Bass set-up tools

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

There are a couple of sellers who seem to regularly list these, here’s one currently listed: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266046860991

 

This works best with a bass (or guitar) with a cutout in the body & pickguard by the truss rod nut. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Thanks, still expensive but I have ordered one.

I would rather remove the scratchplate and this will allow me to adjust with string tension on.

[kodiakblair]

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Do you have a link to the uk seller?

 

(It's nearly £30 with shipping!)

There's a UK eBay seller does them for £22 inc deliver.

 

Or you could use one of these, paint tin lever about £3.

 

[BigRedX]

13 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

There's some pretty nice stuff available but 99% of it is just for convenience, folk have been building guitars long before Stewmac 🙂

 

Yes but back then most of the specialised tools required had to be individually modified from the ones that were commonly available. 

 

International Musician magazine ran a series of articles by Stephen Delft in the late 70s on how to built your own solid electric guitar. This ran to over 2 year's worth of issues and several months were given over discussions of what tools would be required and what modifications would be needed to those that you bought. I distinctly remember that there were detailed instructions for how to file the set off a standard handsaw to make it suitable for cutting fret slots.

 

These articles also included instructions for making a truss rod from scratch as the alternative at the time would have been to remove one from an existing guitar.

 

Thank goodness for modern luthier's supplies.

[3below]

16 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

Yes but back then most of the specialised tools required had to be individually modified from the ones that were commonly available. 

 

International Musician magazine ran a series of articles by Stephen Delft in the late 70s on how to built your own solid electric guitar. This ran to over 2 year's worth of issues and several months were given over discussions of what tools would be required and what modifications would be needed to those that you bought. I distinctly remember that there were detailed instructions for how to file the set off a standard handsaw to make it suitable for cutting fret slots.

 

These articles also included instructions for making a truss rod from scratch as the alternative at the time would have been to remove one from an existing guitar.

 

Thank goodness for modern luthier's supplies.

Happy days, I remember those articles.  Building and repairing  is much more straightforward with the amount of kit now available.

[kodiakblair]

@BigRedX

 

We're no longer in the late 70's and Dave is asking what is available in the here and now 😉

 

 I'm a carpenter , I definitely think about 'luthier' tools differently. 

 

Folk view the Stew Mac range of toys and say "brilliant, I must get one of those";  I see mostly expensive toys designed to do one task and say "F*** right off" 😁

 

Every tradesman's shop will have tools adapted for other tasks, it's second nature. We're not the target audience for Stew Mac or others of that ilk  👍

 

 

[BigRedX]

@kodiakblair

 

Most people on here who want tools for working on their instruments want them only for that purpose, and so specialised tools from StewMac and the like are ideal for them, as they can buy them and then get on with job. 

 

I used to be a keen DIYer until my expectations outstripped my abilities in that field, and I've made guitars in the past (back in the 70s using the IM articles as a guideline), and if I had the time and inclination to build guitars again I would get the required tools off the peg and they would be reserved solely for making guitars. If I can save time and effort buying the right tool for the job, then I will because in the majority of cases for me time is more important than money. Your properties are probably different.

Edited January 5, 2023 by BigRedX

[Ralf1e]

17 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

100% agree. Being a retired engineer myself i've always preferred to buy good quality tools altho i dont buy the Rolls Royce of tools but would go for the upper end of the market.

Problem is i have no knowledge of luthier tools and what is a good make or not. 

Dave

Years ago we bought a set of round needle files and they were usually up to what you needed.(other shapes as well) 

Now it has to be labelled luthier tools and of course cost much more.

A good Japan maker C L tools, Hilka

Or Bacho Sweden

I recently bought some hex wrenches on Amazon for a Fender bridge. I bought a whole set to make sure I got the right size

1.5 turned out to be more like 1.25 others were equally totally miles away from size USELESS! Sent back as you do.

Took an oversize one and ground it down myself. Perfect!

What I am saying is don't jump in, look around.

I see so much stuff that I can see is coming out of the same cheap factories in China under different brand names and also imported and sold as OURS.

Try to buy nut files you get offered bits of wire with barbs on, crap!

You want respectable needle files.

You can't expect to look after a fair quality instrument with jamboree bag tools.

As Paul_5 said above buy them right buy them once

Rant over

Sorry forgot the fret leveling tool

Good quality oil or water stone which will be level, then fret crowning file.

Small areas Diamond sharpening card D3F fine 25 micron.

DMT www. dmtsharp.com Made in USA.

Does the fret ends as well

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by Ralf1e

[kodiakblair]

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Your properties are probably different.

Aye, tools have to earn their keep.

 

One of the young lads asked for my advice regarding a tool costing £1800. It's a great bit of kit from a top notch company, does it's intended task brilliantly.

I showed him another method, yielded faster stronger results, using a £100 gizmo he already owned.

 

 

[dmccombe7]

5 hours ago, Ralf1e said:

Years ago we bought a set of round needle files and they were usually up to what you needed.(other shapes as well) 

Now it has to be labelled luthier tools and of course cost much more.

A good Japan maker C L tools, Hilka

Or Bacho Sweden

I recently bought some hex wrenches on Amazon for a Fender bridge. I bought a whole set to make sure I got the right size

1.5 turned out to be more like 1.25 others were equally totally miles away from size USELESS! Sent back as you do.

Took an oversize one and ground it down myself. Perfect!

What I am saying is don't jump in, look around.

I see so much stuff that I can see is coming out of the same cheap factories in China under different brand names and also imported and sold as OURS.

Try to buy nut files you get offered bits of wire with barbs on, crap!

You want respectable needle files.

You can't expect to look after a fair quality instrument with jamboree bag tools.

As Paul_5 said above buy them right buy them once

Rant over

Sorry forgot the fret leveling tool

Good quality oil or water stone which will be level, then fret crowning file.

Small areas Diamond sharpening card D3F fine 25 micron.

DMT www. dmtsharp.com Made in USA.

Does the fret ends as well

 

I love a rant but how do i know which tools will be the good ones without buying. 

More expensive doesn't always mean better quality.

Dave

[Ralf1e]

23 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I love a rant but how do i know which tools will be the good ones without buying. 

More expensive doesn't always mean better quality.

Dave

That is the point I failed to make. It isn't necessarily better quality because it is marketed as Luthier tools. They just market what works for them as a retail outlet. Doesn't make it any better just because they buy the same stuff yet specifically say "luthier tools".

At one time in the distant past, not long ago that term didn't exist. Now it equals a path to increased prices. 

Does that mean the quality is better? As an ex engineer you know is doesn't.