Common tuning change - a hazard to the neck?

[Stealth]

Recently I've been messing around with the idea of altered tunings, mostly because I've been reading/listening/watching too much of Micheal Manring's stuff.

Anyway, since I don't have any detuners around and the Zon Hyperbass is way out of my league (not only for the cash, but for being a fretless in the hands of a fretted player), how much would it hurt any of my basses if I changed my tuning every day or every other day? Could there be any permanent damage from changing the string tension and pull on the neck itself so often?

Also, how much damage could result from using non-standard, fourths-fifths tunings such as C-F-C-F or all-fifths such as C-G-D-A?

[Stealth]

Anybody?

[sevenyearsdown]

First, I'm curious why you would change the tuning every day? If you are just trying to find an alternate tuning that you like, then at some point you'll stop changing the tuning every day right?.....and just stick with that particular tuning?

If want to use several tunings, I would advise you to do a proper set up on different basses for the different tunings. Then you wont have to worry about the neck at all.

[Matthijs]

On a good standard bass, no extreme setup or string gauges: I don't think there's a problem. Worst I can think of is extra wear on the tuners.

This said: you have to expect a slightly less than perfect setup in diferent tunings. If you end up using different tunings as a regular part of your playing, your going to want different basses in different tunings, set up for exactly that tuning. start saving!

[garmenteros]

A lot of players use G D A E and occasionally during a set use G D A D. Ive never heard of that warping the neck... They'd rather not go with 5 strings and I've never heard of that being a problem.

A good solution for no worries...multiple basses for multiple tunings or a graphite neck.

[Ric5]

The danger of extreem alternate tunings is you can have action too high or too low and possible have the intonation slightly off ... other than than that it should not damage the neck.

[Stealth]

Hm. So it's a viable option after all. Thanks for the input.

[ehque]

Manring uses extra extra light strings on his hyperbass. you might want to check out those gauges.

[Mushroo]

I switch between EADG, DADG, and CGDA regularly on my wooden-neck basses. Never had any trouble. The action and intonation does change somewhat.

[Jeff Martinez]

On my 5-string, I switch between EADGC, DADGC, & DGDGD on a regular basis. During my solo bass set, I change tunings. The weakest link is likey to be your strings, they'll break right at the tuning head. I buy my "C" strings in bulk.

As for the setup, get it just the way you want it in one tuning, and then check it in another. On any decent bass, it should be fairly close. When you talk about Manring, we're talking uber-low action. At first, his basses feel like they are so tight that you'll get no clean sound. The secret is a VERY light touch. Once you figure that out, it's like buttah.

[Pilgrim]

Necks on bass guitars are not made out of glass. Tune up or down, use it as you will - you're not going to hurt it.