Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

The Dali

The Dali

MeltedClockologist
Hi, my family has asked what I wanted for the holidays ... I don't really have a list together (they are NOT getting me a Gibson Explorer Pro...) but one thing I thought of was the proper tools for setting up a guitar. I figured that the individual tools/guides wouldn't be too much for family to buy here and there, and it would help me out all year. I've been doing basic setups from internet videos and I generally "eyeball" the result to see if I got it right. I also do the feel and ear test (feel good, fret out anywhere? Intonation ok?) but I feel like I could do a better job with the right tools for measuring relief, string height, etc, etc...

So, what would you recommend for tools and/or handbooks for setting up electric and acoustic guitars? I'm talking about basic setups, although fixing the odd fret here and there would be in the picture as well. I figure if we get a nice list together of tools and handbooks then everyone here would benefit from seeing what they should get as well (whether it be the holidays or simply buying for themselves).

Thanks!
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

Go to Stewmac.com , they have everything a person will need.
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

I understand that, I'm trying to get a list of materials that people here may have had success with in the past.
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

Nut files. They were really expensive, about $150 I think, but with them, I can make any guitar play and feel better by cutting a new nut for it. (Since a quality nut is coincidentally the most important thing to the guitar's feel (in my opinion) and also something that is almost ALWAYS crap quality from the factory)

Micro screwdriver set. Having the right size and not stripping any of the heads when working by kludging a regular PH2 on there is a wonderful thing.

Multimeter. Measure continuity, ohms, DC Volts, amperes, and a lot more. A must have for an electric guitar tinkerer.

Soldering iron / soldering station. Obviously.

Sandpaper. I use a lot of sandpaper for some reason - sanding the bottom of bone or Tusq nuts to height, clearing burrs on saddles, smoothing necks, and I-don't-remember-what-else. But I feel like I use sandpaper every time I work on a guitar. Get 220, 320, 400, 600. The 400 and 600 will be wet-or-dry, and will probably feel like lizard skin. It's not for removing material, it's for smoothing.

Allen / Hex key set. For adjusting bridges and truss rods. Get a multi key or a set of a million different sizes.

_____________________________

Less practical but really cool stuff you want and need if you want to be a good tech / setup artist:

Fretboard radius sanding blocks. These will enable you to get all your frets level, then dress them. See below.

Fret crowning file. This will enable you to get your level frets perfectly crowned and ready to play. When you level the frets, the tops of the frets get flat, so you need to re-crown them.



If you can cut a new nut and level and crown frets and set up a bridge, you can make any guitar play well.
 
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Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

Straightedge - for truss rod/neck adjustments and to check high/low frets
accurate ruler for setting action
Radius gauges - SO important. Setting a good string radius at the bridge can make leagues of difference to how effortlessly a guitar plays.
Files - for nuts and saddles - especially if your saddles get a lot of wear 'n' tear
Nut/Saddle lubricant
Multimeter
helping hands - ie one of those stands with alligator clips to hold things while you work on them. I desperately need to get one.
Set of allen keys/hex wrenches
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

I have a house full of StewMac tools... here are the ones that get used the most and some other cheap tools that are important (StewMac tools are in Yellow).

1). Precision straight edge - A good metal ruler will be a substitute
2). Tape Measurer... I'm sure you have one
3). Precision Screwdrivers and a good nut driver set (metric and standard)... Stew Mac sells the Guitar Nut Driver set which is a little pricey but have the long sockets which you will need.
4). Allen Wrenches... can't have enough of these and get the BIG sets with all of the teeny tiny ones
5). Feeler Gauges - indispensable for widening nut slots.
6). Mitchell's Cord (wire with embedded abrasive material) - Indispensable for polishing nut slots and saddle grooves (they work great with the Feeler Gauges for widening slots too).
7). Leather Neck Rest that you would see as a rifle rest at a gun range... VERY cool
8). A Good Soldering Station with an adequate iron holder and temperature control.
9). De-Soldering wick.
10). Small Diagonal Cutters
11). String Action Gauge (You don't need it but it is a nice extra to have)
12). Understring radius gauges - Great way to set saddle and pickup screw heights as well as to know the exact radius of all of your guitars.
13) I like to use Micro Mesh pads for cleaning frets and removing minor string wear through vigorous polishing with them... model making company "Revell" sells them for cheap and in single packs. I like 2400 for polishing and 1500 for getting rid of minor wear
14). Fine Steel Wool for woodworking
15). Blue Painter's tape for marking
16). A good set of needle nose pliers
17). A needle file set

I do a lot of finish repair and there is a whole suite of nifty tools for that... I won't list them because they have nothing to do with "set-up". I hope this helps.
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

Look for the fret end file at StewMac, and also the fret end trimmer (a roughly 6" white plastic block with a file set at an angle along its length) - great for getting a good bevel on the fret ends and trimming off any frets that are standing proud of the fretboard.
 
Re: Essential Guitar Setup Tools and Guide(s)

Spacer gauge. Is I that the same as a feeler gauge?- for setting string height at the nut when filing slots. This is one piece you shouldn't get from stew Mac. It's unusually expensive on the site, yet cheap at sears.
 
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