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Old 01-23-2023, 01:33 PM
jmat jmat is offline
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Default How long to wait for a setup on a new guitar

Hi Folks -

QQ to get some data points. I live in Virginia and it is standard east coast humid. We have air-conditioning in summer and in the winter, our heater adds humidity to the air when it is running. I keep an eye on humidity and generally it is in a guitar friendly-ish place. This all said, when I get new guitar generally what happens is they arrive is a good action place and then raise up a bit. Sometime is a just a truss adjustment and sometimes includes saddle adjustment. It isn't generally bad, just off what I prefer. Typically once adjusted the new guitars trend to stay put well enough. So, if that all makes sense, here are the questions:

1. What is the minimum time I need to wait to get a new guitar set up such that I can be reasonably sure it it has settled? Trying to avoid making two trips to the local repair folks.
2. Is this common and, if so, what is the cause? Is it the climate? Or do new guitars just do this?

thanks!
jm
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Last edited by jmat; 01-23-2023 at 01:55 PM.
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Old 01-23-2023, 01:48 PM
Al Mojo Al Mojo is offline
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Why not start with your '79 Fender?

There is no minimum time .. set up when necessary, whenever necessary. Every guitar is different.

In my experience, it's not common for you to set up every new guitar. However, you may have special preferences that require more attention. Generally speaking, set ups are not expensive but provide plenty of playing satisfaction.
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Old 01-23-2023, 01:53 PM
jmat jmat is offline
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Originally Posted by Al Mojo View Post
Why not start with your '79 Fender?
Ha! I'll make that one a slide guitar when I take up the blues.
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Old 01-23-2023, 02:08 PM
rmp rmp is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Mojo View Post
In my experience, it's not common for you to set up every new guitar. However, you may have special preferences that require more attention. Generally speaking, set ups are not expensive but provide plenty of playing satisfaction.

either I don't understand your reply or, --

every new guitar has to have something done to it.

some less, some more,
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Old 01-23-2023, 02:21 PM
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hey jm, set up as soon as you wish, immediately imo.

if you are not doing the set up yourself and bringing it to your your trusted looth, etc, it can be beneficial to bring one of the guitars that you already have to demonstrate to the looth exactly how you wish it set up for your playing preference and enjoyment.
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Old 01-23-2023, 02:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmp View Post
either I don't understand your reply or, --

every new guitar has to have something done to it.

some less, some more,
I would add one word. Almost every guitar…. Out of the MANY I have owned, only three or four did not need attention when I received them. Two of them were my most recent Kinnaird customs. Another was my RT custom. But these folks knew what I want in a setup already.
I still have them ALL inspected.

Cheers

Paul
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Old 01-23-2023, 04:07 PM
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Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
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If I know that a guitar is going to a place with a humidity at odds with the building environment, I will often supply it with a second saddle in the direction expected. To answer your actual question, I think a bit less that a month in a stable environment will equalize a guitar adequately to rationalize a set up.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a guitar I made for you several years ago, and there was substantial evidence that the guitar was under humidified. Not extremely, but more than I’d like. That would suggest that you’d need a higher saddle rather than lower, as time passes.
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Old 01-23-2023, 04:56 PM
jmat jmat is offline
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Thanks Folks. A month, ok!
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Old 01-24-2023, 05:29 AM
EZYPIKINS EZYPIKINS is offline
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For a new guitar to not need at least nut slot attention is unusual anymore.

It seems that, with the advent of the Plek machine. There is less attention to the nut than there used to be.

I realize that action adjustment of saddle height, is a preference thing.

Nut slot height, is pretty basic. IMO

Either you fret in key, or sharp.

Sure too low is not a good thing.

But neither is too high.
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Old 01-24-2023, 07:26 AM
redir redir is offline
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Yup. I would say about 95% of the 'new' guitars I get in still need to have the nut set up even if it has been pleked and that has nothing to do with the humidity. The pleked guitars have great frets though, not anything a good tech or luthier can't accomplish, so you can get the action super low on them given the relief can be set well which is nice for those who require it.

I'm in Virginia too and that last cold snap we just had brought a lot of guitars into my shop, fret sprout, neck adjustments, caving in tops and so on. The first thing I do is humidify them which takes about a week. Then I kindly educate the guitar owners

But if you do in fact have a well controlled guitar room then I'd say a month too.
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Old 01-24-2023, 09:56 AM
jmat jmat is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redir View Post

I'm in Virginia too and that last cold snap we just had brought a lot of guitars into my shop, fret sprout, neck adjustments, caving in tops and so on. The first thing I do is humidify them which takes about a week. Then I kindly educate the guitar owners

But if you do in fact have a well controlled guitar room then I'd say a month too.
EZ and redir, thank you for the kind response. I will make a date in a month's time. As Bruce indicated my house got dry in the winter some years back. I recently had to replace an ancient heater and and when I replaced it we added a humidifier as well. It works reasonably well, is whole house and is low maintenance. So far, so good I think.

Be well folks!

jm
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