STEWMAC: Basic Setup Kit 

I have bought your "Basic Setup Kit." Could you please do an updated video in HD that shows how to do the setup for beginners, and what is important, etc...?

Dan's a great technician and teacher. StewMac charges too much for their tools, but hey -- if you're using them alot I suppose it amortizes. But really. Take the basic fretting tool kit -- A nice pair of end nippers, and some special files. How does that come to $175.00 ? We're craftsmen here, not the pentagon. Throw us a bone.

Sir, yes, sir!! best thing about it is that it can sit on the fretboard while you slide your gauges when checking the relief and you don't have to hold it...like you said, it's worth every single coin!!

To elaborate on what you said, a straightedge like that one is used to check the frets. It tells you which fret is low or high. Sure, if you have a perfect straight fingerboard and a perfect fretjob, it should give you neck relief measurements. But there's a better tool for that, one that sits on the fingerboard and over the frets, the notched edge. I use both. They give you far more accuracy when used together...and I'm into accuracy. Cheers!

I always combine truss rod and bridge height into a single process. First, lower the bridge until there is fret buzzing. Adjust the truss rod so the buzz is equal at the lowest and highest frets. Raise the bridge so it is just barely buzzing, and set the truss rod again. Finally raise the bridge until all buzzing stops. Job done.

@bowslap You can find instruments that work to much higher tolerances from automotive and machinists supply catalogs. For less money.

@BUFFYTHEKING Since I bought this kit and learned how to do a proper setup,which I did on all of my 15 guitars,it still only cost me $88.00.Sounds like a damn good deal to me.

A Les Paul has a 24 3/4 inch scale length. That isn't just the fretboard, it's also the space between the bridge and the end of the fretboard.

You don't need the radius gauges unless you're shaping a fret board. If you measure the string height for each string it will follow the radius of the fret wire you're measuring from. Easy and accurate. Besides on a LP you can only adjust left side and right side so same applies, measure the highest and lowest, set it and done.

A 1 time pro setup is about 100 bucks and they use similar tools to do the same thing you can do many times over for the 1time fee of $88.

A guitar has hours and hours of craftsmanship involved as well as several separate components. These radius gauges are just thin sheet metal cut by a computer.

@mesvidsfavoris well if this is called the basic guitar kit, it implies for someone that doesn't have a set up kit, and that would include allen keys and cutters

@guitarslim56 google up some welding gear ,torch goggles and a magnifing lense and your ready to rock! cheers

Neither the straight edge, nor the radius gauges are necessary at all for a pro set up. Put a capo on the first fret and you can use the low E string as your straight edge. The bridge radius will naturally follow the neck radius if you measure and set the height of each individual string. Don’t waste your money.

Mr. Erlewine, a question: how to setup a guitar with COMPOUND RADIUS neck, for instance, a Stratocaster Neck with compound radius from 9 1/2" to 16" ? Which radius should be used at the bridge?

What measurement in 64ths does Dan set the action at the 12th fret on a gibson 335 guitar please?

@loicome I dont know who Steve's Music store is,but I can tell you I'd rather do the setup myself..If you know or knew how you'd want to do it to.

What do you need the straight edge? How does the beveled edge on it help?

Hi! Advise me please. I'm considering grabbing one of this sets myself. I've heard of guitar techs using feeler gauges to determine the correct string action. How is that compared to the action gauge shown in this video or are they different tools for different purposes?

It isn't ABSOLUTELY essential that they match EXACTLY, but you DO want them pretty damn close. (A 10" Floyd on a 12" LP will be okay, but not perfect, similarly, a 12" Nashville on a 10" Fender will be usable but not perfect.)

What do you recommend for guitars that have a gradually increasing radius?

If I have a compound radius neck, which radius should apply to the strings on the bridge? (in this case goes from 9,5 to 14)

ok, the radius at the bridge is a bit off on my LP, now what?

THANK YOU!

And a good pair of glasses!!

@cast390 At Steve's Music store, they charge you 45 bucks.

I love this guy, but...you can't adjust the radius on a Les Paul unless I'm missing something here.

i guess its because its easier to read the ground of the straight edge

stewmac - bustin' nutz

Where do I get the lighted magnifying head thinger?

First time I seen this in the catalog, I thought the $88 pricetag was a bit on the high side. But then, where else are you going to find these tools, any cheaper? They'll pay for themselves in no time.

@JandritoBlues ........not really

Cool, but you need a 1.5mm and 5mm hex keys as well :d

Dam after watching this, seeing GoToh TOM’s on Fender offsets doesn’t make sense at all 😆

Stewmac tools are great...but they can be a bit over priced.

Looks like a good investment, so I quit dicking around with my guitars.

D'addario string . . .

This s not for information. It is a commercial.

for 100 bucks i'd also include a string winder,set of allen keys, string cutter...come on

♍️📐❤️

50 'thou. 50 THOUSANDTHS of an inch..or...1.27 mm. Why oh why, oh why, oh why, oh........