Erlewine Neck Jig

I shamelessly copied Dan's invention several years ago and have used it ever since. The accuracy it affords cannot be achieved without it (my opinion).So with a few extra bucks I pulled the trigger on the Stew-Mac jig. It works well and I'm glad I have it. To get flawless playability you need this jig. My only reason for giving it four stars is the dial mounting system. That seems to be a fairly common concern with this jig. Let's R&D it and offer Stew-Mac some solutions. Thank you Dan for designing a tool that provides spot on accuracy.

I've been working with my jig for nearly a year now. It took me a little while to get the jist of using the dial indicators, but since I've used them in my work, it didn't take long to get it figured out. Being able to pre-load the neck has saved me time and effort getting my frets aligned at first blush.

I think the mounts for the dial indicators could be modified a bit to allow for faster and more accurate adjustment. Take a look at how a rod-runout jig is designed for measure compressor rod deflections......it would be a good improvement to the tool.

Very much like the jig overall, and find it indispensable for getting the frets right!

this jig is for me perfect tool to do a professional and accurate job

Leveling frets is certainly much easier and more accurate with this tool, but I have some issues with the quality of the kit components.

[1] some of the woodworking, especially where the gauges mount, is a bit rough, with some actual splinters. Not a big deal.

[2] the tiedown straps that came with the jig are 12 1/2 feet long. That's overkill, as the biggest jumbo flattop I have only required 6 feet. I ended up trimming off the excess and heat searing the edge, but I would think for the price of the kit, the tiedown straps would be closer in length to what's realistically going to be used.

[3] two of the plastic cushions on the levelers were not even attached. A simple repair with glue, but I can't help but wonder why this wasn't caught before the system shipped. Also, in the video, we are told that the guitar can be set on its side in the jig and that one of the leveler feet will hold the jig at approximately the correct playing angle. I tried this, and almost ended up with a Strat being dumped on its face. Use caution.

[4] the attached photograph shows two defects on the shop stand. On top are two sloppy welds that affect the roller bearing that allows the top of the stand to rotate. On bottom are two spots where the metal is bare and lacks paint, inviting eventual rust.

Yes, I'm glad I purchased this item, and I know I'll get a lot of excellent use out of it. I guess I was just expecting better quality for the money.

Build quality is good but there was a fair amount of wood ripped out on the drilled holes and some rough edges on the ends of the wood; not a big deal until it scratches a customers instrument. I took some 220 and smoothed all the edges then cured all the wood with Tung oil & wax, rough edges did not bother me but the rip out on every hole did.

Four stars only because of the attention to detail, maybe its time for a new CNC bit. This does not affect how the tool functions but I would have expected higher quality from Stewmac. The jig is solid Ash and has high quality threaded brass inserts for years of use. The DVD was very informative and in combination with the advanced fretting DVD will improve most everyone’s fret work.

The function of the tool is superb all guesswork has been removed and I save about an hour on each fret job. If your on the fence about it just get it, the tool pays for it self with one fret job.

This this awesome, well thought out and worth the money. I like the preset inserts and chart for many different guitars.

My Neck Jig arrived in Australia in just four days from order date. Outstanding service as has been the case with every item I have ever ordered. However, sometimes attention to detail and sometimes quality seems to be missed on some items which can lead to disappointment or in this case concern that the unit will still function 100%.

In the case of my new Neck Jig I had to saw /remove almost a full 10mm off the point where the neck support meets the body support. If I hadn't done this there was absolutely no chance of getting the three attachment screws to align with the pre-drilled and fitted holes. I have no idea of course if this is going to affect any of the helpful positions measured and recorded on the Body Support for various guitars. Other than this enforced re-work the unit was extremely easy to assemble from the clear and simple instructions.

I'm currently looking forward to my hide glue and glue pot arriving so I can begin rework on the neck on a wayward guitar...

Now this is worth the extra money! Love it. Even comes with an instructional video! Two thumbs up!

I've been dressing for 7 years and 5 years doing refrets. I've been using it since last year and I can shamlessly say the neck jig improved my fretjobs amazingly.

The tough part is having to watch the video it comes with like a hundred times in order to learn the right way to use it. But is worth to burn your dvd unit learning those tips.

Price. you could say is high for "two pieces of wood, and some screws". But the neck jig is much more than that.

Thanks to mr erlewine for such a great invention.

Tres bon outils pour faire du bon boulot...mais...Mr Stew and Mr mac, pourriez vous inclure des sous titres dans vos videos ?!! *
(* Very good tools to make a good job..but mr stew and Mr mac, can you inclued subtitles in your videos?!!)