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September 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England | Well, it's been a little while but Hillwalker is back! I've been distracted for a good few months with work and some non-guitar projects (rebuilding a 1960s FW Evans 531 touring cycle) but here I am. I've enjoyed catching up on the various topics I'd missed on the board, including the venture into the forum on the Acoustic Guitar site. (Note to self; the chaps on this OFC board are quick, sharp and VERY articulate. Some are downright wicked ;) Yes, Moody I mean you... :) ). And others have a great choice of phrase such as 'Walking into some tall corn'; I liked that.
Anyway, a question: I think I'm right in saying that Ovation usually ship guitars tuned to pitch? If you were shipping, would you slacken strings or leave tuned (I'm sure I've heard that the Ovation case is designed to bear the stress from a tuned guitar?)
All advice greatfully received
HW (pleased to be back) |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | i ship guitars several times a week I slack the strings since UPS seems to have had that written in their rules at some point.
I also think it take pressure off the neck |
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Posts: 143
Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England | Thanks Al |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Sweetwater sent my Elite tuned.
But when I ship or request shipment, the strings are detuned but still with tension (maybe three full turns down?). This holds especially true with 12ers. I received a sweet looking Washburn 12er that was damaged due to full tension during shipment! |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I always slack the strings and put LOTS of padding around the peghead. |
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September 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England | Perhaps my original post should have said 'chaps and chapesses?' Sorry Canterbury ;)
HW |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I usually downtune to a "C" so that the new owner can strum it and feel the thunder of their favorite chord before tuning it to pitch.
I always put padding around the headstock. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | My Sweetwater T came at full tune.
My 2058T 12-er came at full tune, except the G octave was only tuned to D octave.
I always loosen my strings to I-don't-know-what key...
But leave it at 'relative tuning' so that it sounds okay when you strum it...
(And leave a note in the case telling them what I did.)
[Which is what Stephen just said...] |
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Posts: 1900
| My Legend also came back from the factory in full tune... |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Either way works but it is always safer to back them off a turn or two. You don't want them dead slack but just not up to A440. |
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September 2006
Posts: 143
Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England | Thanks to all for the info; backing off 2 or 3 turns looks like the way to go.
That's good because I have a purchase in mind...
HW |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
I always slack the strings and put LOTS of padding around the peghead. I've done the same |
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Shipping an Ovation: tuned to pitch or slackened strings?