Changing string gauge.

[Jim J]

I just got a guitar that I think is strung with 11’s. I prefer 9’s. My first step was to tune a half step down. Let the neck get used to less tension. Step 2 will be to go to an open G half step down tuning. Then restring with 9’s and take it to concert pitch. Let it settle. I’ll probably have to adjust the pick-up height and intonation. Hopefully no truss rod adjustment. That move makes me nervous. Or I could just take it to a tech. Any thoughts and/or advice?

Jim J

[richard t]

Truss rod adjustment is something worth knowing, and isn’t as daunting as you might think.
I would make sure the guitar is properly humidified, first. Then I would make sure the neck isn’t too bowed or flat. You can measure to tell, but you can also eyeball it to make it simpler.
Too much bow will give you a high action that is hard to play. too straight a neck will give you fret buzz.
I would then put on the nines and adjust intonation if needed. There are you tube videos to guide you.It is a little time consuming but worth the effort.
Lighter strings would tend to let the neck get straighter, which could result in string buzz. If that occurs you would need to loosen the truss rod a little.
I have a lot of guitars and check the neck (truss rod) and intonation every time I change strings.
Truss rod adjustments make a guitar easier to play and a perfectly intonated guitar brings out it’s full harmonic potential.
An alternative way to become comfortable with truss rod adjustments would be to buy a cheap guitar with a truss rod and a bowed neck, at a bargain price and see if you can get the bow out.
Tuning down isn’t a substitute for for a truss rod adjustment.
I think you will be a lot happier to just get those nines on there and adjust your neck every time you change strings.
Send me a pm if you have questions problems.

[sunjamr]

Wow, I never do any of that to just drop from 011s to 009s, or vice versa. I just take off the old strings, and immediately put the new ones on. I’ve done that on 4 different acoustic guitars and never had a problem. I do know how to adjust my truss rods, but so far I’ve only had to do it once, and that was right after I bought a guitar.

Sunjamr Steve

[Billy]

Seems an elaborate way to change string gauge size to me, we all have our own little rituals though I suppose.

..Billy..

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