How often do You Re-string? - Page 5

allthumbs · #61 July 14th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne LaBanca

I don't have facts on this but think about it. If you play your guitar every day for years, your not going to loosen the strings at any point. Would you damage the guitar as a result of this? Nope.

I would think loosening the strings for storage would CAUSE damage because the guitar is designed to have that tension on it, without it for an extended amount of time could cause problems when you introduce the tension again.

Just my observation.

Wayne

Hmm. It has been my first hand experience as well as hearing countless stories, that leaving a guitar unplayed under tension for long periods of time can cause the bridge to lift towards the neck which eventually will raise the string height till it is unplayable. If caught soon enough, the bridge can be shaved down. If not , it is firewood or a lap slide guitar. I am just talking acoustics and hollow bodies, not solid slabs of wood.

douglas englund · #62 July 14th, 2006

OK; that is what i heard also so now what do i do. I think I will just sell the guitars.

Teddy Madison · #63 July 14th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Hmm. It has been my first hand experience as well as hearing countless stories, that leaving a guitar unplayed under tension for long periods of time can cause the bridge to lift towards the neck which eventually will raise the string height till it is unplayable. If caught soon enough, the bridge can be shaved down. If not , it is firewood or a lap slide guitar. I am just talking acoustics and hollow bodies, not solid slabs of wood.

But think about it, what's the difference? Playing it every day or once a week, or having it just sit there. The tension is still constant. Actually, worse if you are playing it with bends and just the act of fretting.

I think a guitar that goes to pot just sitting there was heading that way anyhow and maybe you would not notice the degredation if you are playing every day.

Wayne

douglas englund · #64 July 14th, 2006

I think you are right. It does make sense.

allthumbs · #65 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne LaBanca

But think about it, what's the difference? Playing it every day or once a week, or having it just sit there. The tension is still constant. Actually, worse if you are playing it with bends and just the act of fretting.

I think a guitar that goes to pot just sitting there was heading that way anyhow and maybe you would not notice the degredation if you are playing every day.

Wayne

The actual playing of the guitar changes the tension of the strings, I am not sure why but, it breaks the constant tension on the guitar. I am talking 3 to six months and over, Just go to any guitar shop and ask them. It only takes 20 minutes of playing a guitar every couple of months to prevent it. Leave a guitar tuned in a closet for 3 years and the odds are the bridge will be pulled up and you will have a hump in your guitar.

douglas englund · #66 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

The actual playing of the guitar changes the tension of the strings, I am not sure why but, it breaks the constant tension on the guitar. I am talking 3 to six months and over, Just go to any guitar shop and ask them. It only takes 20 minutes of playing a guitar every couple of months to prevent it. Leave a guitar tuned in a closet for 3 years and the odds are the bridge will be pulled up and you will have a hump in your guitar.

i just bought a gretsch 5989 dorado and there is a hump behind the bridge, the ladie i bought it from said it hadn't been played in a long time and it was under pressure when i bought it. i didn't pay much for the 3/4 sized guitar but it sure does have a nice sound. so i think you are right about not leaveing a guitar sit with pressure on the bridge (for a long time). the bridge is starting to lift up a little. can the hump be removed and reglue the bridge down?

allthumbs · #67 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas englund

i just bought a gretsch 5989 dorado and there is a hump behind the bridge, the ladie i bought it from said it hadn't been played in a long time and it was under pressure when i bought it. i didn't pay much for the 3/4 sized guitar but it sure does have a nice sound. so i think you are right about not leaveing a guitar sit with pressure on the bridge (for a long time). the bridge is starting to lift up a little. can the hump be removed and reglue the bridge down?

No. What is usually done is the bridge is shaved down to lower the string height back to where it should be. It might be possible to get the hump out but, it would be very expensive and I have never heard of it being done.

douglas englund · #68 July 15th, 2006

thank you for the info, the guitar isn't worth very much so it wouldn't be worth fixing. i will give the guitar to my grand childern so hopefully they will take up an interest in this wonderfull hobby. thanks again

allthumbs · #69 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas englund

thank you for the info, the guitar isn't worth very much so it wouldn't be worth fixing. i will give the guitar to my grand childern so hopefully they will take up an interest in this wonderfull hobby. thanks again

Keep it for a lap slide guitar. The last thing you want to do is give a guitar that is all but unplayable to someone. It will discourage them from playing. If your grand kids are just toddlers than that would be fine but, if they are old enough to consider guitar as a hobby they may draw the wrong conclusions if that is the only guitar they have to go by.

douglas englund · #70 July 15th, 2006

they are four and six and the guitars really sounds good and it stays in tune.

allthumbs · #71 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by douglas englund

they are four and six and the guitars really sounds good and it stays in tune.

Should be ok then. The problem is with the bridge bending towards the neck, the strings are getting further away from the fretboard which will make it difficult to fret. If it hasn't reached that point yet then you could keep it for yourself .

douglas englund · #72 July 15th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by allthumbs

Should be ok then. The problem is with the bridge bending towards the neck, the strings are getting further away from the fretboard which will make it difficult to fret. If it hasn't reached that point yet then you could keep it for yourself .

this guitar has an adjustable bridge, so i could lower the strings (a nice feature ). i do appreciate all your comments. it sure is nice to have this site available.

mrshred123 · #73 July 27th, 2006

within the last couple of days

Chaotic Kittie · #74 July 31st, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk Lorange

I remember Tommy Emmanuel changing strings every day! Once in a studio, I watched him changing his strings and he took them all off in one go, something I have always avoided because I had heard that to take them all off at once is bad for the guitar ... too much relief from the tension ... and that it's best to change them one at a time. I told Tommy this ... you should have seen the look he gave me!

Hoh, this reminds me of my old guitar teacher... the dude was a freaking nightmare. I'd NEVER let him change strings on my guitar. I take off all strings about every 4th or 5th time I change strings, to clean the fretboard, but of course I loose the tension on them before I do that. My teacher did not. He just took cutting pliers and snapped them all of, in full tension..... I can't imagine the health of his guitars.

krissovo · #75 July 31st, 2006

I have to change them at least monthly, you can tell what songs I have been learning by the rust patches on the strings. I have some super sweat that if I could harness would rot a ship in seconds.

I hate the sound of new strings on my acoustics, to bright! I love it when they mellow out a bit for a great warm tone.