“What’s the most basic set of tools I need for guitar setups?” It’s a question that pops up frequently, especially from those starting their journey into guitar maintenance. Let’s dive into what a fundamental Guitar Setup Kit should include.

Many companies offer pre-packaged kits, aiming to provide a convenient starting point. StewMac, a well-known name in guitar luthier tools, offers a “Basic Guitar Setup Kit”. Let’s see how their offering stacks up against what’s truly essential for anyone looking to perform basic guitar maintenance. Interestingly, just after the original article this rewrite is based on was published, StewMac reduced the price of their kit – perhaps someone is listening!

Stewmac’s Basic Guitar Setup Kit

Examining the StewMac “Basic Setup Kit”

Currently priced around $133, the StewMac kit includes a few core items. Let’s break down each component and assess its necessity.

1. String Action Gauge

A string action gauge is indeed a logical starting point for any guitar setup kit. It’s crucial for measuring string height, a key aspect of playability. However, the style of gauge included in the StewMac kit, while functional, isn’t the author’s favorite. After years of using similar metal gauges, better alternatives have emerged.

A metal string action gauge, similar to the StewMac version.

A plastic, white string action gauge offers improved readability and prevents potential scratches on frets or the guitar body. Even more precise and user-friendly are feeler gauges crafted from actual guitar strings. These can be made even easier to handle with 3D-printed labeled handles, as some techs do.

A white plastic string action gauge offering better readability.

Why not just use automotive feeler gauges? While readily available, they are often too flat and smooth. This can lead to inaccurate readings, as you might not realize they are touching the string until they’ve already applied some pressure. In contrast, a guitar string feeler gauge, like a 0.010” string, provides a clear visual cue as it begins to bend slightly when it just touches the string bottom at the desired height.

2. 18″ Precision Straightedge

Including an 18” precision straightedge in a basic guitar setup toolkit is questionable. While StewMac sold many of these straightedges over the years, their practical use in routine setups is limited. Many guitar techs find themselves rarely reaching for this tool.

A guitar straightedge, often considered unnecessary in a basic setup kit.

These straightedges often feature notches for 24.75″ and 25.5″ scale lengths. But what about other scale lengths? Bass guitars, short-scale basses, baritone guitars, and shorter scale guitars all exist. Does this mean needing to purchase multiple expensive straightedges?

While a straightedge might be useful for assessing the overall straightness of the neck itself (separate from the fret level), such cases are infrequent. For most setups, focusing on the straightness of the fret row is more critical. Remember, the most important measurements in a setup relate to the distance between the bottom of the strings and the tops of the frets.

For a basic guitar setup kit, a specialized straightedge like StewMac’s is arguably unnecessary. In a pinch, or for occasional checks, guitar strings themselves can serve as straightedges. Applying slight tension to a string provides a reasonably straight reference point. If a dedicated straightedge is truly desired, a simple metal ruler can be modified with notches using a Dremel or similar tool.

3. Understring Radius Gauges

Understring radius gauges are another component of the StewMac kit that sees limited use in basic setups. While they can be helpful during fret leveling or crowning to determine fretboard radius, their primary purpose, as often demonstrated, is for setting saddle heights under the strings. This is where their usefulness becomes questionable.

Understring radius gauges, often underutilized in basic guitar setups.

When adjusting saddle heights, measuring the string height for each string already inherently accounts for the fretboard radius. Using understring radius gauges to set saddle heights can be considered an unnecessary and less practical step. As seasoned guitar tech Hank Castello humorously puts it, “Understring radius gauges is the guitar world’s version of taking a newbie on a ‘snipe hunt’!”

Furthermore, using these gauges to determine fretboard radius for fretwork has limitations:

1. Distinguishing between subtle radius differences (e.g., 9.5” vs. 10” or 12” vs. 14”) with these gauges can be challenging visually.
2. Previous fretwork might have unintentionally or intentionally altered the fret radius from the original fretboard radius. Trying to force the radius back to the original using gauges could lead to unnecessary fret material removal.

A more effective method for determining fretboard radius involves visual estimation (for experienced techs) or using a marker and radius block. Mark the fret tops with a marker, then lightly run a radius block over the frets to see if ink is removed evenly. This provides a more accurate assessment of the current fret radius.

What’s Missing from the “Basic” Kit?

Surprisingly, that’s all StewMac includes in their “Basic Setup Kit” besides “free setup instructions.” However, under “Additional Supplies,” they list:

• Truss rod wrench
• Lubricant (petroleum jelly)
• Stiff brush
• Sharpie marker

It’s debatable whether truss rod wrenches are “supplies.” They are essential tools and absolutely belong in a basic guitar setup kit. Adjusting the truss rod is a fundamental step in any setup. A basic kit needs a selection of truss rod wrenches: 4mm, 1/8″, and 3/16″ sizes are common. Avoid ball-end wrenches as they can strip truss rod nuts. Both short “L” wrenches and longer versions, or a combination of short Allen wrenches and a hex adapter for a screwdriver, are useful.

Furthermore, many guitars, particularly Gibson and PRS models, require female socket type truss rod wrenches, typically in sizes like 1/4″, 9/32″, and 5/16″. These are completely absent from the StewMac “basic” list, even under “additional supplies”.

Beyond truss rod tools, the StewMac Basic Guitar Setup Kit is missing several other critical items:

• Saddle height adjusting Allen wrenches (1/16” & 0.050”) – essential for adjusting action on many guitars.
• String winder – drastically speeds up restringing.
• String cutter – makes quick work of removing old strings and trimming new ones.
• Intonation tools (Phillips & flat screwdrivers) – necessary for adjusting intonation.
• Magnet (or old pickup) – incredibly useful for picking up dropped screws or steel wool fragments.
• Polishing cloth (arguably a “supply,” but essential) – for cleaning and polishing.

Imagine attempting guitar setups without a string winder! While hand winders are a significant improvement over finger-winding, powered string winders, especially those that attach to a screw gun, offer the ultimate in speed and efficiency.

The Importance of a Guitar Holder/Rest

Beyond tools, a safe and stable surface to work on guitars is crucial. Simply placing guitars directly on a workbench is risky. Workbenches accumulate debris – loose screws, string fragments, sandpaper grit – all of which can scratch a guitar’s finish.

Thick paperback books provide a simple and effective guitar rest.

While specialized guitar vises and rests are available, a surprisingly effective and affordable solution is a stack of thick paperback books. They are easily adjustable, quick to reconfigure, and provide excellent support.

Essential Guitar Setup Supplies

StewMac includes a few “supplies” in their “additional” list. Expanding on this, here’s a list of basic supplies that are invaluable for guitar setups and maintenance:

• Naphtha – a fantastic cleaner that’s safe for most guitar finishes.
• Car polish (for poly finishes) – like Meguiar’s, for scratch and swirl removal.
• Carnauba car wax spray (for other finishes, like lacquer) – for cleaning and shining.
• Furniture polish with “lemon oil” (for dark wood fretboards) – for conditioning.

• 0000 steel wool (for dark wood fretboards and fret cleaning).

• 220 sanding foam (for fret end filing).

• Painter’s tape – for masking and protecting guitar parts.
• Paper towels – for cleaning and application.

Nut Files: An Investment Worth Considering

While aiming for a “basic” kit and budget-consciousness, nut files are a crucial tool for professional-level setups. Nut slot depth is a critical factor in playability. If budget allows, investing in a quality set of nut files is highly recommended. Expect to spend around $100 for a decent set.

Welding tip cleaner files, useful for widening nut slots but not for deepening.

In addition to specialized nut files (typically in gauges for 9-42 string sets), inexpensive welding tip cleaner files can be useful. While not suitable for deepening nut slots, they are helpful for widening slots (e.g., turning a .042 slot into a .046) or for angling the rear of nut slots on Gibson-style nuts.

For bass guitar setups, a separate set of bass nut files is necessary. However, bass sets often include a .046 file, which is useful for guitars set up with 10-46 string gauges.

Quality nut files are essential for proper nut work.

Avoid using generic “Harbor Freight” files on guitar nuts. They are often too wide for guitar strings and may lack the necessary curved edges for proper nut slot shaping. Nut slot files are one tool where cheap substitutes or DIY solutions are generally not adequate.

Supply List Details: Expanding on the Essentials

A selection of guitar cleaning and polishing supplies.

• Naphtha: Essentially lighter fluid, naphtha is a safe and effective cleaner for guitar finishes.
• Car Polish: For poly finishes, car polishes like Nu-Finish or Meguiar’s effectively remove scratches and restore shine. Nu-Finish, readily available and affordable, works surprisingly well.
• Carnauba Car Wax: For lacquer and other finishes, spray car waxes containing Carnauba wax clean and shine without harsh chemicals.
• Furniture Polish with “Lemon Oil”: Despite myths about “lemon oil” damaging guitars, furniture polish with “lemon oil” (which is actually mineral oil with lemon scent) is safe and effective for conditioning dark wood fretboards.
• #0000 Steel Wool: Combined with naphtha, #0000 steel wool is excellent for cleaning rosewood and similar fretboards and polishing frets.

0000 steel wool and naphtha for cleaning rosewood fretboards and frets.

When using steel wool on fretboards, it’s important to use it perpendicular to the frets, especially along each fret, to effectively remove grime. While some recommend only moving parallel to the fretboard, this can trap steel wool debris under the fret crowns. Using a magnet afterward is crucial to collect any stray steel wool particles, especially around pickups. Always tape off pickups before using steel wool to prevent metallic debris from sticking to the magnets.

A strong magnet for collecting steel wool particles.

For polishing frets to a high shine, #0000 steel wool alone is insufficient. A Dremel with a polishing wheel and rouge polishing compound is recommended for professional-level fret polishing. Always wear safety glasses when using a Dremel for fretwork.

Using a Dremel, polishing wheel, and rouge for polishing frets.

• #220 Sanding Foam: Sanding foam is a faster and safer alternative to fret files for smoothing fret ends. It avoids file marks on the fretboard and quickly achieves smooth fret ends. Use caution on bound fretboards and protect the guitar body with painter’s tape or cardboard when using sanding foam.

220 sanding foam for quick and effective fret end smoothing.

Building Your Complete Basic Guitar Setup Toolkit

This discussion provides a comprehensive look at what constitutes a truly useful basic guitar setup kit. Future articles will delve deeper into more advanced tools and kits for various levels of guitar tech work, from basic adjustments to fretwork and beyond. Stay tuned for a definitive list of essential tools for a basic guitar setup toolkit, designed to help both aspiring and experienced guitar techs optimize their setups and services.