How do you usually test your guitar after taking it in for a setup? Play scales? Songs? Break out some measuring tape?

EDIT: Forgot to mention..
If I were to also go up string gauges, would I be able to expect the guitar back within a day or would that be unrealistic?

I just dont want to take my guitar back too early only to have the neck cave in again..

Im not sure at what rate it takes for the guitar to adjust to the new tension

I set my own guitars up over a fistful of months. So it gets plenty of use in various applications.

I've been thinking about this current love affair with having guitars set up every string change (more or less) and have come to the conclusion that it's mostly nonsense. People never used to do it.

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No no and no

I do setups myself, so I know what I want to achieve. I suggest you to check the things you told your tech to adjust. String buzz, string height, intonation etc. If you don't know what this is, you're fine

Cheers

David

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"Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc...and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons."

I setup my own and play them to see how it does,but when I need some pro work done on it better than I can do,there's a guy around here who is the best I've seen...he can take one of my Strats that I've set up to my playing style,and tweak it and make it as close to perfect as it can be...the guy just has the touch.
I would pick up my guitar from him and go straight to a stadium gig,if I were in that league,without doing anything but checking the tuning,and then plug in and play...and some of his customers do just that.
Some guys are really good.

Ah I see. I've never heard of getting a setup after every string change. That seems a little excessive.

If I were to also go up string gauges, would I be able to expect the guitar back within a day or would that be unrealistic?

I just dont want to take my guitar back too early only to have the neck cave in again..

Im not sure at what rate it takes for the guitar to adjust to the new tension.

I do my own setups, and have learned a great deal in these 26+ years of fooling with guitars. I usually test my guitar throughout the setup process until I get what I want. But, here's what I strive for:
Comfortable action from nut to last fret
Little string buzz as possible, within reason and action considerations
No dead spots or choked notes (especially heard through an amp)
No choking out when bending strings (important on 7.5" radius boards)
Good intonation.
Also check and make sure the nut is lubed, and the electric connections are tight (loose input jacks and pots drive me nuts!)
I will play every note on every string to check for buzzing/dead spots, and I also see at what "strength" I must pick to induce buzzes. I am heavy handed, thus, I will always experience SOME buzzing when I get carried away