Neck Relief Gauge

This gauge works great...The problem with others users reviews is ,they needed better instructions....You have to rock the gauge back an forth to get the correct reading on a rounded fret..The correct reading is the largest number {change} from your zero point..Which is usually a minus with some relief..Finding a flat surface for calibrating can be a problem..if you have a good straight edge, that will work..Better instructions are needed..

I had the same difficulty in getting an accurate reading as the two other negative reviewers. Also, I don't have a truly flat surface to calibrate it. And the instructions don't mention that the lowest reading is when it's flat. Maybe it should be obvious but it wasn't to me. I wonder why it wasn't mentioned to me when I called about returning it. I got a straight edge from StewMac and that works fine.

This tool works great. I am shocked at the reviews of JukinJimmy and SteveC, saying they can use it. You have to learn to coexist with any tool. Sure, it must be held steady by one hand to obtain a good reading. If you are not certain if it is flat across the frets, rock it back and forth. During this rocking, the lowest reading is when it is flat. A wider base would present a new problem by rocking fore and aft across the curvature of the fret.

I'd have to agree with jukinjimmy of Iowa. I too found the base to be so unstable that the readings were unreliable, and sent mine back. What would improve this tool tremendously would be to give it the same broad base as the nut slotting tool - THEN it would be able to give repeatable measurements. Till then save your money.

I went to work for as a tech for a large national music retailer over a year ago, and bought the relief gauge and the nut slotting gauge along with the string height gauge before starting the job. With these 3 tools, I could set up a whole wall of Gibsons within minute tolerances of each other and the whole wall of stock played consistently like butter.

They basically take the guesswork out of setting up guitars to consistent specs and make the job so much easier. They are among the most "reached for" tools in the chest!

A very useful tool for measuring the inclination of the guitar neck. However, the measurement is made ​​according to the frets, they must be perfect.

This is fantastic. I have been repairing for 31 yrs and with this device I can have my neck work done in a second. I checked my measurements using feeler gauges and this gauge is right on everytime. The guy who said that the feet are not flat should tell stewmac. Those guys are great. They have always replaced things for me no questions asked. Everyone should by this and the Nut Slotting Gauge. First class tools.

I didn't think it would be worth the money. But after a few set ups where it seemed like I couldn't find the right amount of relief, I gave in and bought this. I'm so glad I did because it has made my job a lot easier and gives me confidence that the neck is always in the spot.

Straight to the point, no hassle! Easy to use, gives a quick and accurate neck relief measurement (with the tool properly calibrated, obviously).

You can get a dozen different readings on each try as the feet do not rest flat, even on a totally flat surface. The unit rocks, so you have no idea when it is flat. Very inaccurate readings. Save your money. For $100 bucks you would think it would read the same each time on the same guitar with no adjustments. Ranges madly. Bad.