Why is it recommended to.......

[mudwhistle]

Why is it recommended to change only 1 string at a time instead of taking them all off?
I thought I read or someone told me once that its not good for the neck, intonation, etc, etc.. to take all of the strings off at once.

Is this true? If so why is that?

I ask b/c i'm about to sell a guitar and I took off all the strings to clean it really good and to obviously put a fresh set on. So will i need to do any other adjustments?
Thanks for the help.

 

[castiron]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

i made the mistak of taking them all off on my floyd rose. the bridge like sank down and it frustrated me so i just took it to the local shop to change em. changing one at a time keeps some tension on the bridge and keeps it floating. u can change em all at one time but alot of people recommened putting a credit card under the bridge. this is assuming that u have a floating trem.

 

[mudwhistle]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

Thanks dude. Its not a floating trem so i guess i don't have anything to worry about.

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

That's usually the problem with tremelo systems. Because the tailpiece falls off with tune-o-matic bridges it is usually recommended to change the strings one at a time. It only affects the intonation when the axe isn't restringed within a short period of time, but if you plan on changing the strings right after you've removed the old ones there shouldn't be any problems at all.

 

[mudwhistle]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

Thanks Neeradj, they've only been off for 2 days, i plan on putting them on 2nite.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I don't have any Floyd guitars so I do remove them all at once.

Some very valuable acoustic guitars probably benifit from having string tension on them at all times so the top doesn't flex and change in an undesireable way.

And with a Les Paul the bridge and tailpiece will fall off..but so what? Just put it back on again. :laugh2:

Lew

 

[BS123]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

Changing strings one at a time keeps the neck from bowing and such. It keeps the tension constant.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I recommend changing them one at a time to

1. Keep the tension constant (not always necessary, in fact usually a non-issue, but why take a risk)
2. Have a "placeholder" in case the phone rings, somebody knocks, et. al.

On Floyds and other floating trems it makes sense to save unnecessary work. On Tune-O-Matics it´s less essential (because you can just pick up the bridge and put it back on). Strat hardtails and blocked trems couldn´t care less.

On Jazz Archtops (You know the kind, rosewood or Ebony Bridge, not fastened to the body) you MUST change them singly or I guarantee you´re redoing the intonation when you´re done (Or you don´t care about intonation, or are extremely lucky)

 

[rocker_71]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

That's usually the problem with tremelo systems. Because the tailpiece falls off with tune-o-matic bridges it is usually recommended to change the strings one at a time. It only affects the intonation when the axe isn't restringed within a short period of time, but if you plan on changing the strings right after you've removed the old ones there shouldn't be any problems at all.

So if I put the strings within an hour back, there aint a problem?

Because when all strings are off, I can clean my guitar better. :22:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I recommend changing them one at a time...

On Jazz Archtops (You know the kind, rosewood or Ebony Bridge, not fastened to the body) you MUST change them singly or I guarantee you´re redoing the intonation when you´re done (Or you don´t care about intonation, or are extremely lucky)

Good point. On any guitar with a bridge like that change them one at a time.



Lew

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

So if I put the strings within an hour back, there aint a problem?

Because when all strings are off, I can clean my guitar better. :22:

Yes indeed, it always works for me, and because I don't break strings that often (the change from GHS to D'Addario made that big a difference :dance: ), I clean it everytime I remove the strings

 

[some_dude]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I change all the strings at once on my hardtails....it lets me scrub the neck and clean around the bridge and tailpiece better.

On my Floyd I usually change one at a time, but once a year I take it all apart for cleaning and oiling.

 

[tweedking]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

every guitarist should know how to set the intonation on their guitar. therefore, even if you leave the strings off for 6 months you can easily reset the intonation. it really shouldn't mater if you take the strings off 1 at a time or all at once (assuming the mechinism that holds the srings will not move, like the floating floyd will).

the woods in the neck and boby are always contracting and expanding. if the temp changes the neck changes. if the humidity changes the nedck changes. i have even intonated a guitar at home and afer 1 hour in the trunk of my car (in the winter) the intonation was off. if you take a proactive role in guitar maintance, you will never be more than 15 min away from a perfectly tuned guitar.

i always re set the intonation on my guitars every string change.

 

[mudwhistle]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

tweedking, could you give a brief, step-by-step run-thru of setting intonation?
Thanks

 

[AcidBurn]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

tweedking, could you give a brief, step-by-step run-thru of setting intonation?
Thanks

Here's a link to the vault thread on intonation:

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=21014

 

[Curly]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I've always changed strings one at a time, for the reasons mentioned - it keeps the tension on the neck. It's also a lot easier to get back in tune if you tune as you go.

I don't see a good argument for doing them all at once, other than that it might take less time, but you'll spend more time getting it back in tune anyway.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I clean it everytime I remove the strings

same. i cant stand a slow fretboard because its dirty and has finger oil and crap on it.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

I don't see a good argument for doing them all at once, other than that it might take less time, but you'll spend more time getting it back in tune anyway.

well, i oil the fretboard and clean it everrytime i change strings, which is impossible is you do one string at a time.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

On strats and teles, I take them all off, clean the guitar, and put a new set on.

On Les Pauls and PRS, I take 5 off, leaving the low E to hold the tailpiece secure, while I change the rest. Then, I change the remaining low E last.

On Floyd guitars or Archtops with floating bridge, I change them one at a time.

I never even thought about it before, I just did what made the most sense, and I guess that's what worked for me.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Why is it recommended to.......

On my Schecter (LP-ish tailpiece) I take all the strings AND the tailpiece off to clean it. I just made a small notch on the height adjustment ring on each post with a small file that point towards the headstock to remind me where I had them set at. I have yet to have any alterations to my bridge height with this method, and the notches are small enough that I have to get reasonable close to notice them.