How frequently do you set up your guitars?

[spawnofthesith]

 

[laxu]

I might tweak a bit when changing strings.

Otherwise it's mostly "do it once, don't touch again" if there's no real issue with it.

 

[Byrdman]

When I first get them and after that when I see/feel/hear something is off. It helps that I only have 2 electrics and one acoustic

 

[jellodog]

Seasonal changes are big in Canada, so at least twice a year! Even with a humidifier, it's still hard to maintain the humidity of the summer months in the winter. Just checked the relief on my Cutlass yesterday actually, and the neck needed a quarter turn more.

 

[metropolis_4]

For me it depends on the guitar and what I’m doing. Some guitars need it more than others.

On average I probably do it twice a year: once towards the beginning of summer and once towards the beginning of winter.

I also do quick intonation checks before a run of shows starts

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Trust rod adjustment...bare minimum twice a year. Usually four. I'm almost-Canada so suffer same stuff that @jellodog does, and I don't keep my solid bodies or laminate guitars in their cases in the winter.

Change strings...once or twice a year.

Clean fretboard - meh. mine don't get too gunky so like once every two years or so?

Tighten hardware...uh, only if its loose.

Adjust action/intonation...when I get the guitar and that's about it unless something huge is changing like floating a previous decked bridge, etc.

 

[jellodog]

and I don't keep my solid bodies or laminate guitars in their cases in the winter.

Same! Guitars are there to be played and enjoyed. When they're put away in cases, I'm significantly less likely to pick them up and play them; so out they stay.

 

[TJontheRoad]

I do it as needed. If it needs adjustment when I pick it up, it gets fixed.

 

[-BOOGIEMAN-]

Full set up when acquired, then address anything that comes up as needed…

 

[norminal]

Full set up when acquired, then address anything that comes up as needed…

Same. Once I have it dialed in the way I like it, it’s the seasonal truss rod adjustment or as needed.

 

[Stone]

Same full initial, then twice a year due to Quebec climate

 

[la szum]

Seasonal changes are big in Canada, so at least twice a year! Even with a humidifier, it's still hard to maintain the humidity of the summer months in the winter. Just checked the relief on my Cutlass yesterday actually, and the neck needed a quarter turn more.

Same. I go from relative humidity of plus 50% in Summer to around 30-35% with an whole house humidifier in
the Winter. That means that wood be swelling and shrinking a significant amount 2 times per year.

I much prefer the Summer setup, for what it's worth.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Same. I go from relative humidity of plus 50% in Summer to around 30-35% with an whole house humidifier in
the Winter. That means that wood be swelling and shrinking a significant amount 2 times per year.

I much prefer the Summer setup, for what it's worth.

Huh, I always feel like all the guitars, even solid body electrics, play a bit like a floppy noodle in the summer. Maybe this is just my brain making stuff up from the fact that an acoustic mandolin 100% plays and sounds like a floppy noodle all summer long.

 

[DrewJD82]

Just the first time after I buy them unless I’m changing string gauges. When I lived in New England it was once every 6 months with the seasonal changes, but at most I shut my AC off for 2 weeks out of the year down here. That said, I‘ve been going through this “I can go lower”, “WTF was I thinking? That’s too low” phase for the last year where I’ll think I need to lower the action only to bring it back up 2 weeks later. I’ve done this about 5x on my Strats.

 

[la szum]

Wet(ter) wood is better than dry wood. Pretty much always.

 

[la szum]

Huh, I always feel like all the guitars, even solid body electrics, play a bit like a floppy noodle in the summer. Maybe this is just my brain making stuff up from the fact that an acoustic mandolin 100% plays and sounds like a floppy noodle all summer long.

That's interesting. Just my sense here, but more moisture (as in Summer humidity) should make wood swell and increase
tension and not reduce it.

I definitely agree that acoustics do move around more than electrics relative to humidity %.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Pretty much only when I get one, then only minor TR adjustments as needed, usually when the humidity increases/decreases.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

That's interesting. Just my sense here, but more moisture (as in Summer humidity) should make wood swell and increase
tension and not reduce it.

I definitely agree that acoustics do move around more than electrics relative to humidity %.

Yeah, it increases string tension/makes the guitar go sharp. Adjust truss rod, tune it up and...it just doesn't feel like it plays or sounds quite as snappy. I'm sure it's mostly placebo on my end. The acoustics just kinda sound like they have a wet blanket over them compared to winter time.

 

[TubeStack]

Same as others: when I first get the guitar, and then the odd tweak here or there, to maintain things after that.

Some guitars are super consistent, such as my R9, which I’ve only had to adjust the truss rod maybe once or twice in the whole eight years I’ve owned it.

 

[FuzzyAce]

More this year because I've switched strings back to 10s and 11s, tuned to Eb. It took some time getting all my guitars dialed and settled into a happy place, as well as myself with the added string tension. I feel like it's mostly there now, unless I change my mind about a certain guitar. I was using 8's for about 3 yrs. and while I loved them for a time they just don't do it for me now.