Quote (aokmaster15 @ Sun, Jun 21 2009, 07:04pm)
uh i think you are misinformed. taking off all of the strings does not create any extra work. Only changing the strings to a higher gauge will cause that to happen. you dont ever need to mess with the truss rodd because you took the strings of nor does having the strings off wreck the neck
The truss rod pulls the head of the neck in the opposite direction that strings do, if you take the strings off then the truss rod is bending the neck. It isn't a problem if you are simply changing the strings, but after a few days you will notice that the neck is bowed back, and while it can often be straightened by putting strings on, the neck can slightly to seriously warp, among other things that you don't want.
Quote (aokmaster15 @ Mon, Jun 22 2009, 04:46pm)
I have never heard it to such an extreme. If you have a guitar that is set with very high tension and you take it off then possible i see that happening. Even then exposing the instrument to high humidity/temperature changes would actually cause the wood to move so quickly that your neck is ruined. But the truth is that the wood does not relax that quickly and you can leave it without strings without any damage as long as it remains in the same temperature/humidity. It is advised to keep strings on during extended storage because the wood does relax and the tension of the truss rod could warp it. But other than that i see no problem.
I have seen guitars with damaged necks due to loosened strings during shipping, the neck bowed back and warped with a return to proper string tension, and I have worked on several guitars with damaged necks due to improper storage. I recently loosened a tension rod on a bass with a broken bridge, there was a significant curve after two days without strings, it straightened out nicely, but I also have a guitar that needs a new neck because it was stored for years without strings and the fretboard is now uneven enough to affect playing.
Neck repairs and replacements are not cheap nor easy to do, so be careful with your instruments! Loosening a tension rod if you must take the strings off before storage is easy to do, and readjusting it when new strings are put on is something a luthier or competent guitar tech can do quickly and easily - most reputable places either have someone can do it or can recommend someone who can do it, just don't trust it to a chain store that sends it out, they often have unqualified workers and they overcharge and take a long time.