How far to detune a 12-string for shipment?

[Folkie]

The title of this thread is self-explanatory. How far down from concert pitch should the strings be before shipping?

[jps]

0% or, at most, I may tune down ½ step. Keep in mind you do not want the floating bridge to float around, literally!

[collin]

+1

Guitars are designed to have constant force applied from the strings. If you slacken the strings all the way, you're inviting the elements to have their way with the wood instead of using the string tension to keep the neck where it needs to be.

1/2 step down is a good rule, but it's not bad to keep them tensioned completely.

[teb]

A couple of mine have been shipped from Wisconsin to Seattle and back tuned to pitch. When they arrived home, they were still amazing close to being in tune. John Hall has mentioned several times here on the forum that Rickenbacker suggests leaving them tuned up.

[kennyhowes]

De-tuned, or not...PROTECT THE HEADSTOCK! This is key. No wiggle room within the case!

[JakeK]

When I shipped a 660/12 back in 2009, I detuned a whole step. I made sure to have the headstock bubble-wrapped.

When my Telecaster was shipped to me, the strings were all the way slackened. Good thing it has a fixed bridge!

[jimk]

A couple of mine have been shipped from Wisconsin to Seattle and back tuned to pitch. When they arrived home, they were still amazing close to being in tune. John Hall has mentioned several times here on the forum that Rickenbacker suggests leaving them tuned up.

My guitar was shipped from Santa Ana to a dealer in PA, and then to me in Lawrence, KS. It arrived in close to concert pitch, and no structural problems at all.
So I'd take Todd's and Mr. Hall's advice. And maybe wrap up the headstock in bubble wrap just to be safe.
JimK

[collin]

De-tuned, or not...PROTECT THE HEADSTOCK! This is key. No wiggle room within the case!

Big +1

I can't tell ya how many times I've received a guitar, case perfectly packed in box with the guitar flopping around inside.

I always tell people shipping me stuff now - good packing begins inside the case.

[Grey]

I've had guitars arrive with strings and without strings, never had a problem with either.

[eatswodo]

Mine arrived from Pick of the Ricks a couple of weeks ago, in near-perfect tune. It was bubble-wrapped too - not a millimeter of wriggle room.

[Seans]

De-tuned, or not...PROTECT THE HEADSTOCK! This is key. No wiggle room within the case!

Big +1

I can't tell ya how many times I've received a guitar, case perfectly packed in box with the guitar flopping around inside.

I always tell people shipping me stuff now - good packing begins inside the case.

+1, it's the amount that the guitar can move that's the problem, so it's up to the buyer/seller to get the case packed accordingly, a scenario, if the case falls flat on it's face the neck will get a sudden extreme tune up, not good if you have a normal Ric case, if there's a modern HSC then it's not so bad, but even so I always ship/ask piece detuned a pitch, it won't do any harm.

My 64 arrived double boxed, but rattled around in the case, I think the blue velor gives an appearance of a lovely comfy sofa warm coffee etc