On 1/20/2018 9:52 AM, Tim wrote:
Mr. Luddite
- show quoted text -
Not sure storing with string tension off for a long time is a good idea
but probably won't hurt it. It might need to have the truss rod in the
neck adjusted because after a while, being wood, the neck moves and
takes a set. With the string tension relieved, the truss rod has more
effect on the neck. The result can be either "high action" meaning the
strings end up being higher off the fret board than ideal, making the
guitar much more difficult to play or too low of an action causing the
some strings to "buzz" on the frets.

More important is to make sure it is humidified during the heating
season. You can buy guitar humidifiers but it's just as effective to
get a plastic soap box, drill a bunch of holes in it's top, put in a
couple of wet, (not dripping) sponges and put the soap box anywhere in
the case with the guitar. I put it under the headstock. Keep the case
closed and re-wet the sponge every 2 or 3 months. Wood dries out and
shrinks during the dry winter months and if affects the neck more than
anything else.

....

A bass may be different. Long term storage I’ll drop the strings a note or two. But don’t take them all the way down. Don’t know if that’s good or not but that’s how I’ve done it...



I recommend the same for 6 strings. Don't completely relieve the
tension. Just reduce it while in long term storage.