Is it ok to take all the strings off when restringing?

[dead of night]

Hi. I am not much of a guitar tech. In fact, everything I try to fix, adjust, tighten, straighten, ends up worse. Recently, I changed the strings. I took all the old strings off first, before putting new strings on. Can this harm the neck?

[7String Thing]

yes its fine ive done it on every guitar and they are all fine.

[Ronstrat63]

It won't harm the guitar but can cause intonation/ neck adjustment issues that can easily corrected but are best avoided. It is advisable to take off and replace each string one at a time.

When you or your tech do a set up then take them all off, clean up the neck gunge, adjust the truss and intonate.

[jamess]

I'm with 7String. I've heard it argued otherwise, but I personally have taken off all the strings, cleaned the fretboard and neck, and replaced them all everytime I have changed strings on any of my guitars since I started playing 33 years ago.

Never had a problem.

[axepilot]

I change them three at a time on guitars with TOM bridges - it keeps the bridge from moving.

[CitizenCain]

I do it both ways. All off when doing a fretboard cleaning/oiling (1-2 times a year), one at a time otherwise. No problems either way.

[multifoil 88]

I also Do it both Ways ..Never had a problem

[Radiophonicus]

It's advisible to change one string at a time, but you won't cause long term damage by removing all of the strings at once.

[John Phillips]

I've been a professional guitar repairer for over twenty years now, I've done several thousand repairs and set-ups, and I have never - not once - changed the strings one at a time. Ever :).

There are some guitars which need a little preparation if you're going to take all the strings off at once - eg those with Floyd Roses, or archtops with floating bridges - but there's no other way of properly cleaning up the fingerboard, let alone doing quite a few other jobs.

[mge80]

Agreed. Those who will argue that you can cause harm by changing them all at once have just believed something that they "heard" once.

[OldSchool]

I do it both ways. All off when doing a fretboard cleaning/oiling (1-2 times a year), one at a time otherwise. No problems either way.

+1. Gotta take them all off to properly clean it.........otherwise 1 at a time will work.

[BigBone]

If your not handy[and judging from your post your not] A floating bridge could cause you problems by taking all the strings off at once.

[edward]

As others said, no harm in it. I have to say, though, that for a simple string change, I find it easier to change them one at a time ...don't know why, really. Maybe to me it's more methodical. But if I know I will be conditioning the fingerboard, then of course I will remove them all.

Edward

[supa_scoopa]

All off when doing a fretboard cleaning/oiling (1-2 times a year), one at a time otherwise.what he said.

[axepilot]

I've been a professional guitar repairer for over twenty years now, I've done several thousand repairs and set-ups, and I have never - not once - changed the strings one at a time. Ever :).

There are some guitars which need a little preparation if you're going to take all the strings off at once - eg those with Floyd Roses, or archtops with floating bridges - but there's no other way of properly cleaning up the fingerboard, let alone doing quite a few other jobs.

Thank you, John!

So many players act like their guitar is made from delicate blown chrystal and thin balsa wood.............................it won't kill a guitar to remove all of the strings.

[GibsonSGgirl]

I change them three at a time on guitars with TOM bridges - it keeps the bridge from moving.

+1 this is how I do it when I change strings on the SGs. With the Strat, I do it one at a time cos those darn strat tuning pegs are just too close together! My string winder often gets caught.

[Redhouse-Blues]

I also have been working on guitars for almost 20 years and always have and still do take all the strings off at the same time. I see no reason to waste time going one string at a time and I have never seen any pro I know, take them off, one string at a time.

[Luke]

If you have a Floyd Rose, put a paint stick behind the bridge before cutting the strings so it does not dig into the paint.

I change strings once a year whether it needs it or not, so I always remove them all, clean the fingerbaord, oil it,etc.....

[Dana Olsen]

I've been a professional guitar repairer for over twenty years now, I've done several thousand repairs and set-ups, and I have never - not once - changed the strings one at a time. Ever :).

There are some guitars which need a little preparation if you're going to take all the strings off at once - eg those with Floyd Roses, or archtops with floating bridges - but there's no other way of properly cleaning up the fingerboard, let alone doing quite a few other jobs.I agree 100% John. Replacement of the strings all at once is something almost any guitar can handle.

As with infants, you don't wanna drop 'em, but it's OK to pick 'em up (GRIN). If you have trouble with your Tuneamatic or Strat bridge after string changes, try touching the bridge saddles as you seat each string to assure the saddles are in the right spot. For example, on a Strat, to make sure the saddle was at the end of it's adjustment screw you'd push it toward the neck and make sure the spring that surrounds the intonation screw isn't compressed before you tune the string to pitch.

In my experience, if changing the strings all at once causes your guitar setup to change, your guitar needs some work. Changing the strings all at once shouldn't cause a change in the setup, except it'll take maybe 1/2 hour of playing the new wire for it to 'seat' at the saddle and nut ends.

Thanks, my $.02, Dana O.

[jackaroo]

I think floating bridges are better one at a time, as well as an archtop without a fixed bridge. The pressure keeps things where they should be. I tend to keep the D string on when I change others so that the stop TP doesn't flop off while I'm cleaning up the neck and the area under the strings. To each his own.So while it's not a sure thing that things get messed up when you take them all off. There is a chance of somethings happening that just are impossible if you keep one on, or elect to change them one at a time. My tech...takes 'em all off! Go figure.

[rwe333]

I always take 'em all off...
If a guitar's set-up can't handle THAT, well, perhaps it's time for a more stable instrument!

[Ray Gianelli]

I don't believe it would cause any harm, but I do them one at a time as I change my strings before any of the hard rock gigs I do. I think it helps with tuning stability as the truss rod shouldn't flex. I do not know this to be a fact. I do know that I never have any tuning issues using this method.

[DejavuDave]

No problem taking everything off at once, but watch out for bridges and tail pieces that are held in place by string tension (archtops, Rickenbackers, etc).

[fullerplast]

I think floating bridges are better one at a time, as well as an archtop without a fixed bridge. The pressure keeps things where they should be.

Agreed.

In general, other than the floating/loose bridges, I think the nature of this concern comes from the tensions at work with the truss rod. It counteracts the force of the strings, so that when you take off all the strings, the neck actually bends back. If left in this condition for any length of time, the neck wood will conform to its new shape and maintain a "memory" that will take a finite time to recover from. So, just like you need to wait a few hours or a day after a truss rod adjustment to let the neck settle, you may have a similar wait after a total string change. It all depends on the particular neck, particular truss rod, and how long it has been without strings.

I would suggest that if you want to absolutely minimize any shifting bridge, saddle, or neck movements the safest thing to do is the single stringe change. That's not to say a total string change is bad, only that the chance of something changing or moving is greater.:cool:

[Glowing Tubes]

Been changing strings on my guitars for 25+ years now.
I have always taken them all off. Gives me a chance to examine how the frets are wearing, how the parts are seated and working. Never once had a problem. TOM bridges can be a pain in the butt but if you are careful it shouldnt be a huge problem.
Strats are particularly easy to do it on.



RC

[FastRedPonyCar]

I've been pulling all the strings on my instruments for 15 years now and not once had a problem.

I'm pretty anal about cleaning teh fretboard with a light rubdown with #0000 steel wool, rubbing it down after that with windex, rubbing some gerlitz guitar honey (or 3 in 1 oil) onto the fretboard and then wiping the body down with automotive detailers spray or caranuba wax.

[KazJY]

I've done it both ways and never had a problem - however - and I've done this in my early teenage years - don't take your wire/string cutters and cut them all off at once (i.e. putting em all in a bunch and clipping through all 6 at the same time)- I think that is just too much for a neck to handle (I play SGs, so...) - I've heard that the "buck" from the neck losing all that tension at "once" can goof things up.

Sounds stupid, but I can see someone being in a rush and doing this.

[gkoelling]

Slack 'em all, cutt 'em all of, re-string. Your guitar is NOT that delicate.

[LeonardScaper]

Wait!!!

My old SG is NOT made from blown crystal???

+1 for either way.

[axepilot]

Wait!!!

My old SG is NOT made from blown crystal???

+1 for either way.

LOL! :rotflmao

[Leucadian]

Slack 'em all, cutt 'em all of, re-string. Your guitar is NOT that delicate.

...I watched Scott Henderson do just as you've described minutes before a gig with Scott Kinsey...it actually made quite an impression...he just put it on the floor and cut the strings...definitely not being delicate.

[axepilot]

If I choose to remove all of the strings, I'll slack them off nice and floppy, and just cut them all off in one bunch.

No worries, no problems.

[gkoelling]

...I watched Scott Henderson do just as you've described minutes before a gig with Scott Kinsey...it actually made quite an impression...he just put it on the floor and cut the strings...definitely not being delicate.

Years ago I was in a band with a guy who changed strings one-at-a-time. He was convinced if he took them all off at once the neck would warp. :D

[axepilot]

Years ago I was in a band with a guy who changed strings one-at-a-time. He was convinced if he took them all off at once the neck would warp. :D

That is still a common, though ill founded perception..........................

[telemanjam]

If your not handy[and judging from your post your not] A floating bridge could cause you problems by taking all the strings off at once.

Just stick a deck of cards or something under the back of the bridge; that will keep the bridge from plopping down. Although, nothing bad will happen if you don't. But having the bridge level (with floating height) when restringing will make tuning up easier.


As for stringing one at at time, I found that I like to do that with guitars with TOM bridges. I always seem to bump the thumbwheels and throw off the bridge height if all strings are off. I suppose I could just invest in a TonePros locking bridge...

[slipbeer]

I used to change them one at a time on my Les Paul but them I wised up and slapped a Tone-Pros tailpiece on it.

Now I just take the torch and the band saw to all 6 at once because I only have to pay attention to the saddles instead of the flippin' tailpiece siding off too.

[fullerplast]

That is still a common, though ill founded perception..........................

Warping is the wrong word, but the neck actually does bend backwards as all the string tension that the truss rod was counteracting is suddenly gone. Some necks take a bit of time to come back, just like after a truss rod adjustment. It's easy to see...try playing after only putting one string back on; you'll have buzzes all over because the neck has bowed.

[axepilot]

Warping is the wrong word, but the neck actually does bend backwards as all the string tension that the truss rod was counteracting is suddenly gone. Some necks take a bit of time to come back, just like after a truss rod adjustment. It's easy to see...try playing after only putting one string back on; you'll have buzzes all over because the neck has bowed.

I agree that some necks / bridges are more sensitive to having all of the strings removed at once, but they are the exception. As long as the strings aren't removed for a longer period of time, the neck should be just fine.

For the record, I have replaced individual strings that have broken on gigs. I have never experienced "buzzes all over".

[fullerplast]

.

For the record, I have replaced individual strings that have broken on gigs. I have never experienced "buzzes all over".

You misunderstood what I said. Try playing with only one string on the neck after a total string removal. You'll clearly see that the neck has bowed backwards. Buzz city.

I'm not saying it hurts anything either. It's just physics. Any neck with a truss rod under tension will exhibit it, no exceptions.

[axepilot]

You misunderstood what I said. Try playing with only one string on the neck after a total string removal. You'll clearly see that the neck has bowed backwards. Buzz city.

I would never see myself backed into a corner with just one string left - but I can understand where you're coming from.

But - I stand by my assertion that most guitars will survive a complete string removal completely unscathed............

[fullerplast]

I would never see myself backed into a corner with just one string left - but I can understand where you're coming from.

But - I stand by my assertion that most guitars will survive a complete string removal completely unscathed............

No, no, no.....I not suggesting anyone would actually be stuck playing with only one string! I'm only saying that if anyone doubts that the neck bends back, they can try that simple experiment next time they restring!

And again, I'm not saying anyone will damage their guitar! I'm simply saying that the neck moves back, and then forward with a total restring. The time it takes to settle back varies with particular necks. If you don't want anything to move, then just do one string at a time. That is all.

[axepilot]

fullerplast,

I completely understand your point - and I can see it as good to know, but basically academic, no offense.

I'm coming from a "working" players situation. While we all cherish our guitars, some of us don't have the time to baby them, and that means down and dirty string changes.

Guitars are built much tougher than we give them credit for. They can survive "road" treatment.

[fullerplast]

fullerplast,

I completely understand your point - and I can see it as good to know, but basically academic, no offense.

I'm coming from a "working" players situation. While we all cherish our guitars, some of us don't have the time to baby them, and that means down and dirty string changes.

Guitars are built much tougher than we give them credit for. They can survive "road" treatment.

It has nothing at all to do with being a working player, cherishing, time to baby, down and dirty string changes, tough guitars, or road treatment.

I simply brought it up because of your statement about neck movement being an "ill founded perception". It is academic, but it's not ill founded and it's not a perception. It's just physics.:BEER