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The BAD Myth - Detuning Basses and Shipping Them!

Quadzilla

Quadzilla

Supporting Member
Feb 11, 2002
12,989
14,167
Maryland Burbs (horse-country)
www.thenewromance.com
#1
As some of you know, I've bought, sold and traded a few basses here on TB :D . Anyway, everytime I do so, I have to tell the TBer shipping the bass not to detune it or when it's requested of me, I have to tell them that I won't and why. Well here is why:

DO NOT detune a bass for shipping. It's a bad myth that you are supposed to detune guitars and basses. There was an article about this in Bass Player last year. Grasshopper (manager at Bass Central) confirmed this and also stated they had received many warped necks due to people detuning them and shipping them that way. The only time you can detune a neck is if you also loosen the truss rod which then would require a full setup. Manufactures typically ship them in tune for this reason.
 
#3
This is also true for acoustic guitars.

We do not recommend taking tension off the strings when shipping your guitar. This is a dangerous practice as the machine heads and neck are the heaviest parts of the guitar, and the string tension from proper tuning serves to counteract the stresses these parts place on the instrument. - Larrivee Website
Click to expand...
However, according to Dan Erlewine, on the Les Paul Forum, the strings on a Gibson Les Paul should be "detuned to remove all tension on the peghead." So, go figure. :rolleyes:
 
#4
I was talking with Michael Tobias one time regarding shipping a bass and the subject came up. He said there is no need to detune for shipping and that he doesn't. I decided to do what Mike says.

When I drop off a bass for shipping at the local UPS depot, the agent asks me how the bass is packed and if it's detuned. I answer 'yes' to detuned even though it isn't.

I have no idea where that concept came from - but I think it really only related to basses that were flying. Maybe the lower air pressure on an aircraft would effect movement of the neck (???) I ship my basses by UPS Ground, so I have no idea why they would need to be detuned. SOP I guess...
 
#8
I always ship basses in tune unless requested to do otherwise. when requested to ship de-tuned, I note that I will do so but that I will also be removing all the relief from the trussrod as part of the prep process ... this usually results in the receiver deciding to have the bass shipped in tune.

a couple weeks back when shipping Chef's '51 Tele P5 I had a lengthy 'discussion' with the local shipping store about this very thing. I asked why he (a guitar player) believed that a guitar should be de-tuned for shipment, and he noted that the neck would warp if it wasn't ... I asked him why he thought the neck would warp, and he noted the stesses being applied to it during shipment ... I asked him what these stresses were, and he had no answer ... I then spent a little time educating him about trussrods and what they do to a neck in opposition to the string tension, about what will happen to a neck if the trussrod is tightened but there is no string tension, and about the trama the average player feels when mentioning a trussrod needs adjusting ... he now is a firm believer in having guitars/basses in tune for shipment - unless the trussrod is also loosened :hyper:

after all, if it's good enough for Roger Sadowsky - it's good enough for me! ;)

all the best,

R
 
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#11
Quadzilla said:
As some of you know, I've bought, sold and traded a few basses here on TB :D . Anyway, everytime I do so, I have to tell the TBer shipping the bass not to detune it or when it's requested of me, I have to tell them that I won't and why. Well here is why:

DO NOT detune a bass for shipping. It's a bad myth that you are supposed to detune guitars and basses. There was an article about this in Bass Player last year. Grasshopper (manager at Bass Central) confirmed this and also stated they had received many warped necks due to people detuning them and shipping them that way. The only time you can detune a neck is if you also loosen the truss rod which then would require a full setup. Manufactures typically ship them in tune for this reason.
Click to expand...

GREAT post - thank you, Quad!
 
#12
kdogg said:
However, according to Dan Erlewine, on the Les Paul Forum, the strings on a Gibson Les Paul should be "detuned to remove all tension on the peghead." So, go figure. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Gibsons tilt-back headstocks are notorious for cracking. Or at least they were in the past - hopefully Gibson has learned how to make a strong tilt-back headstock by now, 'cause it certainly can be done.
 
#15
I've shipped and recieved over 100 guitars and basses and always detune. In fact Ive taken necks off of guitars and basses and let them sit in the closet for months and years while repairing and restoring bodies without loosening the trussrod and never had a neck warp. Anyone who's ever seen a crack in a headstock across the E string tuner would have to think it's a good thing to relieve a little tention on the strings before shipping. Do manufactuters like Sadowsky and Tobias ship basses ant 440 pitch? Just wondering.



Edit:In fact Ive taken necks off of guitars and basses and let them sit in the closet for months and years while repairing and restoring bodies without loosening the trussrod and never had a neck warp.

Providing the neck was straight to start with.
 
#16
Detuned or not, the most important thing is to use packing material around the headstock to make sure the neck can't move up and down inside the case while it is being shipped.

If the neck is free to move, it can result in a whiplash type of motion that can snap the headstock or neck. If the bass can't move inside the packaging, it will be safe even if the box is dropped.

Jim
 
#17
String tension is part of the strength of the instrument, and works in opposition to the tension in the trussrod.
I detune a 1/2 step or so to alloow for any movement the wood may go thru going thru different temp/humidity zones.
just my 02, ymmv, etc.
ship mine tuned to A flat please;)
 
#18
If you really think about it, detuning an instrument to ship it makes as much sense as detuning it to put it in a trailer (or whatever you use to transport band equipment) to go to a show. I would imagine you would have the same amount of bumps and such on the way to a show as shipping it.
 
#20
Bone said:
Do manufactuters like Sadowsky and Tobias ship basses ant 440 pitch? Just wondering.
Click to expand...

Yes.

And I don't think anyone is saying that taking the string tension out will definately result in a warped/damaged neck, just that detuning is not necessary. Again, if you reduce the string tension it is a good idea to loosen the truss rod.

BOTOH, none of the afore mentioned scenarios will guarantee either damage or safety, so go figure.:hmm:
 

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