Question about neck tension/cleaning

[EADG mx]

edit: this is just a hypothetical question



If you're not supposed to take more than one string off at a time due to drastic changes of neck tension


how are you supposed to clean your fretboard with lem oil or any other spray/wax?


I've been wondering about this for a while.

[lowendgenerator]

I have strings off necks for sometimes months at a time, and I've never had an issue. If you 're going to store the bass without strings on it, you might want to remove some tension from the truss rod, but if it's just to clean the bass, it won't hurt anything.

[EADG mx]

I mean I've done it and didn't notice any change

but I just want to know if I should

like I said it's a hypothetical question

[62bass]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I mean I've done it and didn't notice any change

but I just want to know if I should

like I said it's a hypothetical question

It's only a hypothetical question so it doesn't matter if you should or not. You've already done it with no ill effects. Others have done it too. The guys who say don't do it haven't done it I bet.

There are a lots of people who spend a lot of their time worrying about problems and telling you not to do things or there will be dire results. Don't believe too much of what the experts who write for the gear magazines say. They've been proven wrong many times.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by 62bass

It's only a hypothetical question so it doesn't matter if you should or not. You've already done it with no ill effects.

Just because I've done it before doesn't necessarily mean I'll have the same results next time

and not every bass is the same, not every set of strings has the same tension etc

which is why I ask

[202dy]

What 62 said.

A pro shop is going to remove the strings, clean the fingerboard, and polish the frets before performing a set up. You can do the same thing. The neck will neither bend like a pretzel nor will it burst into flames.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by 202dy

The neck will neither bend like a pretzel nor will it burst into flames.

I realize that

I just don't want any bow/backbow since I don't like doing truss rod adjustments and setup is a pain in the a.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I realize that

I just don't want any bow/backbow since I don't like doing truss rod adjustments and setup is a pain in the a.

If the work and processes do not suit you take your instrument to a professional. They can always use the work. More importantly you can cultivate a relationship with a dedicated luthier or tech who will be able to discuss and show you how optimize your equipment. If you are a professional player, or just respectful and conversive, they will generally show you some preference in their scheduling, too.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by 202dy

If the work and processes do not suit you take your instrument to a professional. They can always use the work. More importantly you can cultivate a relationship with a dedicated luthier or tech who will be able to discuss and show you how optimize your equipment. If you are a professional player, or just respectful and conversive, they will generally show you some preference in their scheduling, too.

I can and will do a setup

But I think in a way it's a waste of money to have a tech do it when I can do it myself.

So I'll keep doing it. I just don't like to. That said I'd like to do it as little as possible. which is why I started this thread