them one at a time or if it's OK to pull them all off before changing. I wanted to clean the fretboard is why I prefered them all off at once. I guess I'm worried about the need for string tension on the neck and or the possible harm of no tension with all strings removed. Guess my confusion is because I always change them one at a time......help please.........Bud

ChiefLongDong · #2 02-04-2009, 07:15 PM

Its fine to change them all.

John Wentzien · #3 02-04-2009, 07:17 PM

I've changed them all at once for 35 years and have never had a problem at all.

capnsandwich · #4 02-04-2009, 07:18 PM

I change them one at a time. It keeps tension on the neck. That's just what I was taught. There's different opinions to whether that's needed or not.

mikeyswood · #5 02-04-2009, 07:22 PM

Its a MusicMan; it has a solid Sugar Maple neck. The one at a time myth would apply if you had a Balsa neck.

Oren Hudson · #6 02-04-2009, 07:50 PM

Ironically enough, I just did new strings on my Precision Monday night. I've changed many, many strings on different basses over the years and have found that generally, removing all is not a problem. There are always gonna be exceptions, but I've had only one, a Ric, that I had to do a good deal of resetting after the change. Removing all is about the only way to clean the board really good, and if your fretboard is rosewood, or I guess anything other than maple, it would be a good time to condition the board with lemon oil or whatever you use. another tip. This an excellent time to condition the strings. Much easier to coat all the way around while it's off. I use Finger-Ease and it works real well for me.

BigBud · #7 02-05-2009, 07:53 AM

Thanks guys, that helps. I'm gonna take em all off. I will remember the example of the Ric though. I have a '75 4001 and only recently realized I needed to be lighter on the strings with it. Mikeyswood......balsa neck?.......man, what a nightmare that would be! This will be my first set of DR lo-riders on my SR5....... not sure what was on there......whatever the factory puts on when new.....Thanks again, Bud