String Removal Duration?

[WaltW]

I am about to restring a guitar for the first time in 20 or so years. I haven't played in more than 15 years, as stated on my first thread, so I'm asking how long can all 6 or 12 strings be left off before neck tension becomes an issue? I want to clean the instrument, do some internal inspection and oil the fingerboard before putting the strings on.
I plan to restring my1978 Guild (G) D312SB once I get it from my son who has stored it for me for 15 years. I would imagine that the time for strings off would be less for the 12?
Before posting this I searched and read a lot of history on restringing and could not find an answer to my question(s).

 

[WaltW]

Sorry about doubling up!

 

[merlin6666]

Interesting issue. I have two takes on that. For one, I have a guitar overseas that I only play when I visit there about two times a year. In the times in between I slacken the strings so they stay fresher and there is no unnecessary tension on the guitar. This worked fine for more than 40 years even though the guitar is in an attic that can get quite hot or cold depending on season. The other issue is that I recently changed strings on a 12 string and though I usually do this one string at a time I also decided to remove them all for a cleaning. But when I put the new strings on I broke one because I tuned up too far before other strings were on and there was not enough relief for it to vibrate. So when you put the strings back on tune them up in a more stepwise fashion.

 

[JohnW63]

I will , on occasion just replace one string of the set, get it to tune and then move to the next string, etc. Keeps the tension close to normal for all of them being on. If I know I need to do some cleaning, I will tune each string as I ad them. They tend to have stretch room anyway. As more strings go on, they should all get flat as the added tension pulls the neck into a slight relief. I always start from low string to high.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

I will , on occasion just replace one string of the set, get it to tune and then move to the next string, etc.

I got in the habit of doing it this way from changing strings on guitars with floating bridges. On those guitars, it's the easiest way to come close to retaining already-dialed-in intonation so long as you're not changing gauges /string tension.

 

[BradHK]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I always remove all strings to clean frets, oil the fretboard, etc. Never really on a time schedule. I have also had guitars with no strings for long periods of time either waiting for repair or in the middle of a repair with no issues.

 

[walrus]

I only remove them all when oiling the fretboard, etc. Other wise, I do three at a time to keep the tension on the neck. Not sure I need to, just a decades old habit.

walrus

 

[Rocky]

Better to leave an unattended guitar without strings that with strings at pitch. Small issues become big issues with 100+ pounds of tension.

 

[Rocky]

I only remove them all when oiling the fretboard, etc. Other wise, I do three at a time to keep the tension on the neck. Not sure I need to, just a decades old habit.

walrus

Useful for instruments with floating bridges or vibratos.

 

[crank]

I take 'em all off before restringing every time. Have left strings slack for over a year on at least 3 different guitars with no issues or effects whatsoever.

One string at a time? Really?

 

[chazmo]

I've never heard of it being an issue to keep the strings off, WaltW. Don't forget your guitar was built that way.

 

[walrus]

Useful for instruments with floating bridges or vibratos.

Exactly, that's why I started doing it this way. Now I just do it no matter the guitar out of habit...

walrus

 

[WaltW]

Thank You to everyone! I retuned this guitar 10 days ago after 15 years of being tuned down three half turns on each peg. Taking the suggestions of many here on other threads of cleaning the whole instrument and oiling the fret board I wanted to do a complete job on the D66 when I change out the old strings. There's a set of Martin Custom 80/20 bronze .0115s waiting to be tensioned.

 

[Rocky]

Exactly, that's why I started doing it this way. Now I just do it no matter the guitar out of habit...

walrus

I usually do one at a time out of habit. However, a guitar with a Bigsby gets the high E and B removed, and the E is installed first, then the B. I can't really explain the physics, but it's way easier.

 

[Maguchi]

I am about to restring a guitar for the first time in 20 or so years. I haven't played in more than 15 years, as stated on my first thread, so I'm asking how long can all 6 or 12 strings be left off before neck tension becomes an issue? I want to clean the instrument, do some internal inspection and oil the fingerboard before putting the strings on.
I plan to restring my1978 Guild (G) D312SB once I get it from my son who has stored it for me for 15 years. I would imagine that the time for strings off would be less for the 12?
Before posting this I searched and read a lot of history on restringing and could not find an answer to my question(s).

I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I always remove all strings to clean frets, oil the fretboard, etc. Never really on a time schedule. I have also had guitars with no strings for long periods of time either waiting for repair or in the middle of a repair with no issues.

I've never heard of it being an issue to keep the strings off, WaltW. Don't forget your guitar was built that way.

A few days should be fine, should be no porblem. I asked a tech who has been working on my guitars for years and who's opinion about guitars I trust. He said leaving strings off a guitar for a couple of weeks or so should be no problem. At least in my climate, Los Angeles, check with the local experts in your own area.