Removing all the strings from a guitar

tree bark

I've read that removing all the strings from a guitar at once could screw up the tension in the neck. Considering you'd have to destring the guitar to change the pickups, there must be a way to reset the tension. Is it safe to take off all the strings, or if not, how can I get the guitar back to normal?

Edit: Woops, accidentally hit the post button.

Uncle Long

I really haven't had any tension problems when taking off the strings. I mean, I generally take off all the strings in order to restring. You just put it back in tune afterwards and you should be fine. Also, I like to go in this order e(high) D B A G E to maintain a more uniform tension between the strings across the neck. Maybe what you read was talking about removing all the strings at once...as in suddenly, like with bolt cutters. the sudden release would probable make it a bit wonky.

Tube

I wouldn't leave it with the strings off for any length of time, but it's not fatal if you want to clean the guitar or something.

tree bark

Good to know. I guess I'm just overly paranoid about breaking something.

Fibretip

I've always found it to be fine. I have a cheap no name accoustic, and a pricey gibson SG electric, both for different reasons have been left well over a week with no strings on, and both still play beautifully with no hint of a difference. I guess some guitars might be more succeptable than others, but it's probably one of those things that's a throwback to the olden days when guitars weren't the creatures they are now. I think the thing to really avoid is taking the strings off, and then exposing the guitar to humidity or extreme hot or cold...anything that would cause the wood to shift around

EggyToast

Most of what I've read had to do with keeping the strings in tune better. The general idea is that if you remove a string, and put on a new one, and bring them all up to tune, the new strings will not stretch as much since the guitar is already at its ideal tension.

Personally, I don't think a dry wood could flex that much that the 10-15 minutes it takes to restring a guitar completely would have any effect on strings and their tension, since the problem is more with the strings being fresh than anything else.

Uncle Long

That's true, and they tend to stretch less and need to be tuned less frequently until they settle if you replace them as you go than if you just replace the whole set ime.

zilo

Just don't store it with no strings on it. Over weeks and months the wood in the neck can dry and flex backwards, requiring some pain-in-the-ass neck bow adjustments when you restring it to prevent the strings from rattling on the frets.

bagelpirate

I always heard you are supposed to change the string one by one.

To the OP: You'll be fine for changing the pickups, dont leave it like that for a long amount of time though, and dont lean it on the neck!