How often should I visit a luthier?

[exc e]

How often should I get an adjustment with a luthier (ie, truss, saddle, nut)? It's never been done on two of my electric guitars; one is 10 years old and the other is one, and for the past 5 months I've been practicing pretty hard on the older one.

Is an adjustment necessary after each string change or only after each gauge change? If the gauge can remain the same, how about if the material changes?--ie, can I switch between XL and EXP, both the same gauge?

Also, will my guitar have a significant improvement after visiting the luthier?

Thanks guys.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

As long as gauge and tuning stay the same that those for which the guitar has been set-up, you should'nt have to visit the luthier more than once a year if you play less than 10hours/week. If the neck moves due to humidity change during the year, the guitar only needs a trussrod adjustement.
Changing string type has, most of the time no impact on set-up :
- for example XL to EXP D'Addario : no change. These are the same strings but one is coated. This has no effect on string's tension or flexibility.
- nickel plated steel roundwound to stainless steel roundwound : this has little effect on tension, none on flexibility. No change on set-up for what I've seen so far, the change is too subtle.
- roundwound to flatwound : both flexibility and tension change so a new set-up is needed.

Don't be afraid : you can try whatever string you want with no harm for the guitar. Once you make up your mind have a set-up done and the instrument will be at its best.

After visiting a luthier (a good one), if the guitar was not already at its best, there should be an improvement where there was room to :
-playability
-tuning stability
-accuracy along the neck
- pick-up and string/string balance
Don't fool yourself : by performing a set-up, a luthier can only make the guitar sound at its best. It does not change the guitar. If the guitar has a serious problem, it will be enlighted by the set-up process and the craftman will be able to tell you what repairs need to be done if you want to.

[exc e]

Answered all my questions! Thank you! Thanks for pointing out flat vs round bit too--I'll keep this in mind when I buy my next strings. Off to the luthier I go.

[Howard Klepper]

Any time there is extra money in your pocket.