Do you have to have the guitar set up again if you change string size(from 10’s to 9’s)?

Possibly, the .10s put more tension on the trem (that is if you have one floating). Hence, the looser tension will make the bridge pull back (if the trem was floating) and the intonation will be flat. Thus, one must adjust the trem claw screws in the back. But, if you blocked the trem or use a hardtail, no need for any adjustments unless the action is too low.

You don't have to. You get to. Nothing better than a perfect setup. Tweak it til it's perfect.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

[quote="BMW-KTM"]You don't have to. You get to. Nothing better than a perfect setup. Tweak it til it's perfect.[/quote

Get too? I am a very hands on person but my biggest accomplishment so far has not been changing strings. So the question is, is there a book or how do I learn?

I do all my own setup work (acoustic and electrics) and have done setup for a number of friends. However, it isn't something I would look at and say "I get to do it".

I'm a bit of a perfectionist and a perfect setup and perfect intonation all the way up and down the neck isn't always possible on all guitars. It's a matter of "splitting the differences" and this is more true with acoustics than with electrics.

Too low and you get fret buzz, too high and it's not only hard to play, but hard to balance to keep it in tune all the way up the neck (higher action wil stretch string more when fretted).

All in all, with some basic tools, a set of feeler gauges and a high quality ruler marked in 1/64th of an inch is all you really need.

Since I'm over 50, I nee a magnifying glass to read the 64th inch ruler. I have one that is on a strap around my head and flips out of the way when I don't need it.

bottom line, strings are not that expensive. Change the gauge, play the guitar and see if you need a set up. Chances are it's going to be fine.


Jeff

[quote="BMW-KTM"]You don't have to. You get to. Nothing better than a perfect setup. Tweak it til it's perfect.[/qu


I agree 100%. I am one of those that checks and makes needed setup adjustments every time I change the strings even if I'm using the same gauge. It only takes a few minutes to completely check your setup and make adjustments.

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

Thank you for all your respones,
I am a perfectionist too; I am not sure if its old age or just knowing if I do it, it will be right. Now with that being said if there is anyone in So-Cal that would like to give me a lesson it would be appreciated.

it is so enjoyable to set up my own guitars now, like a wow i coulda had a v8 moment , coulda been doing this since day 1, its easy.

I love setting up guitars. I usually offer to do it for free for my friends if they need help. A well set up guitar is a joy to play. An improperly set up guitar can be frustrating to play. I prefer to enjoy. It's a skill that is sooooo worth learning. So, yah. You get to.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

OK Where would be a good place to get the tools I need. What suggestions for places to buy and what is most important tool.

all you really need is a alan/hex head set prolly standard and metric, a medium sized philips head screw driver, 6 inch metal ruler and a set of automotive type feeler gauges. also a capo, and that chromatic tuner. usually your guitar would come with the alans.

Lowes or Home Depot for most of what you need. Screw driver, feeler gauges, set of allen keys, wire cutters... local music shop for a string winder, capo & tuner. Stop by Walmart and pick up a shaving kit to put it all in.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

An update, I got all the tools and just stared at if for awhile. I than called my local guitar shop and went in. The technician allowed me to do the work and showed me a few things as I went along. It was the 1st time I paid someone to do something that I ended up doing the work. It was well worth it.

The only thing would be a truss rod adjust.Maybe?Try heavy bottom/skinny top(09 thru 46)as the heavy bottoms make your 9's sound like 10's anyway.Necks react better to this type of string set also,as the bass side has more tension thereby,putting relief where you want it on the bass side and not the treble side of the neck(ideal is no relief on treble strings and relief on bass strings).How you hold the pick,where you pick,touch and attitude all affect tone more than string gauge.My old self has a hard time bending 10's a step and a half on the strat scale.Robin Trower(I think)uses 8's and they sound like 15's.