Should I loosen my electric guitar strings when not playing?

[IAA]

Firstly apologies if this is so stupid a question that you seasoned guitar folk are rolling about already, but, I have a few electrics (more than 1 and less than 6) which I play at least everyday. Now I have favourites so they don’t get played regularly everyday. They sit in the rack and sometimes may go for a few days without a play. But I do use them all.
Should I do anything different to just playing them and leaving them be?

I’ve avoided looking on the internet just in case it feeds my paranoia, but I’m sure you can all help.

So am I just fine leaving them tuned up ready to grab?

Thanks all in advance.

Ian

[Arpangel]

Good question, but more importantly, try loosening them while you’re actually playing.

[IAA]

try loosening them while you’re actually playing.

I suspect it may improve my solos!

Ian

[Music Wolf]

So am I just fine leaving them tuned up ready to grab?

Yes, absolutely.

[adrian_k]

I leave mine at tension, I feel the strings and truss rod are balanced against each other so why mess with it? But actually it probably makes little difference these days.

[Wonks]

Phew, I've stopped rolling about now. That was hard work!

As Adrian said, the strings and the truss rod are balancing each other, so there's no point loosening the strings.

Too loose for a long period and you may find the neck doesn't go back to quite the same position when you tighten the strings, especially if there have been significant changes in relative humidity levels, requiring a truss rod tweak.

It's not the end of the world to do so, but if you just want to pick the guitar up and play, then that ten minutes spent finding a screwdriver and the right hex key or spanner then using it, can kill the mood.

[MarkOne]

Good question, but more importantly, try loosening them while you’re actually playing.

I think Syd did that sometimes (while off his face on LSD) until they basically fell off... and it was one of the triggers for the rest of Floyd deciding not to pick him up for a gig (ever again)

[IAA]

Thanks chaps, I’d hoped you’d say that!

Ian

[Sam Spoons]

I have 8 guitars, all live tuned up to pitch in a rack and they have been like that for several years, some get played every day or two others don't get picked up from one month to the next but no harm has befallen them.

[Studio Support Gnome]

I’m not commenting how many I have ( opinions vary , some might say not enough. Others too many , it’s more than some people , not as many as others , ) Some don’t get played for months , one or two occasionally have a quiet year . But they’re all set up ready to go at a moments notice .

[Wonks]

About 30 acoustics, electrics and basses. Almost all of them I can get out of their cases and they’ll be in tune (or only out very slightly but still good enough to play without bothering to tune them and not wince).

[IAA]

But they’re all set up ready to go at a moments notice

Yes, that’s why I didn’t really want to have to mess with them, I absolutely love just picking one up and, bang, there you are. I’m a pianist by training and that’s what you do with a piano, impulse/idea = play!

In my studio all my keyboards need to be switched on, computer on, select preset…….

And guitars just look so beautiful in a way a synth just doesn’t, (except a Minimoog naturally).

Thanks

Ian

[russ123]

About 30 acoustics, electrics and basses. Almost all of them I can get out of their cases and they’ll be in tune (or only out very slightly but still good enough to play without bothering to tune them and not wince).

Thank you sir, I suddenly don’t feel so alone!

[Wonks]

About 30 acoustics, electrics and basses. Almost all of them I can get out of their cases and they’ll be in tune (or only out very slightly but still good enough to play without bothering to tune them and not wince).

Thank you sir, I suddenly don’t feel so alone!

It’s one reason I’ve recently moved to a bigger house, to have room to store them properly.

I think Studio Support Gnome has a similar number.

[ManFromGlass]

Doesn’t it get tiring 24/7 being surrounded by such beauty and inspiration?
I mean you must be writing non-stop!

[Wonks]

Unfortunately, thinking about what the next guitar will be can get in the way.

[FrankF]

I only buy strings that are tuned to concert pitch.

[Martin Walker]

I only buy strings that are tuned to concert pitch.

Ooh, that's a bit of a stretch!

[FrankF]

Some of my guitars identify as pianos.
As Winston Smith memorably learned, A=550.

[Philbo King]

While guitars in a rack or display case look cool, humidity variations will always take its toll on them.
I always leave mine in their cases when not in use.

[Studio Support Gnome]

I think Studio Support Gnome has a similar number.

Thereabouts but I didn’t want to frighten anyone
Bought a new acoustic in January sales , but have otherwise been restrained by lack of space .

Currently every single guitar is cased , rather than out on the racks like usual. , had to pack Up everything whilst building works for new boiler and hot water systems were underway .
Moving to larger , or differently organised house is a subject up for discussion here as well now For a number of reasons . Sadly , Guitar housing is only a fringe benefit . Office space is more important.

Working weekends as well , doing some acoustics consulting on the side , burning candles at both ends and in the middle , The usual nutjob schedule that makes playing guitar a tad tricky .

[FrankF]

I have a few electrics (more than 1 and less than 6) which I play at least everyday. Now I have favourites so they don’t get played regularly everyday. They sit in the rack and sometimes may go for a few days without a play. But I do use them all.
Should I do anything different to just playing them and leaving them be?

I’ve avoided looking on the internet just in case it feeds my paranoia, but I’m sure you can all help.

So am I just fine leaving them tuned up ready to grab?

Thanks all in advance.

Ian

So, to sum up, you have 5 electrics ("more than 1 and less than 6"), which you "play at least everyday."
However, "they don’t get played regularly everyday."
In fact, they "sometimes may go for a few days without a play."

Are you on drugs?

[IAA]

re-reading that I can see the ambiguity! Mind you it was only 0700am, the only drug was coffee IIRC!

I meant, I play everyday, mostly my favourites (tele and a Les Paul) so some may go a few days without a twiddle.

Anyway, I’m happy to leave them be, they look great, and being able to pick up any is great. I’d just read an email that made me think I was being far too cavalier with them.

Ian

[ManFromGlass]

Re-loose strings.
I have an electric which is my experimental guitar, meaning I’m not afraid to change pickups, drill holes in it for adding or testing other hardware etc.
For the past few years I have kept it tuned down a fifth. (This is written pre-morning coffee so I mean I tuned the E strings down to a B with the others down the same amount - is that a fifth?)

I love playing it. Can you imagine how far I can bend the G string? Great fun! I am surprised at how it stays in tune after some serious bending. The intonation is good and I didn’t need to tweak the truss rod. Haven’t bought a baritone yet but I suspect I would like one.

[FrankF]

Only if you're alluding to a fifth of vodka...

I love your idea of having a guitar you can do violence to without caring: I tried decorating a Squier Strat with some bits and bobs, and I ended up snapping the pickup soldering.
Now it only makes a sound if I hit it with various objects. Still, beautiful plumage!