Detuning strings on bass guitar after playing

[sanXp]

What is the purpose of detuning the strings of a bass guitar after playing? Someone told me I should do it but I don't understand the reason behind it. I used to do it but I don't anymore, too time consuming.

 

[FeElDaGrOoVe]

dunno but i do know why shop detune, cos the neck might bend i think*

 

[CrispyEgg]

detuning your bass after playing lets your neck rest i guess. i do that if i'm gonna carry it around or if i'm not gonna play for the next day. however your neck will have to set and get used to the tuning again when you do tune it, so i dont think its a gd idea to detune before a gig.

anyone else out there who detunes after practice and knows why you actually do this?

 

[GrayAkira]

I detune only after I "reborn" my bass after her neck is bend slightly. The guy repaired my bass told me to detune everytime after I play to prevent it from happening.. Maybe the tension?

 

[iansoh]

I detune only after I "reborn" my bass after her neck is bend slightly. The guy repaired my bass told me to detune everytime after I play to prevent it from happening.. Maybe the tension?

eh? then the guy might not have fixed your bass after all. if not u won't have to detune it everytime. even if you're using heavy gauge strings like 110-50, the neck ought to be able to take the tension. that's why the truss rod is there for you to adjust.

 

[reyrey]

I detune only after I "reborn" my bass after her neck is bend slightly. The guy repaired my bass told me to detune everytime after I play to prevent it from happening.. Maybe the tension?

eh? then the guy might not have fixed your bass after all. if not u won't have to detune it everytime. even if you're using heavy gauge strings like 110-50, the neck ought to be able to take the tension. that's why the truss rod is there for you to adjust.

better to detune...bass string really give the neck lots of tension, just see the string la,like udon and hokkien mee sial,my friend's bass also experience the same thing like akira's prob...let the neck rest la,if u keep adjusting the truss rod,its not really good for the neck

 

[rottenramone]

necks

this discussion is kinda getting the same as "cutting excess string length is bad cos it cuts out the extra tone"

 

[CrispyEgg]

lol... i agree with rey rey.

 

[rhythm_]

Isnt it a hassle to tune and retune... So if it must be done, what would be the frequency? Is it everytime when playing and after playing... ><

 

[CrispyEgg]

Well, if u practice everyday at home, leave the tuning set, maybe detune once a week before a day that you wanna rest from practicing...
if you practice on a random/regular basis, detuning each tuner by 2 turns should be enough... the bass is easy to tune, just make sure you've already set your intonation right and u can probably tune up in 30 secs with a tuner or by ear...

 

[3notesAbar]

The tension of the strings act as a counterforce to the tension exerted by the truss-rod. If you like the action and setup on your bass, dont detune it. Its just as good as upsetting the balance you already favor.

 

[CrispyEgg]

sidetrack: 3notes what's your gear?

 

[Colarndo]

E String of Bass=440Hz

 

[CrispyEgg]

E String of Bass=440Hz

????? where'd that come from :?:

fyi, the frequency 440Hz is an "A" note, 2nd space on the treble clef. near your middle C. not the E string of bass.

 

[squidospyder]

E String of Bass=440Hz

I'm sorry this tickles me somehow, nothing... just that it sounds so funny suddenly coming out of nowhere while I'm reading this thread.

For me, I don't detune my strings. Why? Well, I met this uncle who has this very old 70's jazz bass in his storeroom in very bad condition (in a bag luckily), the strings he never detune since I think before I was born, and the neck is still straight. Ok but the strings are like super dead (think scrap metal at a junkyard), but still more or less roughly in tune. So I don't understand why certain techies say you must detune. Maybe they want to explain why?

(And he's not selling the bass by the way)

 

[CrispyEgg]

mm i guess it depends. like how science is objective, e.g. light travels at ___ speed in a vaccuum, but lets be practical - where r u gonna find a vaccuum space on earth and why would u wanna calculate it to the decimal?

same thing, some things work in the TECHNICAL aspect of things, but sometimes experience and time is your best proof. here, your uncle's bass is solid proof of "DONT DETUNE! EVER!" lol.