Tech: Guitar question on storage

Subject: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: olddude
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 07:24 PM

I have several guitars, some I play everyday, so I don't play for a month or so, should I take the tension off the strings on the ones I play infrequent, does it really hurt an instument to have it tuned all the time with medium gage strings? How about a classical like a cordoba. I play that puppy about every couple of months. Does it hurt to leave them tuned up?

I never knew the correct answer some folks told me it never mattered others told me if a guitar isn't played everday the tension on the guitar is not distributed by playing and it will raise the bridge.


What is the correct answer?

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 07:45 PM

The correct answer is that it does no guitar any harm to maintain the strings permanently tuned to concert pitch, and anybody who says different is talking out of their rear end.

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: olddude
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 09:08 PM

Murray thank you
I really never knew the correct answer, I have always kept them tuned up but wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do

I appreciate your answer

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 02:51 AM

I leave mine tuned and on wall hangers so I can grab any one on a whim.

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: s&r
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 03:10 AM

My guitars are left tuned. I suspect that stressing and restressing instruments is more likely to cause damage - a bit like bending wire until it breaks.

Anyway, my oldest guitar is some thirty years old and has stayed strung and tuned for all that time (except for string changes). It still sounds as good or better as when new

Stu

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: Zen
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 04:14 AM

All the responses are correct... a guitar should be left tuned to pitch. The only exception would be if checking the guitar in for air travel (i.e. in the hold) when it is prudent to slacken the strings in case (or perhaps the certainty) of severe drops or shocks.

Zen

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: Escapee
Date: 06 Oct 08 - 06:42 PM

"... if you plan to store the instrument for long periods of time, loosen the strings a bit to relieve the tension, but do not remove them."
Guild Guitars Owner's Manual

Subject: RE: Tech: Guitar question on storage
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 06:08 AM

"... if you plan to store the instrument for long periods of time, loosen the strings a bit to relieve the tension, but do not remove them."
Guild Guitars Owner's Manual

I would treat that particular piece of advice with the same respect as I give to Larrivee's instructions to leave the guitar tuned up to pitch when sending it by air.