De-tuning to reduce stress

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Guildifiers,

When I'm not playing a guitar, I tune down the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings a few steps to reduce stress on the neck, bridge, and top. Is that a good thing to do?

 

[dreadnut]

C'mon man, we're playing Guilds here, not Taylors!

Seriously, I see no need to do this. In fact, IMHO it seems to me that you would typically want the proper amount of stress all the time for everything to remain lined up properly, for the truss rod to stay in place, etc.

I knew a young guy who spent an insane amount of money on a new Taylor, then de-tuned it one note and always played with a capo on the first fret to "reduce stress". He shoulda bought a guitar that was "made to be played", eh?

Of course if the bridge is lifting or the top is bellying, then you have other issues

 

[Squawk]

I agree with Dred - the only exception would be if shipping a flat top guitar common carrier, where I would detune no more than one whole note (D to D).

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

That raises an interesting possibility: By decreasing stress on the middle strings and leaving it on the outside strings, does that reduce stress unequally? Crafty Coastie, whaddya say?

Hey Squawk, why de-tune only partially to ship a guitar?

 

[Squawk]

Hey Squawk, why de-tune only partially to ship a guitar?

Like Dred says, you'd want to keep the truss in place, etc. but shipping can introduce some different types stress. By slightly detuning, you can compromise - take a little stress off the bridge so it doesn't dislodgeand the strings so they don't snap and risk dinging the guitar. For electrics and archtops that have secure tailpieces (drilled into the wood), I leave it in tune. In the case of archtops, I had an experience of damage because the seller loosened the strings - forgetting the bridge just sits onm the top - it moved and scratched the finish. Luckily, it wasn't a Guild - My georgeous, mint X170 was shipped with a slight detuning, but not enough for the bridge to move (thank heaven!).

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

How would de-tuning mitigate against keep in the truss rod in place?

 

[West R Lee]

Darryl,

All I can ad here is that my D25 has had 6 strings (light guage) tuned to the max for 27 years (have changed 'em a time or two), and not the first problem. Then again, it's a Guild, what would we expect. :wink:

West

 

[dreadnut]

ditto for me, 30 years on the D-25 with medium strings and no probs. Other than stupid self-induced ones like banging it into a mic or a drum kit, etc.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Looks like I'm worried about nuttin'. I keep elevens on my acoustics, so that alone should reduce stress. And it does reduce stress, because I've been off my meds for years. And it keeps my truss rod up.

 

[West R Lee]

Whatever it takes to keep that truss rod in shape!

West

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Even at my age, I'm still interested in tailpieces.

 

[Mr. P ~]

Even at my age, I'm still interested in tailpieces.

Hey, you aren't talking about guitars anymore are you? :shock: :wink:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

I'm waiting for Coastie to jump in here with something about nuts.

 

[Mr. P ~]

:lol: :lol: