Ratings and reviews

I just bought an assortment of these, and did the set up on an 1890's S.S. Stewart banjo as soon as I got them. I've always used Grobet nut files and I love them, but they are getting harder to find, getting more expensive with current exchange rates, and there are a lot more sizes of these gauged nut slotting files than Grobet offers.

It was hard to make the plunge and cross over from what I was used to, but so far I am very happy with these. I can not yet say how well they hold up in the long term, but as far as using them I am very happy and it was great having more precise sizes to choose from (important when using Aquila nylgut strings). I will add that (as with any nut file) a little wax on the sides makes using them very smooth.

This is a great tool for spot checking frets, but I have a lot of other uses for it as well, whenever I need a small straight edge. One of my favorite uses it to keep it in my pocket while hunting for antique tools at flea markets, to quickly check chisel backs and plane soles without packing a full straightedge. I use it so often I'm tempted to buy a second one.

If using a Gibson Les Paul, be aware that the small black (despite I bought 5 nickel set and I got black screws!) screws included does NOT grab like they should. If you're not alert the guitar might bang to the floor. I had to replace them with coarser screws.

Buy the original Schaller strap buttons instead and get decent screws that match. Who wants black screws with nickel straps?

I built one guitar without it. Never again! Great addition to any shop.

The guard is too thick. The fingerboard overhang hit the guard and the neck wouldn't site flush in the pocket. I had to rout out the top layer of plastic for the neck to sit flush in the pocket. Plus there are screw holes for the neck pickup. I have my neck pickup mounted in the traditional fashion. So now there are two dummy screws there, and it doesn't have that traditional Tele look, which I really, REALLY like.

So in my case, it's a good thing I can work on my own guitars. Some folks cannot, and this would have been a show-stopper for them.

All that said, once I got the guard on the guitar, it looks fine and there are no static issues as with another reviewer.

MOST sound hole pick-ups will NOT work on a nylon stringed instrument, because they use magnets, that will only "pick-up" vibrations from metallic strings! I put this in my friends guitar & we played our first electric gig. I think his guitar sounded better than my stock undersaddle p.u. & we play the same brand of guitar! We plugged it directly into my board,w/out a di or pre-amp! I did use the XLR cable though. I didn't have any problems w/feedback at all!! EZ2 install!! GR8 tone! Highly recommended!!!

Just simply awesome stuff!

The spray nozzle needs better technology to eliminate spitting. Just finished a guitar body and it left a crater the size of a dime. Shaking the can as directed does not work. Other than that great toner that gives even color.

Until buying this file (300 grit) I had never crowned a fret. I found it very easy to use and, when combined with polishing the frets with 400, 600 and 1500 grit black wet/dry sandpaper, my frets were super smooth. Bends are much, much easier --- even on my PRS that is only a year old. I noticed that after the crowning and polishing that all my guitars have more of a ring to them. I've since done five other guitars for people and each one notices better sustain and more of a ring from their guitars.

I highly recommend this easy-to-use and (to me) indispensable tool!

I have ordered two Schaller Floyd Rose tremolo bars from StewMac, and both work great. I purchased both because the original bars had a slight bit of play when screwed into the arm holders. Interestingly enough, both original bars were from Original Floyd Rose trems, so it was strange that I had those problems in the first place. The Schaller replacements removed all the wobble. Thanks, StewMac!

I have a stripped Les Paul studio that needed some dressing up, and this baby did the trick. While the installation was a bit tricky, the free telephone tech support talked me off the ledge and I had the switch plate installed in just under 4 hours (not including the trip to the emergency room). My workhorse LP now looks better, sounds better, and I think it has even improved my playing! (Watch out, Steve Lukather!) Now I can't wait to play out with this looker, and once the skin grafts heal completely I'll be rockin' out in style. Thanks, StewMac!

I searched for weeks because I had one saddle on my LP STD that had corroded. These were a perfect fit and easy to notch and setup. Every bit as good as the Gibson parts they replaced!

Very good.

I used this to build my custom guitar and it worked excellent. I am very pleased with the results

Of all the Jacks available, I find that these are always a winner. I buy these by the dozen. I've seen these installed as STD on James Tyler electrics and other boutique brands, so they must be good!

This is a very unique knob with delicate line texture that can't find anywhere else! I put it on my D.I.Y Telecaster, it's looks very decent a elegant!

I recently repaired (for the umpteenth time)a strap post output jack that I installed in my Epiphone El Dorado in early 80's- a Martin passive bridge saddle pickup. The nut on the inside of the body of the guitar has always been infuriating to tighten up each time I changed my strings, and the strap continually loosened it up, causing downtime for the guitar between repairs. I screwed an output jack wrench to a short length of wood dowel cut on a slight angle. With the wrench slightly angled forward I was able to fit it in the body and still turn it with a firm grip quite comfortably compared to my many previously unsuccessful attempts. Thanks for the trade tips! Mike

Improved my ability to sand

Would be nice to have a humbucker base plate with screw holes on both sides, so it could be made like a TV Jones pickup. Other than that it works great.

This file is just great!
I worked for long time with the medium file,and since I got this one, my work become faster and easier.

Very good tool. Cuts easily and smooth. It is a time saving tool.
I use it for frets only.

They work fine, and had the exact shaft length that I needed. They are a bit noisy though, which gives it a cheap feel. It would have been nice if Stew-Mac offered a higher-quality version of the same part.

Good quality were else you going to find it

Excellent just make sure to warm the can and keep them inside if it freezes outside or in your garage

top notch