How to maintain my guitar's new setup?

[jcoons32]

Ok, so here

[moctzal]

Controlling neck relief should be the most important step in maintaining your setup (and of course not changing string guages).
Read this to learn about neck relief:
http://www.thekrashsite.com/hcag/
Click on tech stuff and read the "Is my guitar sick?" and "How do I fix my sick guitar?"
Those are little crash courses in neck relief.
Also keeping your guitar humidified in it's case should keep your neck stable.

[Hudman]

Humidity control is critical.

[Samilyn]

Congrats on the new git!

Excellent advice given by Moctzal. I will suggest that you to purchase a hygrometer in order to monitor your humidity. I have two - one in my case and another to monitor my house. When your git is not in use, keep it in the case, not out on a stand.

Especially during cold weather, if you go somewhere with it and it gets cold, be sure to leave it in the case once you get home and let it acclimate to room temp slowly. And it goes without saying, don't keep it anywhere near a heater or air duct.

Microfiber cloths are wonderful for maintaining the finish - soft and lint free.

I'm glad you took it to what sounds like a good luther and that it plays so well. If you are ever in doubt about anything, whether it be changing your strings or questions about neck relief (the "bow" in the neck) talk to your luthier. A good luthier won't mind advising you about the care and feeding of your new wooden friend.

Enjoy!!

[Fred Fartboski]

and of course not changing string guages).

 

 

Yes. If you don't areadly know, find out from the luthier what guage and brand strings he used when setting up your guitar. Get the guage of each individual string, not just whether they were lights, mediums or heavys. Write the guages down on filing card and keep it in your guitar case, or somewhere where you won't lose it.

 

I have lots of guitars to look after, so I'm a bit obsessive about keeping track of the string guage for each guitar. I have a filing card for each guitar where I record string guage, brand and the date last changed. It's a very simple thing to do and over the years it's helped me avoid many expensive setups.

[slapjaw]

Humidity control is critical.

 

 

I would all so always keep it in it's case when not playing.

[Freeman Keller]

I'll echo the humidity control and keeping in a case. When I built my 000 I was so proud I left it out on a stand for all the world to see (funny, there weren't too many folks walking through my living room). It took about one month for the fret ends to come out of hiding, the top to get all waving and the action to go to hell - it took three more to get it back.

That said, once my guitars have been set up and properly cared for they require almost no further adjustment. I've never touched the truss rod on my Taylor and my two old Martins don't have adjustable ones - yet they stay rock solid. I've gone back once on each of my home made ones and given them a little tweak - but I contribute that to settling in. My suggestion would be to measure everything (relief, nut clearance, action) and write them down (like Fred, I write it on the cover of a string package when I change strings - that way I know what is on it, when they went on, and how healthy the git was at that time). Check from time to time - if anything changes ask your setup person to give it a little attention. Otherwise, just take it out and play with it.

btw - the Tech section of the Annex has my little Sick Guitar writeup - those are the things I check and how I do it.