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Topic: Long Term Guitar Storage |
Johnny Jones
From:
Benton, Kentucky USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 10:46 am |
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| Our son is in the peace corp in Africa,he will be gone for 2 years.What is the proper way to store guitars,that won't be played.He has a fender strat,regal dobro,2 acoustic guitars.We have the guitars in a spare bedroom at our house.Do you take the strings off,or leave it tune up to standard tune.Thanks Johnny Jones |
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Daniel McKee
From:
Corinth Mississippi
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 11:32 am
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| i have heard people say that you should take the strings off. |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 12:24 pm long term guitar storage
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I don't think that you necessarily need to take the strings off the guitar, but for myself I would slack the strings somewhat and leave the guitars stored in a case. Another factor is humidity...If it's very dry climate where you live I'd consider buying some guitar humidifiers to put into the cases also.
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 1:29 pm
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I can't think of any reason at all to do anything but put them in the cases and lean the cases against the wall.
IF the room is normal indoor temperature and humidity you don't need to do anything.
Leaving them unstrung, or tuned down will only cause problems.
Think about it... guitars are kept in tune their entire lives. They are made to be kept that way. |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 1:31 pm long term guitar storage
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Each to his own...
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 1:33 pm long term guitar storage
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What ever...
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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Don Brown, Sr.
From:
New Jersey
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 3:34 pm
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To each his/her own is right. But, in this case, I have to agree with Bo.
All good guitars have a truss rod in their neck, and that rod is adjusted for the amount of tension the strings exert on the neck. Leaving them up to pitch prevents them from twisting, due to the strings pulling the even tension against the truss rod.
On a pedal steel, probably the best thing you could do for it before storing it, is to be sure it's lubed well, in all areas, and especially down in the Changer system.
But again, that's just my personal experience and opinion. Others like to lesson the tension on the strings. I don't! And after 20 years of sitting in it's case, my 1968 Guild Starfire 4, came out just as good as when it was stored........ |
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Carson Leighton
From:
N.B. Canada
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 4:02 pm
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| I would slacken the strings up until there is hardly any tension on the acoustic instruments and I will tell you why...There is a considerable amount of pull on the soundboard of the guitar..This is an upward pull on the top of the instrument around the bridge area...Leaving the strings tuned to standard pitch will only shorten the life of the instrument by raising the top of the soundboard in the area I just mentioned...I have seen this many times..When this happens,,it raises the height of the strings,,and cannot be corrected by adjusting the truss rod...The average time it takes for this to take place depends on the instrument,,but for most acoustic guitars it's about 20 years give or take a few years....I see no point in leaving the strings tight if you are not using the instruments...On the electric guitar,,I would tune it down a whole tone and put it away...Keep all these instruments away from direct sunlight,,baseboard heaters,,etc..They should also be kept out of the cases where the wood can breathe...Regards,,,,Carson |
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Kevin Bollivar
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Posted 15 Oct 2011 4:46 pm
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I agree with Carson!!!
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CARTER SD10,77 SESSION 400,81 VEGAS 400 STEELER'S CHOICE SIDE KICK,GOODRICH L10K VOLUME,PETERSON STROBO HD,GOODRICH MATCHBOX 7A,GEORGE L CABLES,BJS BAR,NATIONAL PICKS |
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Jason Hull
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Posted 16 Oct 2011 4:24 am
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Last edited by Jason Hull on 22 Apr 2012 3:42 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 16 Oct 2011 10:38 am Guitar Storage Summary
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Let's see....If we take everything everyone said and divide it by six, you get:
1. Lower the tuning about 5 frets.
2. Take some tension off the truss rod if accessible.
3. Store the instrument in it's case.
2. Put a humidifier in the case.
3. Store the case in the closet standing up or flat under the bed, away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.
4. Open the case once a year to inspect the guitar and recharge the humidifier.
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1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Jason Hull
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Posted 17 Oct 2011 5:29 am Re: Guitar Storage Summary
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Last edited by Jason Hull on 22 Apr 2012 3:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Fred Glave
From:
McHenry, Illinois, USA
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Posted 18 Oct 2011 11:08 am
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To avoid more confusion, just send them to me, and I'll play them and take care of them  until he returns home from Africa. 
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Zum Encore, Zum Stage One, Fender 2000, Harlan Bros., Multi-Kord, |
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Gianni Gori
From:
Livorno, Italy
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Posted 18 Oct 2011 3:41 pm
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I would do... nothing! Nothing but keep the guitars sound and safe in their cases in a room with average humidity and temperature.
Losening or removing the string will cause the "counter tension" of the truss rod to bend the neck backwards. You should losen the truss rod as well, as a remedy for losening strings... So, why not leaving things as they are?!
We're talking about TWO years, not twenty!!!
I know two years may seem a lifetime for parents waiting for their son, but guitars will have no problems in the meanwhile. The're built to last.
I own 27 stringed instruments. It may happen that I won't play some of them even for one year and I don't worry at all about losening strings and stuff.
I'd just clean them, put new strings on and store in the case.
Eventually, it may happen that guitars will need a little setup when your son will be back to play them again, but it could happen as well even if he didn't stop playing them.
IMHO, of course... 
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Gianni
Zum D-10 9x8, MSA S-10 4x5, Quilter Steelaire combo, Peavey Nashville 112 (w/Ken Fox mod & Jensen Neo), Hilton volume pedals, Sarno Tonic Preamp, Lexicon MPX-1 |
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Geoff Cline
From:
Southwest France
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 9:09 am
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| Just keep them in their cases in your house. If conditions (temperature and humidity) in the house are comfortable for you, the instruments will be fine...for a lot longer than 2 years. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 19 Oct 2011 9:21 am
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A reputable luthier once told me that 'if you're comfortable then so are your guitars'.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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