I'm a beginner to electric guitar, so I'm not sure what a proper guitar setup feels like.
In attempt to execute my own setup, I've adjusted string action and tailpiece height to my preference (with much help from the internet), but I'm wondering if I should also remove the strings that came with my guitar and replace them with new strings. My guitar came with brand-name .10's, according to the manufacturer's specs page. I have no idea how long the guitar sat in a warehouse or how old the strings are.
- Is there a benefit to using fresh strings on a guitar that arrived pre-strung out-of-the-box?
- Should I expect tension or intonation differences if I swap in a new set of .10's?
- Will it be easier to execute barre chords?
Generally, I'm wondering if new guitars should always have their initial strings swapped for a fresh set.
Note: I've had my guitar for a month, so that may influence the string changing schedule. However, as a beginner, I'm not strumming or picking with a lot of force and am not doing any bends yet.
UPDATE
For posterity, I'd like to note that I changed the strings for a fresh set of the same gauge (following these instructions), and there was an immediate perceptible improvement in the quality of the sound and the playability. My previous strings appear to have been tightened over and over (in order to stay in tune over time) winding along the tuning machine posts and becoming more taut which made them a tiny bit stiffer. As well, the new strings, having a bit more slack in them, appear to "ring out" a bit more now. Based on these observations, my verdict is that there is a benefit to restringing a new guitar with a fresh set of strings.