Moderators: Please comment on this RE: EVH Neck

[hbucker]

I've heard many times about not taking off all of the strings so the trem doesn't pop off. But the person on this site posted the following stating that the EVH neck can be ruined if you take all the strings off. Is this true?????

"Don't take those strings all the way off! -_ When changing the strings always leave one string with tension._ Ernie Ball says you can very easily ruin the neck and your guitar by releasing the string tension without loosening the truss rod._ It is a very bad idea to ship the guitar with loose strings or without strings unless you had adjusted the truss rod._ He says he has seen guitars where the neck and/or body are badly damaged because of this."

This would be good info to know even if it would be disappointed to know this was true.

Please comment.

Thanks

 

[c_hebb]

I heard the same information from Keith

This guitar neck is open grain. The strings equalize the pressure applied from the truss rod. Many people think that you should loosen strings when shipping or storing and i don't understand why. I guess they reason that during shipping if the guitar is jarred that it could break their neck from the pressure. Why now? How would that happen during shipping but during normal use it wouldn't be a problem; it makes no sense.

 

[hbucker]

What makes no sense to me is the idea that taking all of the strings off can ruin the neck. Even just for changing strings.
This doesn't make sense to me and would like EBMM to confirm whether this is correct or not.

Also, leaving one string on doesn't seem like it would create enough tension to make a difference. Especially if it's the high "E" string.

 

[c_hebb]

If you're really worried just call Music Man. I spoke with Keith for about 15 minutes and he was helpful.

I don't believe that taking off the strings for one minute would ruin the neck. It is made out of rock hard maple. I do try and store the guitar flat, in-tune, with the strings on.

But if it is true i'd like to know!

Thanks,
Chris

 

[hbucker]

If you're really worried just call Music Man. I spoke with Keith for about 15 minutes and he was helpful.

I don't believe that taking off the strings for one minute would ruin the neck. It is made out of rock hard maple. I do try and store the guitar flat, in-tune, with the strings on.

But if it is true i'd like to know!

Thanks,
Chris

I'm not worried. But like you, I'd like to know if this is possible. It's just hard for me to believe that if I take all my strings off, the neck will go "POOOOIIINNNNNGGG" and be ruined. So far in 10 years it hasn't. (maybe that's my answer)

I totally understand not storing it without tension since the neck isn't sealed.

Anyway, I just want the moderators to weigh in sometime so we know once and for all. Assuming it's within the next week or so, I can wait for it.

 

[ratter]

So far in 10 years it hasn't.

Ditto here. So I'm not too worried.

 

[dwf1004]

I could see this possibly being an issue if, say, while your strings were on and in tune, you took a pair of wire cutters and -- BANG BANG BANG -- snapped the strings off all at one time sans loosening. There's about 130 lbs. of tension on the neck when you have strings on and in tune. (I'm pretty sure that I heard that here.) To have every bit of tension released in a matter of seconds, etc. like that could be bad. I don't see that scenario destroying the neck, but it could possibly do something bad.

However, in my personal, mind you uneducated opinion, if you loosen and take the strings off one at a time, and at least are giving a few seconds for the tension adjustment (which is essentially the amt. of time that it takes you to put your hand on a different tuning peg), I don't foresee a problem. Again, though, my uneducated opinion. Go by what EB says, not me. I'm just trying to look at this from a logical standpoint.

I await the response of the moderators.

 

[FatCat]

Don't be ridiculous.....

If the neck was that fragile, I'd need a new one everytime I did a dive bomb. Spanking your trem releases tension, don't it?

If you don't release the tension in your strings before taking them off, you simply don't know how to handle a guitar.

I'm not saying you guys, just in general.

Later...

 

[c_hebb]

Wood is a weird thing. I'll bet you could lay that hard maple neck across two tables and almost jump up and down in the middle with no problems, but if you lay the guitar in an awkward position for a couple of days without strings it would twist out of wack. It is a living and breathing thing. If it doesn't have the support of strings and a truss rod, it will go every which way!

 

[c_hebb]

Don't be ridiculous.....

If the neck was that fragile, I'd need a new one everytime I did a dive bomb. Spanking your trem releases tension, don't it?

Good point!

 

[FatCat]

Also, the way to easily damage your neck (aside from a hostile maneuver) is to over tighten the truss rod. But that goes for any guitar.

You could hit a home run with this neck.

I always store guitars with the strings on because it gives them tuning stability, not neck warp insurance. What do they do with the bins and bins of necks they sell as replacements?

 

[c_hebb]

I should mention I've had an EVH Music Man for over ten years and haven't even had to adjust the truss rod once!

As for the spare guitar necks, they are under no pressure. Furthermore, i'll bet they keep them flat in bins. Music Man is a relatively small company so I doubt they have an excess of parts laying around. Like most small manufacturers they probably build their instruments in batches and use up most of their parts.

 

[FatCat]

I should mention I've had an EVH Music Man for over ten years and haven't even had to adjust the truss rod once!

Not a picky man, good for you!




If you change one string at a time and only use one guage, then you really shouldn't have to adjust the neck or the trem. The one string at a time business keeps the axe relatively stable.


As for the trem popping off when you take off the strings, that is a potential problem with floating bridges on some guitars. It depends on the kind of trem and the angle of the neck.

You don't need to worry about this on the EVH/Axis.

 

[dwf1004]

"As for the trem popping off when you take off the strings, that is a potential problem with floating bridges on some guitars. It depends on the kind of trem and the angle of the neck. You don't need to worry about this on the EVH/Axis."

----

Tell that to me again after you've seen the small, yet enough to p*ss ya off scratches on my red EVH from the Floyd Rose trying to get away from me. I've had it happen on the 2 Axis' that I had previous to the upgrade, too. Tension is tension, and if you don't have both forward and backward pull at the same time, it's going to go one way. I have the scratches to prove it.

My remedy, if you're like me, and take all of your strings off at once (which, according to the conspiracy theory, would have destroyed my neck! ): TremoLok. Slides under the back of the Floyd to simulate the forward tension of the strings, and also prevents the Floyd from going any bit backwards. Do a Google search, you should find it fine.

 

[FatCat]

Tell that to me again after you've seen the small, yet enough to p*ss ya off scratches on my red EVH from the Floyd Rose trying to get away from me. I've had it happen on the 2 Axis' that I had previous to the upgrade, too. Tension is tension, and if you don't have both forward and backward pull at the same time, it's going to go one way. I have the scratches to prove it.

I am really sorry to hear that. This has never happened to me, not even close. I have an EVH and an AXis and no trem problemos at all. With or without the strings.

Maybe you should check for tightness and the tension on your springs?

 

[hbucker]

I'm satisfied with the common sense conclusions we've come to on this thread. But I think it's odd that a Moderator hasn't weighed in on the subject yet.

Moderators: What is the Music Man position on this topic???

thanks

 

[FatCat]

...Maybe because you said EVH. Sorta like bringing up a girl who dumped you.

 

[dwf1004]

I can see it now..."*sniff* Don't you EVER bring up that name again!"

Although, in the defense of EBMM, after playing both a Wolfgang, and ultimately the proud owner of three EVH's (had one in the mid 90's, but had to sell -- now I own two), it's Eddie that's lost the good thing, not EBMM. (No disrespect to my man Eddie, or to Peavey and my fellow sixer's that play a Wolf...just personal preference!)

 

[FatCat]

dwf

I agree, my man. The MM is the original. Accept no imiations.

I have played many Wolfgangs and I try to convince myself that it is as nice as the MM, but the fact is: IT AIN'T.

I see now that you can take a Wolfie home with you for $599. You will get a good $599 guitar, no doubt, but let's compare apples to apples here.

The Wolfgang is to MM what a Squier is to Fender.

 

[hbucker]

oh please...

You wouldn't think guys with guitars as nice as EBMM's would feel like they had to slam other gear. You'd let the quality of your axe speak for itself.