Guitar Repair Vise

First, a little about me. I was a mechanic for many years. My father has been a mechanic his entire life (60 years) and worked at dealerships and continued his training as technology advanced, and now owns a respected repair shop in town. Since I learned everything from him throughout years of "field work" I can say that I'm fully qualified to assess the quality of this vise.

I have used many good quality tools and this isn't one of them, even after a proper setup and lube. The manufacturing tolerances are too broad which makes this vise have loose action with a rickety, cheap feel. The bearing does nothing. I removed and reinstalled mine with no difference in feel. The vise is not smooth. By the way, I was unhappy with the first one, so they sent me a replacement that was of equally bad quality. So its not that I happen to get a dud. After about 8 hours of mixing and matching parts from the two vises I ended up with something I would call acceptable. Still not 100 percent smooth action though.

If you have good mechanical skills then you may be able to make an OK vise from one or two of these like I did. I think next time I'll just get a gunstock carving vise.

So, after receiving 2 of these within the last week, both of which were very disappointing, I would have to think that none of these vises are able to come close to the description given by stew mac. Its just too poor of quality.

Don't let this review discourage you from buying from stew mac. They offer a variety of good and super-handy tools. I own many of them and will buy more. Also, they have superb customer service. I just don't like the quality of this vise or how its advertised.

I use it for just about everything.
I would have given it a perfect score but the plates on the one I got are a bit warped when I spin the wheel it catches. It works, but I wish it spun freely.

The Guitar Repair Vise is a very versatile tool in my shop! From holding guitars by the neck or body, to clamping a sanding station up off the workbench!
A way to raise and hold a small assembly table that you can easily clamp and work around! The list goes on.
The Guitar Repair Vise is well made and set up with enough extras to make it a valuable shop tool.
But the best part of this vise is, when mine had a problem (that I hadn't noticed when I first ordered it) StewMac was right there for me! They stood 100 percent behind their product and sent out a new replacement vise right away! They even included the return shipping label!
How great is that!
Perfect product! Perfect company!

This vise is handy for lots of projects. I recently purchased this to use on a refret of a '72 Deluxe Tele neck, where the frets needed to be driven out sideways and I wanted something to hold the neck securely. The Guitar Repair Vise worked perfectly for this and other projects. The urethane jaws grip the guitar nicely with no marring of the finish. It also came in handy for leveling and crowning the frets as well. When I called Stew Mac to get some measurements so I could modify my workbench slightly, they were very helpful. Great products + excellent customer service = Winning combination.

I not only used the vise for working on handles, but use it for holding a whole guitar. I also plan to use it for other woodworking projects.

This vise is a must for any instrument repair, very smooth action and soft pads that wont damage.

This is a great vise. I have used several different types of vises in my shop and this one is my consistent go to. It is very delicate with the instrument yet it it hold the material as solidly as needed. This is one of the best tools I've added to my guitar shop.

Exactly as described, perfect for the job, no problems, worth the money.

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

Great vice, I have used it again and again without issue. I love the turn crank. Just two complaints that keep it from a 5, price and it would be nice to be able to replace the pads inside the vise with both replacement and different material linings... I do a lot of french polishing and gluing...