Rookie Question: Removing All Strings.

[cdouk]

Hello guys,

I've run a search for this but the terms are a bit too commonly used to bring up anything useful - so apologies if this has been asked 1,000 times!

I've just got a set of Model J's for my Geddy Jazz. I've got a couple of tech friends who I can definitely get to install the pickups for me - however, I'm eager to learn more about setup and the technical side of the electronics beneath the scratchplate.

The DiMarzio instructions say to remove/loosen all of the strings to allow for access to the pickups. My question is: is this okay for the neck? Won't the sudden relief of pressure from the strings cause the truss to bend the neck back?

Any links to learn more about this sort of thing will really be much appreciated (yes, I have seen the Fender sticky link - I mean further reading!) as I'm keen to learn as much as I can. That's why I signed up to talkbass!

Thanks for reading!

[purpletornado]

I've done it in the past and never had problems but I'm sure someone can give a more definitive answer.

[dukaruk]

Doing it temporarily (days/weeks) won't do anything. Think about shops that do fretwork, install pickups, or build basses. Everyone has to remove the strings for some period of time.

[TC.65]

You have to take the neck off to adjust the trussrod on that particular bass. So removing the strings to replace the pickups won't hurt anything.

[Johnny Crab]

The only thing to know in advance is you probably will not be able to leave strings off, put them back on, and expect action/intonation to be exactly as it was before the surgery. Depends on the neck wood, truss rod, etc.

The Grecos I mainly use have thin necks but they do get all strings removed about once in a while(every couple of years) if/when the fretboard(rosewood) starts looking dirty and/or dry. I steel wool the fretboard and frets(0000 steel wool), apply boiled linseed oil, let it sit for a short while, wipe off the excess, and re-string. A complete set-up(truss rod, action, intonation) is required following this treatment.

[cdouk]

Originally Posted by TC.65

You have to take the neck off to adjust the trussrod on that particular bass. So removing the strings to replace the pickups won't hurt anything.

How does the restricted access to the truss on the Geddy cause it to remain unaffected by relieving the pressure of the string tension?

I'm not questioning your knowledge - I just don't understand the physics!

[JLS]

Yes. It's not going to explode, nor become irreparably warped.

Nor do you have to turn the trussrod nut 1/16 of a turn, and then wait a week before further adjustment.

And, the A string is buzzing because there aren't enough wraps on the tuner post.

[cdouk]

Originally Posted by JLS

Yes. It's not going to explode, nor become irreparably warped.

Nor do you have to turn the trussrod nut 1/16 of a turn, and then wait a week before further adjustment.

And, the A string is buzzing because there aren't enough wraps on the tuner post.

Thank you for this overwhelmingly patronising response.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by cdouk

Thank you for this overwhelmingly patronising response.

You're welcome.

[Ric5]

If you are going to leave the neck unstrung for months or years then back off the truss rod. I have had necks laying around unstrung for 6 months without any damage. More than that I say back off the rod.