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OT: Guitar Neck Damage?
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:24 am
by rclangelan
The story:
One of my PRS (CU24) bridge pickup screws came unthreaded and popped out of its hole today. Seems like the only way to get in there and put it back together (it's spring loaded) is to take all of the strings off and pull the pickup out.
The question:
I've heard that taking all of the strings off at once is not good for the guitar's neck (mine is neck-thru). Is this true? If so, why? Doesn't seem like another way around this task.
Thanks,
Ryan
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 6:38 am
by timme_v
You will lose some tension in the neck, but its not bad for it.
You have to take off all the strings when doing things with the electronics, you shouldn't be worried about it. If it plays differently, you may need to readjust the neck a little.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:46 am
by irish_admiral
It's probably not a good idea to leave it unstrung long-term (ie. weeks and weeks) as the guitar is generally designed to have some tension on the neck. However, your guitar neck also has a truss rod in it to help counteract that.
Shouldn't be a problem in the meantime.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:55 am
by kittenface
it'll be fine
go for it
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:01 pm
by Bink
kittenface wrote:it'll be fine
go for it
+1
I do it 2 or 3 times a year to my CU22 to clean the neck properly and have had no issues doing so. I tend to string all strings on loose and then slowly bring them all up to tension rather than trying to tune up a string before putting another on.
It's easier to do the pickup wth the strings off, but it can be done with the strings on. I too have popped the spring out of my pickups whilst fiddling with the height!
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:22 pm
by blackcloud45
Detune them and remove one at a time. Don't just start clipping them all at once and you should be fine.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:39 pm
by bclaire
There's no problem in removing all the strings on the guitar. It was MADE without strings after all. It will be fine for a while with no strings... if it sets for a couple days, it might have to drift back into the same tension bend but it will be fine.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:01 pm
by Drdos
bclaire wrote:There's no problem in removing all the strings on the guitar. It was MADE without strings after all. It will be fine for a while with no strings... if it sets for a couple days, it might have to drift back into the same tension bend but it will be fine.
Yep Yep... Also there is a reason why the guitar has a Truss Rod in the neck. It helps to keep the neck straight strings or no strings. A guitar neck without a truss rod like a classical guitar is where the problem lies with no tension on the neck. Your guitar will be fine.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:35 pm
by rclangelan
Thanks guys. I didn't really see a way around it either way. I'm glad to have the piece of mind that I won't be causing any possible damage.
Rock on!
Ryan
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:56 pm
by Knuckle Bones
bclaire wrote:It was MADE without strings after all.
Ah, Billy brings it down to earth by stating the cold hard facts.
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:04 pm
by blackcloud45
bclaire wrote:There's no problem in removing all the strings on the guitar. It was MADE without strings after all. It will be fine for a while with no strings... if it sets for a couple days, it might have to drift back into the same tension bend but it will be fine.
Couldn't have said it better.