Stupid Question.........

[OhioSlashFan]

If a person isn't going to be playing thier guitar for long periods of time should they loosen the strings to relieve tension/stress on the guitar?

[TWANG]

define long periods of time.

 

the neck likes strings, it's made for them.

nothing better for it than to tune and play.

 

if you are talking a week.. no problem.

a month.. no problem.

several months.. I'd loosen them at least a step and a half..

over a year, .. you gotta take it out and tune it and check it periodically if it's in a storage situation otherwise you're neglecting it.

so.. hope that says it!

[Rockin_Dude]

Jusr half step down in tuning will be good,Just be sure to get it out and play it.

will keep everything in workin order.

[Biff]

There are no stupid questions, just stupid answers (none found on this thread, though).

 

For shipping a guitar Gibson recommends the following:

 

"It is a good idea to detune the strings at least a couple of steps to remove some of the tension. The string tension will cause sort of a whiplash effect, thus snapping the headstock, if the box is dropped during shipping. Put your guitar in the case and the case in an oversized box with 2-4 inches of padding all around. Find out what your instrument is worth and insure it for that amount."

 

Detuning sounds like a good advice also if you're going to store the instrument for a while.

[Goldie]

There are no stupid questions' date=' just stupid answers (none found on this thread, though).

 

For shipping a guitar Gibson recommends the following:

 

"It is a good idea to detune the strings at least a couple of steps to remove some of the tension. The string tension will cause sort of a whiplash effect, thus snapping the headstock, if the box is dropped during shipping. Put your guitar in the case and the case in an oversized box with 2-4 inches of padding all around. Find out what your instrument is worth and insure it for that amount."

 

Detuning sounds like a good advice also if you're going to store the instrument for a while.

[/quote']

 

That's advice for shipping a guitar, where it will be subjected to some stresses.

 

I stored my (tuned) gibson V in it's case, under the bed for 16 years. When I finally pulled it out to start playing again, I found it to be still almost in tune, and still in perfectly serviceable condition. I now play it on a regular basis.

[jcwillow777]

 

That's advice for shipping a guitar' date=' where it will be subjected to some stresses.

 

I stored my (tuned) gibson V in it's case, under the bed for [u']16 years[/u]. When I finally pulled it out to start playing again, I found it to be still almost in tune, and still in perfectly serviceable condition. I now play it on a regular basis.

 

Almost the same story for me. I stored my Gibson Custom Les Paul in it's hardshell case and didn't detune it. I don't think I touched it for ten years, I was playing piano and then got back into acoustic. It plays as good as it ever did, no problems.

 

That being said, I may have been fortunate. It probably woudn't hurt to detune as Gibson recommends. I have found that sometimes if I don't play a guitar for a week or so and then take it out, it will somtimes go sharp. Not quite a 1/2 step, but it will go sharp. I've had other friends notice the same thing with their guitars. One friend has 2 Taylors.

 

So as they say, an ounce of prevention prevents a pound of cure.

[dubstar]

I think a Gibson headstock is going to break if you drop it regardless of whether the strings are tuned or slackened : )

[Dave]

My Fender Strat has been tuned to pitch since 1979. There's no degradation in the action and it is still within cents of being in tune every time I take it out of the case. If I were to ship it somewhere, I would tune it down a few steps. In the house, it stays tuned up.