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J_Alexander

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Sep 10, 2005
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425
i was just sitting here reading some and saw that removing all your strings when changing them can damage the neck. how is this? people take there necks off all the time and clean them or such. sincei got my first evh i have always left 2 strings on when i change them but always wondered how can the neck get damage and what you should do if you wanna take the neck off for shimming purpose.
 

Junior

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Nov 14, 2005
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I think it has something to do with the tension. Because strings hold the tension of the neck, and when you remove them all, the tension goes away, and the neck maybe moves a little bit? :confused:
 

Brutalc

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Sep 16, 2005
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Slovenia
That's true... truss rod is set for the tension of the strings and if you remove all the strings, there is no counter force so the neck may bow. But I doubt that this will happen if you take strings off the guitar only to replace them, clean the neck, ... It usually takes a longer period for that to happen
 

Spudmurphy

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Aug 23, 2005
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Cardiff, United Kingdom
Brutalc said:
That's true... truss rod is set for the tension of the strings and if you remove all the strings, there is no counter force so the neck may bow. But I doubt that this will happen if you take strings off the guitar only to replace them, clean the neck, ... It usually takes a longer period for that to happen
Yes you are correct. You will not cause any damage to the neck whilst removing all the strings for a string change.
I don't know whether theres a problem if you remove all the strings with a floyd equiped guitar 'cos I have never owned one.
 

Larry

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Nov 6, 2005
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if you remove all the strings off floyd rose guitar (Axis or EVH) the tremo will rock back causing damage to the guitar wood and finish. Thus you will have to re-attach the springs inside the cavity of the guitar big pain in the you know. so i always change one string at a time so i dont have to deal with re attaching the springs
 

Brutalc

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Sep 16, 2005
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I usually block the trem on my Petrucci when I remove all the strings (if I have to clean the neck or sth similar). No problems so far :)
 

blackspy

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Aug 28, 2002
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You can remove all the strings for a cleaning or string change. I've been doing it for years with no problems. With a flush mounted floyd you just want to be carefull the bridge doesn't pop off and scratch your guitar. I stick a pencil wrapped in electrical tape under the back of it to keep it tightly in place.
 

tommyindelaware

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Dec 24, 2002
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wilmington , delaware
J_Alexander said:
i was just sitting here reading some and saw that removing all your strings when changing them can damage the neck. how is this? people take there necks off all the time and clean them or such. sincei got my first evh i have always left 2 strings on when i change them but always wondered how can the neck get damage and what you should do if you wanna take the neck off for shimming purpose.

this is not true.....
yer neck is in no danger.
on whammy geetars...i take strings off one @ a time to control the bridge.........but yer neck is in no danger.

BUT............u should not leave strings off for extended periods of time w/o losening the truss rod. like....storing ...or shipping the guitar. u shound leave strings on....w/ the truss rod properly adjusted .
 
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