“What are the must-have tools for basic guitar setups?” This is a common question from those starting their journey into guitar maintenance. Let’s explore the essential guitar setup tools that every beginner needs.

For those interested in a deeper dive, check out my comprehensive list of guitar tech tools, ordered by usage and importance, at the bottom of this article.

My perspective comes from years of experience performing hundreds of guitar setups annually. It’s interesting to compare this hands-on experience with commercially available kits, such as the StewMac Basic Guitar Setup Kit, offered by a leading supplier of luthier tools. (Note: Shortly after the original article was written, Stewmac reduced the price of this kit).

The Stewmac Basic Guitar Setup Kit: A starting point for discussion.

The Stewmac Basic Guitar Setup Kit – A Critical Look

(Currently priced around $133 USD)

Stewmac’s “Basic Setup Kit” includes a few items that are indeed helpful for guitar setups, but it also misses some crucial tools and includes others that are arguably less essential for a basic setup. Let’s break down some of the components.

#1: String Action Gauge

A string action gauge is certainly a fundamental tool for measuring string height, a key step in any guitar setup. However, the type of string action gauge included in the Stewmac kit, and similar metal gauges, aren’t my top choice. While functional, I’ve found better alternatives over years of practical use.

A metal string action gauge, similar to the Stewmac version. While functional, readability and potential for scratching can be concerns.

The metal string action gauge pictured above is very similar to the Stewmac gauge. The issue with these metal gauges is readability and the potential to scratch the guitar’s frets or body. A preferable alternative is a white plastic gauge, which offers better contrast and is gentler on the instrument.

Even better, for the most accurate measurements and ease on the eyes, are feeler gauges crafted from actual guitar strings. I even use 3D-printed, labeled handles for these string feeler gauges to improve handling and organization.

A white plastic string action gauge: Easier to read and gentler on your guitar’s finish.

Why not just use standard automotive feeler gauges? While readily available, automotive feeler gauges are typically too flat and smooth. This flatness makes it difficult to get a precise reading; you might be touching the string for several thousandths of an inch before you even realize it. In contrast, a guitar string feeler gauge, even at a thin 0.010” size, will offer a more tactile and visual indication as it just starts to bend slightly when it makes contact with the string at the desired height.

While string action gauges are important, choosing the right type can significantly impact accuracy and ease of use. Let’s move on to the next tool in the Stewmac kit.

#2: 18″ Precision Straightedge

A guitar straightedge: Useful in specific situations, but not essential for basic setups.

Including an 18” precision straightedge in a basic guitar setup toolkit is questionable. While Stewmac sold me on this tool years ago, its actual utility in everyday setups is limited. In the past six years, I’ve rarely used it, and often felt like I was forcing myself to use it to justify the purchase.

This straightedge is designed with notches for 24.75″ and 25.5″ scale guitars. But what about other scale lengths? Bass guitars, short-scale basses, baritone guitars, and various short-scale guitars are not accommodated. Do we need to buy a collection of these specialized, and somewhat overpriced, straightedges?

A straightedge can be useful for assessing the straightness of the guitar neck itself, as opposed to just the fret alignment. However, such cases are infrequent, and there are alternative methods to achieve the same goal.

For instance, the guitar strings themselves can act as excellent “free” straightedges. Simply apply some tension to a string, and you have a reliable straight reference point. In the vast majority of setup scenarios (around 99% of cases), the primary concern is fret levelness. The most critical setup measurements relate to the distance from the bottom of the strings to the top of the frets, not to the fretboard surface.

For a basic setup kit, a specialized notched straightedge is not essential. If you absolutely need a straightedge, a standard metal ruler of your preferred length can be modified with notches using a Dremel or similar tool.

#3: Understring Radius Gauges

Understring radius gauges: Specialized tools with limited application in basic guitar setups.

Understring radius gauges are another item that sees infrequent use in routine guitar setups. While I do employ them during fret leveling and crowning work to check the fretboard radius, I use them directly on the frets or fretboard, not under the strings for setting saddle heights as is often demonstrated.

When setting individual string heights at the saddles, you inherently account for the fretboard radius in a more practical and accurate manner. Measuring each string’s height independently achieves the desired result without needing radius gauges in most basic setups.

“Understring radius gauges are the guitar world’s version of sending a newbie on a snipe hunt!”

– Hank Castello, veteran guitar tech

Furthermore, using radius gauges to determine fretboard radius has limitations:

1. Distinguishing between slight radius variations (e.g., 9.5” vs. 10”, or 12” vs. 14”) with these gauges can be visually challenging, even for experienced techs.
2. Previous fretwork might have unintentionally altered the fret radius to be slightly different from the original fretboard radius. Attempting to force it back to the original radius can lead to unnecessary fret material removal. Often, maintaining the existing fret radius is the more practical approach.

A more effective method to determine fretboard radius is to use a marker and radius blocks. Estimate the radius (based on experience or online resources), mark the fret tops with a marker, and lightly sand with a radius block. Even ink removal across the frets indicates the correct radius. This method is more accurate and practical in my experience.

That’s the Stewmac “Basic” Kit!

Surprisingly, that’s the extent of Stewmac’s current Basic Setup Kit, aside from “free setup instructions.” However, their list of “Additional Supplies” is more telling.

“Additional Supplies” (Essential Tools Misclassified)

Stewmac lists these as “supplies,” but they are undeniably tools and are essential for any guitar setup:

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

It’s perplexing that truss rod wrenches are relegated to “additional supplies.” Adjusting the truss rod is a fundamental step in guitar setup. You simply cannot perform a proper setup without truss rod wrenches. You’ll need a selection of sizes: 4mm, 1/8″, and 3/16″. Avoid ball-end wrenches, as they can easily strip truss rod nuts. Ideally, have both short and long “L” wrenches for each size, or a set of short Allen wrenches with a hex adapter for a screwdriver handle, offering versatility and leverage.

Moreover, many guitars, particularly Gibson and PRS models, require female socket type truss rod wrenches, typically in sizes 1/4″, 9/32″, and 5/16″. The “Basic Setup Kit” completely overlooks these essential wrenches.

Critical Tools Missing from the Stewmac Basic Guitar Setup Kit

Beyond the miscategorized “supplies,” the Stewmac Basic Guitar Setup Kit is missing several other crucial tools:

• Saddle height adjusting Allen wrenches (1/16” & 0.050” – essential for adjusting bridge saddles on many guitars)
• String winder (drastically speeds up restringing)
• String cutter (essential for removing old strings and trimming new ones)
• Intonation tool (Phillips & flat screwdrivers – for adjusting saddle position for intonation)
• Magnet (or old pickup – invaluable for collecting steel wool debris)
• Polishing cloth (arguably a supply, but essential for cleaning and polishing)

It’s hard to imagine performing guitar setups efficiently without a string winder! While hand winders are a vast improvement over manual winding, a powered string winder attachment for a screw gun is even faster and more convenient.

Guitar Holder/Rest: An Essential, Often Overlooked Tool

Thick paperback books: An effective and affordable guitar holder solution.

Protecting guitars while working on them is paramount. A guitar holder or rest is essential to keep instruments off your workbench. Workbenches often accumulate sharp debris like loose screws, string fragments, and sandpaper grit, all of which can scratch a guitar’s finish.

While specialized guitar vises and rests are available, often at significant expense, a stack of thick paperback books proves to be an incredibly versatile and cost-effective solution. Books are easily adjustable, quick to reconfigure, and provide excellent support.

Guitar Setups: Basic Supplies – Beyond Tools

Stewmac lists a few “supplies,” but a more comprehensive list of basic setup supplies includes:

• Naphtha (lighter fluid) – an excellent, finish-safe cleaner
• Car polish (for guitars with polyurethane finishes)
• Carnauba car wax spray (for lacquer and other finishes)
• Furniture polish with “lemon oil” (for dark wood fretboards like rosewood and ebony)

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

• 220 sanding foam (for smoothing fret ends)

• Painter’s tape (for masking and protection)
• Paper towels (for cleaning and application)

Guitar Nut Files: A Step Up in Setup Capability

For a truly comprehensive basic setup, addressing the guitar nut is crucial. Nut slot depth is a vital aspect of professional setups. If your budget allows, investing in a set of proper nut files is highly recommended. Expect to spend around $100 USD for a quality set.

Welding tip cleaners (left) can widen nut slots; proper nut files (right) are essential for accurate nut slot depth.

While inexpensive welding tip cleaners are not substitutes for proper nut files for cutting slots, they can be useful for widening existing slots. For example, they can enlarge a .042 slot to .046 or angle the rear of nut slots on Gibson-style nuts.

Keep in mind that bass guitar nut files are a separate investment, but a bass nut file set will include a .046 file, useful for guitars strung with 10-46 gauge strings.

Quality nut files are a necessary investment for precise nut work.

Avoid using generic “Harbor Freight” type files on guitar nuts. These files are often too wide for guitar strings and may lack the necessary curved edge for proper nut slot shaping. Nut slot files are one tool where there are no truly effective cheap alternatives or DIY solutions.

Supply List Details: Deeper Dive into Cleaning and Polishing

Essential cleaning and polishing supplies for guitar maintenance.

Naphtha, commonly known as lighter fluid, is a remarkably effective and finish-safe cleaner for guitars. I’ve used it extensively without any damage to various guitar finishes.

For removing minor scratches and swirl marks, I use various Meguiar’s polishes. However, for routine cleaning and polishing of guitars with polyurethane finishes, Nu-Finish car polish is an excellent and affordable choice. Available at major retailers, a single bottle lasts for months and effectively restores the shine to older poly-finished guitars.

For guitars with lacquer finishes and other delicate finishes, a spray-type car wax, ideally containing Carnauba wax, is a gentler option for cleaning and enhancing shine.

Furniture polish with “lemon oil” is my preferred treatment for dark wood fretboards. Despite myths surrounding “lemon oil,” it’s essentially mineral oil with lemon scent. It effectively conditions rosewood and ebony fretboards. While expensive “cabinet maker’s polish” and other boutique products exist, lemon oil furniture polish works just as well for fretboard conditioning when applied and buffed correctly.

#0000 steel wool combined with naphtha is excellent for cleaning rosewood and ebony fretboards and for cleaning frets. However, avoid using steel wool on maple fretboards or any fretboard with a finish.

Cleaning a rosewood fretboard with #0000 steel wool and naphtha.

When using steel wool on fretboards, protect the neck pickup with painter’s tape to prevent steel wool fibers from adhering to the magnets. Contrary to some advice, I use steel wool perpendicular to the fretboard, especially along each fret, to effectively remove accumulated grime. Using a parallel motion can push debris under the fret crowns. If you replace steel wool frequently, scratching should not be an issue. If you observe scratches, gently go over the fretboard again in a parallel motion, being careful not to apply excessive pressure against the frets.

A strong magnet helps collect stray steel wool fibers after fretboard cleaning.

After cleaning with steel wool and naphtha, wipe away excess naphtha and steel wool residue with a paper towel (to avoid contaminating reusable rags). Once dry, use a strong magnet to collect any remaining steel wool particles before removing the tape from the neck pickup.

Polishing frets with a Dremel, polishing wheel, and rouge for a professional finish.

Despite common misconceptions, #0000 steel wool does not “polish” frets to a high shine. For truly polished frets, use a Dremel rotary tool with a polishing wheel and polishing rouge. Always wear safety glasses during this process.

#220 sanding foam is invaluable for smoothing fret ends. While fret end files are available, sanding foam is faster and minimizes the risk of damaging the fretboard, especially on necks without binding. Protect the guitar body with painter’s tape, or even a piece of cardboard, as sanding foam can sometimes penetrate tape.

Using a #220 sanding sponge to quickly and effectively smooth fret ends.

Once you master the technique of using sanding foam at about a 45° angle, you’ll appreciate its speed and efficiency compared to traditional fret end files.

Complete Basic Guitar Setup Toolkit: Beyond the Basics

This article is just the start. We’ll delve deeper into guitar setup tools in future articles, breaking down toolkits into three tiers:

1. Essential Adjustment Toolkit: For basic setups involving adjustments, cleaning, and restringing – suitable for new guitars and routine maintenance, excluding nut or fret work.
2. Intermediate Toolkit: Expanding on the essentials to include nut work (nut replacement and slot filing) and basic electronics maintenance.
3. Advanced Basic Toolkit: Comprehensive basic setups encompassing all of the above, plus fretwork (leveling, crowning, and dressing). We will maintain a “basic” focus, excluding tools for advanced repairs like fretboard removal, structural acoustic repairs, pickup routing, or headstock repairs.

Stay tuned for the upcoming article with a definitive list of a Basic Guitar Setup Toolkit. Your input is welcome! Share your thoughts, suggestions, or disagreements in the comments. Together, we can help guitar techs refine their toolkits and guide newcomers to a smoother start in guitar maintenance.

Click here for a detailed list of my guitar tech tools, their usage frequency, and importance.

Note: My comprehensive guide to a Basic Guitar Setup Toolkit is coming soon. Your ideas and feedback are encouraged – let’s collaborate to assist both experienced and aspiring guitar techs!