Tools for guitar set ups

In prepraring for future articles on guitar set up tips… here is a list of tools you can use to do guitar set ups. I good rule of thumb with tools is get as good as you can afford. Not need to to go overboard but cheap tools can lead to frustration and damage to components.

1. Screwdrivers: A set of Philips head to flat heads from medium large to small is very useful of course. You’ll need these for obvious reasons but some less obvious reasons are  the truss rid adjustments that have neck  adjustment at the neck as well as adjusting pick up height.

2. Allen wrenches: Metric and American sizes are good to have depending on where the guitar is made.

3. Wire cutters: Well duh.

4. String winder: Great for saving your wrist from vertigo.

5. A neck block or guitar mat with a neck support are good to help you keep the neck of the guitar off the working surface and help from scratching a nice guitar finish.

6. Neck Radius Gage: these can be made if you know the radius of your neck. This is great for Fender style necks where you need to make the radius of the stringsas close as you can to the bridge. Gibson style necks are fixed but you have to compensate higher at the bridge for wound strings.

7. Needle files and junior hack saw blade are good for nut work or that pesky hang nail.

8. Socket head: especially attached to a screw driver head for truss rod adjustments is useful.

9. Feeler gauge: for string height is a must. Imperial and metric are good to have.

10. Graduated and sixty fourth inch steel ruler is good for action and pick up height.