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- Aug 20, 2012
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General rule on unwinding strings after each use??
- Thread starter bongostealth
- Start date
When I put news strings on, I do them one at a time, because this seems the sensible way to prevent a total lack of resistance on the truss rod. I've got a nice collection of guitars, including two I bought in 1976 and 1980 - one of these has original strings on it because I never play it - and it's a 12 string so lots of tension - it's still got a dead straight neck after 34 years! The bass from 76 is the same. This is my evidence that it is totally unnecessary to remove tension, and indeed I wonder if changes in tension might well have shortened the life of the neck - bending old wood!
I don't think it hurts anything to take all the strings off before putting new ones on. It provides the opportunity to give the fretboard a really good cleaning, and conditioning with a good product before the new strings go on. I've never had a problem one time, on any of my basses. The strings are only off for about 10-20 minutes or so, and the frets and fretboard benefit from the attention.
This is what I've always wondered about. How can you do a complete clean and condition if you don't remove the strings?
+1 I've been doing it this way for MANY years with many basses. It's never a problem for a neck and as stated, its the easiest way to clean the fretboard and frets.
Wood can acquire a set over time. If a neck is going to sit in storage for months,
it is best to have it in it's correct state of bow. Leaving the strings tensioned
provides this state, just as it does when the bass is in use.
If the strings are loosened during storage, the truss rod should also be loosened
to set the neck straight. This prevents it from acquiring a backbowed set.
Necks are created straight. The trusrod is designed to counteract string tension
on a straight neck. The truss rod adjustment only has so much range. It may not
be able to compensate for a backbowed set.
Removing all tension to change strings or for cleaning doesn't provide enough time
for the wood to acquire a set. So there are no problems doing that.
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it is best to have it in it's correct state of bow. Leaving the strings tensioned
provides this state, just as it does when the bass is in use.
If the strings are loosened during storage, the truss rod should also be loosened
to set the neck straight. This prevents it from acquiring a backbowed set.
Necks are created straight. The trusrod is designed to counteract string tension
on a straight neck. The truss rod adjustment only has so much range. It may not
be able to compensate for a backbowed set.
Removing all tension to change strings or for cleaning doesn't provide enough time
for the wood to acquire a set. So there are no problems doing that.
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The system is in balance at pitch. Lowering (or raising) the pitch of the instrument pulls the system out of balance. In this case, in favor of the truss rod, for an unquantifiable reason. While it is true that the temperature may change, that change cannot be predicted. Nor is the duration of the temperature fluctuations such that it makes sense to change any settings.
As several others have stated, factories ship instruments to retailers set up and to pitch. Locking nuts on Floyd-equipped guitars are typically socked down. Dealers shipping vintage instruments do likewise. That is the industry standard.
If you wish to do otherwise, that is certainly your prerogative. To suggest that others do so without evidence to support the protocol is how many luthiery myths get started.
Respectfully submitted.
No and no. The tension rod, when properly adjusted, counteracts the tension of the strings ... ie, it's just fine to leave it tuned up ALL the time.
So then is it necessary to unwind the strings if adjusting the truss rod, or does it not matter?
Some very interesting food for thought in this thread for sure.. This is one of the things I love about TB.. Here i get a chance to talk to more bass players than I would ever meet in the real world given my lifestyle and time constraints.. 
Some very interesting food for thought in this thread for sure.. This is one of the things I love about TB.. Here i get a chance to talk to more bass players than I would ever meet in the real world given my lifestyle and time constraints..
Amen to that!!
So another truss rod question: is it possible for a truss to "run out", meaning that you have no turns left on the truss rod? And if so, what do you do? That's my biggest fear. Especially if you have a neck-thru bass!
Respectfully:
I only stated what I prefer to do, and why-
No suggestions to others that I remember...
I only stated what I prefer to do, and why-
No suggestions to others that I remember...
Possible, but it seems that the bass types that typically have trussrod nut run-out are not made with thru-necks. Maker? Style? Trussrod type?
There are generally two reasons that a truss rod will run out of threads.
1) The wood has compressed beneath the adjusting nut.
This can usually be simply fixed by adding a spacer (small OD washer)
under the nut.
2) The neck has a serious forward bow that requires more tension than
the truss rod can supply
Treating with heat while clamping the neck in a backbowed position can
sometimes correct this.
Compression fretting might also correct it.
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I only detune a bass when I am flying and the bass goes in the baggage area. which is most of the time.
You are correct. You didn't.
Any further discussion of this subject should occur via PM.
