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Thread: While on vacation

  1. #1
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    Default While on vacation

    This may be a silly question, but I was talking to a fellow mandolin playing friend the other night and he said he detunes his mandolin when he's gone from home. Say for a couple weeks. I plan on a two week vacation coming up and am wondering if that might be a good idea? Of course my mandolin will be stored in its case while gone.

  2. #2
    Registered User Mando Mort's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    Depends on the conditions in the room in which the case is stored, but two weeks is not that long if your room is not experiencing extreme dryness or changes in temperature/humidity.
    "All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out." - Mark Twain

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    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I've never done this. I've had my a3 strung up to tension for over 30 years straight. No problems so far!

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    Default Re: While on vacation

    Won’t hurt to leave it at pitch. I’m near Charlotte, NC, so a little more heat/humidity than you (unless you’re on the coast), and have never had an issue. I define slightly whenever I ship one, but otherwise leave at pitch.
    Chuck

  5. #5
    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    It’s pretty dry at 9000’ but I’ve never detuned while on vaca.

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    Default Re: While on vacation

    Thanks folks! I had never even thought about it until my friend mentioned it. And I've left on vacations for years without ever de-tuning. So I think I will leave well enough alone.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    It's one of the urban myths of mandolin/guitar playing. I have more instruments that I care to admit which are tuned up to pitch and left unplayed for several months at a time and I've never experienced problems. I can, however, imagine having more problems by constantly increasing and decreasing string tension on a regular basis.

  8. #8
    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    fwiw, i keep all of my instruments tuned to pitch even if i haven't played some of them in months -- or even years. The only time i ever had a problem was my first instrument, a bowlback without a truss rod, and i put that in a case and didn't think about it for 20 years. The neck bowed ... but then, it might not have been the string tension. At any rate, any other mandolin i've owned has never seemed to be affected by being put away ready to play. knock on wood.
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  9. #9
    fishing with my mando darrylicshon's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I always leave my instruments tuned, mandolin, guitar, violin, even drums, I have pulled a guitar and mandolin out and noticed that the neck has gotten a bow , but it only happens once in awhile, and I have way too many instruments that sit for months to years without being touched. For the ones that have a bow just simple turn of the rod and it's back to where I like them. Back in the 80's I was living in my car for a few months in the summer and keep my favorite guitar with me at all times, usually in the trunk, after the summer the neck went out, I was new to play guitar so I took it into get look at, I watched him just turn the rod a little and charge me well I forget but I said I can do that myself and have been since, best thing out of it is that I still own that guitar and it has never needed an adjustment again , and it has sat for many years lonely in its case
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    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I left my flatiron unplayed for a long time. -humid room.. When I opened case, tailpiece was torn right where the bend is.

  11. #11
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I detune them to change strings but that's about it.
    David Hopkins

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  12. #12
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I say take the mando with you... Its good for practice during the down times
    aka: Spencer
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  13. #13
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    Quote Originally Posted by soliver View Post
    I say take the mando with you... Its good for practice during the down times
    All of 'em?
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

  14. #14
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    I am admittedly a little too fanatical about STRAIGHT necks on my instruments - so everything in a case is tuned down a 1/2 step . . .

  15. #15
    I really look like that soliver's Avatar
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    Quote Originally Posted by DHopkins View Post
    All of 'em?
    OF COURSE!!!... Wouldn't want them to get lonely now would you?
    aka: Spencer
    Silverangel Econo A #429
    Soliver #001 & #002: A double stack of Pancakes.

    Soliver Hand Crafted Mandolins and Mandolin Armrests
    Armrests Here -- Mandolins Here

    "You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage
    to lose sight of the shore, ...and also a boat with no holes in it.” -anonymous

  16. #16
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    Default Re: While on vacation

    What about the autoharp, the fiddle, the lap steel and the dulcimers?
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
    Breedlove Legacy FF mandolin; Breedlove Quartz FF mandolin
    Gibson F-4 mandolin (1916); Blevins f-style Octave mandolin, 2018
    McCormick Oval Sound Hole "Reinhardt" Mandolin
    McCormick Solid Body F-Style Electric Mandolin; Slingerland Songster Guitar (c. 1939)

    The older I get, the less tolerant I am of political correctness, incompetence and stupidity.

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