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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | Hi Everyone...
What is the best practice with regards to string tension if you plan on storing your guitar in the case for a period of a year or longer?
Is there any sense to removing the strings completely?
I always thought the strings counteract the bow on the neck, so taking them off prior to storage probably wouldn't be a good idea.
Typically I reduce mine a couple of twists on each tuning machine, but I didn't know if there is a better practice for super long term storage..
Thanks in advance.
Ernie |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Good question. I'm sure it has been asked before, but never hurts to review. Lot's of new OFC'ers about that probably missed the last time. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Personal opinion based on no facts at all: Just loosen them a few turns so still some slight tension. Or store them at my house where I will keep tuned up to pitch for you and play them daily (for a small fee, of course). DAve |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | My Matrix has been in various locations for almost 30 years with the strings tuned to concert pitch. Granted it has a urethane neck and aluminum fretboard, but I can't see the difference between that and one that is used every day for 30 years. Why would storage make a difference? |
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Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | I agree with Mark! Before I had a music room to hang my guitars in I kept them nice and tucked away in a closet, in their cases, under full (std. tuning)tension......I'd take them out occasionally to play(some more than others)but most of the time they were basically "stored."
Now I sometimes wonder what effect keeping them hanging by their pegheads will have!(maybe with gravity they'll all become long scale baratones :eek: :D ) |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Southern California | Another vote for Mark.
I've always left my guitars tuned and experienced no problems. My thinking was, if you loosen the strings, what's left to counter the truss rod? |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | I was thinking more of the bridge pulling effects...
My 1758-4 was flat as a pancake, and now it's got a pot belly under the bridge..
and i kept that one tuned down 1 full step to D.
i know the 12's have significantly more tension, though. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | If your going to store it, just loosen the strings a turn or two and put it in the case. I have all my guitars hanging out. I find I play them more, and enjoy their beauty. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I have a 1981-vintage 1118 Glen Campbell slothead 12-string that appears to have suffered from being kept at concert pitch in storage by its original owner. The neck has a bit of a twist towards the bass side. If I'm not going to play it for a period, I de-tension the bass side strings a couple of turns.
My 1976-vintage Applause (with the aluminum fingerboard/neck) has been kept at concert pitch its entire life and the neck is perfectly straight.
Roger |
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Long Term Storage and string tension
