Guitar Setup Kit?

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sidewinder
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Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by sidewinder »

Hmm, I have zero tools and desperately want to start getting to setup and adjust my own gear for my own preferences.

Looking at sometime like this:
http://www.rockshop.co.nz/shop/fender-c ... -shop.html

Just wondering if there is anything obvious missing from that kit? Ideally I want to adjust more than just Fender.

And before you come busting down my down saying "don't touch that truss rod yeel fuk it up ya youngin!", its just a squier strat Im fiddling with so if the neck goes to hell I'll just buy a replacement and learn even more about fixing and setting up :mental:

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by sizzlingbadger »

You could probably get them cheaper at Mitre10 or Bunnings.
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LucyTheSpud
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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by LucyTheSpud »

sizzlingbadger wrote:You could probably get them cheaper at Mitre10 or Bunnings.
A decent screw driver set, a set of hex keys, and a decent guitar tuner. All you really need.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by jeremyb »

Some feeler gauges and a capo are handy for setting action too...
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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by NippleWrestler »

What a load of crap.

It's $20 worth of tools for $90.

I can see right off it doesn't include anything metric, only has a 6" straight edge, and is basically not going to do much towards a full setup and on any guitar that uses metric measurements (which is a great many of them).

Pass it up, source the tools yourself. Save money, get better stuff.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by Molly »

Off the top of my head, as a bare minimum:

Lemon oil (one bottle should last you a lifetime - use very sparingly)
Autosol metal polish
Snips for cutting strings to length
String winder
Large and small cross and straight screwdrivers
Couple of imperial hex keys
I have a tiny 'Baho' (sp?) brand socket set which I use for tightening jack sockets usually

Anybody want to add to this?

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by NippleWrestler »

to setup any guitar you'd need:

an 18" steel rule (doubles as straight edge and a depth gauge)
set of hex keys (imperial and metric 1-5mm)
Mini screwdrivers
Socket set for tightening tuning pegs/jacks/nuts
Soldering iron
Steel fret guard
Steel wool
Grits of sandpaper
If you're fancy you'd want nut files and a fret crowning file which get expensive
Wire cutters/snips
A pencil

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by HappyEnding »

Molly wrote:Anybody want to add to this?
I'd recommend getting a box of patience and some anti-procrastination spray.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by sidewinder »

NippleWrestler wrote:What a load of crap.

It's $20 worth of tools for $90.

I can see right off it doesn't include anything metric, only has a 6" straight edge, and is basically not going to do much towards a full setup and on any guitar that uses metric measurements (which is a great many of them).

Pass it up, source the tools yourself. Save money, get better stuff.
Was going to say "but most of the guides online have guitar measurements in imperial" but now I see even Fender's "how to I set up my Stratocaster" has the metric measurements in brackets.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by kwhelan »

cheap metal string height ruler off ebay has a mulitude of uses

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by Molly »

kwhelan wrote:cheap metal string height ruler off ebay has a mulitude of uses
I also bought a radius gauge from TradeMe. I've almost no use for it but didn't have one and now I do. :thumbup:

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by olegmcnoleg »

HappyEnding wrote:
Molly wrote:Anybody want to add to this?
I'd recommend getting a box of patience and some anti-procrastination spray.
I ordered a box of patience days ago IT HAS NOT ARRIVED YET! I'd write a letter to the supplier to complain about it, but I've run out of anti-procrastination spray.

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Jay
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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by Jay »

Add a chainsaw and an axe for when it all turns to custard...

And then some booze to drink you out of your misery :)
When faced with quality, I recognise it every time.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by JHorner »

These are the same high-quality setup tools used by the pros
I call BS on that.

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Re: Guitar Setup Kit?

Post by MakoGat »

You can buy legit guitar tools locally (TM) or improvise cheaply. Screw drivers, allen keys etc are easy to find. I have a cheap 6" steel ruler and used to use it for string height etc, now have proper string action gauge. Purchased a fret rocker for checking high frets, notched straight edge to level neck. Got an 18" alloy channel bar and had the edges machined level to level frets with (cost me $0). Got a triangle file for dressing frets $12 from Mitre 10 then ground off the file teeth on the corners so not to damage neck, did my first fret level and crown/polish last night on a spare neck I have, turned out real nice. Along with soldering iron, various sandpaper and mini files I have for nuts Id say ive only spent about $100 - $150 all up and I can now do quite comprehensive set ups.

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