Official recommendation on string tension/neck adjustment when travelling?

[rydiggidydog]

Hi
Please could I pick your brains for some help. If travelling a long way internationally with guitar in a proper flight case in the hold of the plane, what is the proper thing to do regarding string tension and neck adjustment?

I keep reading different opinions in different places all over the web. Some say detune a half step and leave truss rod, others say detune completely and leave truss rod (i would have thought this bad on the neck without the counter from the strings), others say detune completely and completely release truss rod tension (i would have thought this bad for potential warping of neck wood when no tension there).

Is there an official line on what to do?
Thanks in advance!
Ryan

 

[marduke]

when my JP6 came in from the US it was in stadard tuning (EADGBe) and was still in tune and no ill effects after being in transit for near on a week. ive also seen it mentioned on here that leaving it tuned is recommended.. but wether that is right or not, i dont know...

 

[fsmith]

Take it the way it comes from the factory. Tuned to pitch... Straight from the man, Jon.

 

[silverburst]

I travel with guitars and basses alot, and I always leave them alone, as they are packed well. EBMM guitars and basses are pretty indestructable.

The only exception would be a Les Paul or ES, which I would loosen the strings a bit on, because the headstocks break off if you look at them funny.

 

[tommyindelaware]

absolutely leave it to pitch.
there is a reason they are shipped from the factory that way.
tension wise.......the neck needs to stay in it's playing position. not learn some other position .
come back jon.......

Take it the way it comes from the factory. Tuned to pitch... Straight from the man, Jon.

 

[francric]

Take it the way it comes from the factory. Tuned to pitch... Straight from the man, Jon.

absolutely leave it to pitch.
there is a reason they are shipped from the factory that way.
tension wise.......the neck needs to stay is playing position. not learn some other position .
come back jon.......

+1000

 

[the24thfret]

#1- Don't put it in the cargo hold. Make them, yes, MAKE THEM let you take it on board. Every int'l (and even domestic) jet I've been on has extra cargo space in the cabin for extra things like this. Not every employee knows it, but they do. Simply REFUSE to let them make you check it.

#2- Standard pitch, standard truss. Just like you'd store it for a day. It'll pretty much never leave your sight, so there's nothing wrong with it. Also no major temp differences like in the cargo hold, so you're fine.

#3- Take my advice. I've done this many times and just brought a brand new JP back to Japan with me 3 months ago. Not even a scratch on the case.

Best of luck!

 

[Lou]

I will slack the strings when I ship guitars and make sure that the guitar doesn't move in the case.

But on a flight, bring it on the plane and leave it as is.

 

[tommyindelaware]

you should not do this.


this allows the truss rod to constantly pull the neck back. if left that way for long.........the guitar WILL develope a backbow.

I will slack the strings when I ship guitars and make sure that the guitar doesn't move in the case.

But on a flight, bring it on the plane and leave it as is.

 

[rydiggidydog]

thanks for all your advice, i'm getting the hint that changing nothing with the strings and neck is the right way to go

i've been researching getting it on the plane etc, and with people taking guitars from heathrow i've discovered that although some airlines let you take it into the cabin, they may ask you to buy another seat for the guitar, which obviously costs a lot. some people also said that you might be asked to check it in without choice, and if i've come to the airport with a gigbag and they ask me to do that then my guitar is just going to get destroyed.

so what i have done is get a fitted flight case made to ata standard and i will ask them if i can gate check it (still goes in hold but bypasses normal route) and put it in hold, or if they're funny about that just check it in as baggage. i figured that with the proper flight case it should be ok???

 

[Lou]

Tommy, I just detune them a bit - not so they are flopping around - maybe that wasn't clear.

 

[francric]

Tommy, I just detune them a bit - not so they are flopping around - maybe that wasn't clear.

slaps hand lightly, "no touch"................

 

[DavidOfOz]

when my JP6 came in from the US it was in stadard tuning (EADGBe) and was still in tune and no ill effects after being in transit for near on a week. ive also seen it mentioned on here that leaving it tuned is recommended.. but wether that is right or not, i dont know...

+1

My Luke came out of it's box in perfect tune having travelled all the way to Australia. If shipping/transporting a guitar "ready to play" is what EB do, then it seems logical that this is the way to go.