Basic Setup Kit

Great quality on the tools, the guide is really simple but achieved a nice setup and I am happy with the results, my guitar feels great to play.

I didn't want to buy this cause its a bit pricey for what you get but then I got one and realized its worth every penny. You'll use the strait edge and string height gauge/measuring tool every day. It is very basic and you'll need more tools later but this is where to start.

This basic set up kit really suit with its name but you can use it for variety job like fretting and make a new acoustic saddle using the under string radius and can pin point accurately depth or height saddle using the string action gauge..for making new string nut also really good even I still think better buy the correct tools for it (time saving)...other i have no complaint good tools good quality worth to buy it!!

I wonder what the world was like before Stewmac?... Another extremely useful set. Thanks!!!

I started getting into the more technical stuff about guitars because I wanted to take the mystery out of how they are setup, and learn how to customize my instrument for me - BY ME! Ideally at the end of the day, the player should be the one setting up his own instrument for himself so that it will play and sound just the way he wants. This set is a great start. Learning to measure neck relief, the fingerboard radius, how the strings conform to the radius, and how to set the string action (the most important aspect of "playability") are great skills for any player to know. You can take your guitar to a shop and hope the guy there knows what he is doing and can set it up close to what you want, or you can get it just the way YOU want. These tools allow the adventurous guitarist to spend a few hours (or days) adjusting the instrument and trying out the many posibilities in adjustments until you find the "sweet spot!" You may never find the perfect setup if always going to a shop! The Precision Straightedge does not flex much and is great for checking relief if the frets on the guitar are not unevenly worn (say like on a fairly new guitar that you want to setup). If the guitar is badly in need of a fret job, this straightedge can be inaccurate, and it would be best to measure the relief with a Notched Straightedge which will read the actual fretboard instead. The Understring Radius Gauges are more versatile than the regular Radius Gauges too. It would be nice if Stew-Mac expanded the kit to include a feeler gauge set as well though. Cheers!

If you cant trust any shop out there or you just prefer to diy basic setup yourself, this set simply works wonderful. I can easily checkout my action high vs the relief in seconds.

I decided to give this kit a try and, seriously, this kit is an essential for any shop! A very great time saver when you used to check the action, relief and so on with feeler gauges, rulers and a capo! The quality of the tools is incredible, and the accuracy is there! Maybe it costs a little more than the good old method, but every guitars that will pass in your shop will need some adjustment. So, this kit is one of the best investment to be made at first!

This little set might seem expensive but it is really high quality gear and a must have for anyone doing set-ups.

The straight edge is nice and hefty and straight. The radius gauges are nice and solid with clean edges, but are still light and thin enough to maneuver under strings. Stamped radius markings on the handles are clear and won't rub off. The string action gauge is indispensable! So much better than trying to shove feeler gauges under the strings or using a hardware store ruler. The instructions are OK... easy to understand but maybe a little too basic. I almost knocked a star off for the sticker shock - $90 for a few pieces of metal?! - but the quality and usefulness are there. The radius gauges don't come on a key ring or loop, so plan ahead and get something to keep them together. (I used an easy to open steel cable key ring I had lying around.)

i have to say that i did not know how to do a set up and after using this kit my guitar feels really good!! This tools are expensive but they do the trick.