Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey Buddy,

You have just been exiled to 'guitar player island' and you KNOW that you will have a lot of set-up and repair work to do. What are the 10 tools that you would just HAVE to take with you? Every time I read some repair and set-up stuff I just see more tools to purchase, maybe a lot of this is done with a few favourites....Que to you ---->

Thanks Evan!

Shane

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Canada

Wow Shane! Guitar Player Island! I think Manhattan already has that title so technically I am already here. 10 tools ok.
1)screwdriver set with a very long phillips head for tremelo claws and strap pins
2)allen wrenches metric and as my friend said "anti-semetric" (as a jew I feel comfortable with this joke hope I have not offended anyone)
3)needle nose locking pliers, this would replace all my socket wrenches and such as I can only bring 10 tools.
4) drill and a string winder attachment
5) glue, titebond, and super glues and the accessories
6) 10" mill bastard file
7) stewmac diamond offset fret file
8) 18" bar clamp
9)fretting hammer
10) dremel and accessories
I hope that helps Shane, let me know if you were thinking
of more luthier specific tools ie. bridge plate cauls etc.
my 2 joke answers are
1) Radio Shack mini butane blow torch, the islanders will revere me as a god and eventually I will trade fire for their poofy hair 80's women in spandex (it is guitar palyer island after all)
2) a car door, in case it gets hot I can roll down the window

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Thanks Evan, that's great! I am reading stew mac's book on fretting and I Dan Erlmine keeps talking about his notched stright edge and I just go "Great, I have just placed two orders with Stew Mac....do I need to do another?!" Do you use this tool? Also, what offset files do you use? and are they THAT much better than the offset regular files that they sell that has the three different size inserts.

Thanks Evan!

Great 'comeback' jokes but the way.....a car door!!

Shane

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Canada

i use the notched straight edge a lot. if you do set up and fret work it is very useful.

my first one was a shop made version cut from an aluminium big box store ruler. used it for years until it inadvertently got bent which forced to get another one. i just didn't want to spend the time making another so i spent the dosh at s-m. crazymanmichael39016.5502662037

Shane, I use the notched straightedge on certain refrets and also as a teaching tool when I do tutorials. The fret file I use is http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Shaping_and_cr owning/2/Diamond_Fret_Files.html I love it, I used the Gurian style for years and since I have a shoulder injury this file has been a lifesaver.
Hope this helps and I am glad I made you chuckle!
Best, Evan

Brock Poling39016.5509490741

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Cool, So Evan, what grit, 150 or 300?

Michael, I happen to have a few good straight edges and one thick aluminum ruler that maybe I should convert. Wouldn't take long to notch on the table saw. But was also thinking about just using a regular straight edge with gauged blocks. So if you used small but accurate blocks you could check the neck out under string tension by raising the strainght edge above the frets. It would be a bit cumbersome but I might try that for a while......or maybe I will just put in another order.....I should just send Stew Mac my first son!! (but I kinda still like him )

Shane

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Canada

Hi Shane I have both the 150 and 300 but the 300 is the way to go. The 150 is scary aggressive and I bought it for one particular job and have never used it since.
Hope this helps,
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com