I just bought a new American Strat and want to replace the strings with a heavier .10's rather than the stock .09's. Question: Is a readjustment of the truss rod that necessary or can I just reajust the intonenation and height to achieve my desired playability? I have never bought a guitar that I didn't have to make these two adjustments anyway, but have never experimented with using the heavier gauge. From what I read, I heard both the truss needs to be readjusted for string relief and that it is not all that necessary as well. Since, I don't want to damage this new and very expensive guitar, I would appreciate any professional comments on this.

Welcome to the Forum.

My recommendation is to do a COMPLETE SETUP.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

It isn't the first time Chet has given this suggestion regarding changing gauge, this is what he suggested that I do in the past and he was right. I was kind of lucky in that I didn't need to mess with the trussrod but no one can guarantee that this will happen to all guitars. So, aim for a complete setup and if you're lucky the rod step might be skipped.
There's also a chance that my guitar actually needed a trussrod tweak and I never noticed. Anyway, I'm back to 9s now...

This is more likely the case.

Chet is absolutely right. And in extreme cases, even just changing the strings with the exact same brand and gauge may require some adjustment(s).

Welcome!

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You dig?

Thanks for the replies. Though I'm no hobbiest, I have been playing semi- pro for over 25 years, I know the dangers in messing with the truss rods (yep, bad experience). My main reason for posting this question was I usually by my guitar's completely on feel. Eveyone I've own that I've kept has been those where I go in a shop with the intend on another purchase and found that sweetness where a particular guitar I happen by chance to try just to play itself as I held it. This was the case with this one, but I just always have kept the gauge stock and adjusted the intonation & height to my needs. I own two Am. Strats. One is the Sienna with the lighter Ash and is my baby to go to in concert, but this one, a new stock 08 Am. Stnd, with case I found in a small off the wall shop and got for under 800.00 a week ago. Concidering current prices, I thought of it as a steal. Sweet playing, but still I wanted to experiment with a slightly heavier gauge. My plans is to use this one as a standard for clubs, where my music can vary from country to classic rock & oldies, to blues. Since, I'm not big on pedals (though I use a few), my aim is to have the heavey gauge give me a middle of the road tone and sound that doesn't require me to re-adjust my amp settings throughout the night or add to my pedal chain there by affecting both tone and diminishing the pure & beautiful sound of this Strat.

The reason that Chet recommends a complete setup is there are a lot of things that need to work together to play right. First, is the fact that the 10s will require much more tension than 9s for tuning. So that will require the truss rod to be adjusted. Now if you are one of those who like to float the trem, then it will obviously need to be adjusted because it will be way above the body of the guitar. Lastly, after adjusting the trem and truss rod, you may need to check the intonoation. If you look at all that needs to be checked, it comes down to be a complete setup.

On a tele I have bounced between 10s and 9s without tweaking and never had a problem but on a strat I always have it adjusted according to string gauge.

As a rule of thumb, I don't think you need to adjust when coming down a gauge ie from 10s to 9s but if you're going up significantly then of course you should adjust it. Personally I'd agree with you in not having good experiences with truss rods and tend to avoid it at all costs but I don't bother doing it when I go from 9s to 10s, just seems like the necks are better built to withstand such a shock then they ever have been.

Anytime you change string gauge either up or down it changes the guitar. I highly recommend a complete setup after changing string gauges in either direction.

Personally I check my setup after EVERY string change.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

+1

Truss rod adjustment, bridge adjustment, string height, and intonation adjusts are all intertwined. I've changed string brands within the same gauge and had to refine my setup. If you put on heavier strings, your bridge is going to need adjustment due to the increased tension (if it's a tremelo), as will the truss rod more than likely. Same holds true if you go backwards in tension. Humidity can also affect your setup as well.

It would benefit every guitarist to learn how to do a setup.

I would agree to the complete setup. On mine I changed from D'addarios to Fender strings in the same gauge an the guitar needed a setup.

I just bought the complete guitar repair/maintenance book from Dan Erlewine. It goes through truss rod adjustment and the entire process of a setup. If you buy it from stew-mac, he'll even sign it for ya. Sweet deal, and I am loving that book right now. Bought the two rafters squares that I needed for the setup and will be attempting my first setup tonight.

Incidentally, I did read in the book to first loosen the truss rod ever so slightly before tightening. Never adjust more than 1/4 turn without checking and never, never force the truss rod. Happy setting!