Notched Straightedge

This is excellent when you want to check the relief of a neck that has very uneven frets! By reading the board instead of the fret tops, you are eliminating a lot of guess work! Too bad its soooo pricey!

If you have more that one guitar, this pays for itself instantly! Quality and easy to use. Must have for any guitar player.

I was a bit reluctant on buying this because I was unsure if I would really need it. But when doing fretwork like refretting and fret leveling, and to ensure the neck is straight, this tool is really worth it. I have the one for bass and guitar, and could not be without them now. The price is a bit high though, so that is why I do not give it a rating of 5 stars.

Allows me to read the fingerboard properly and avoid guesswork. Excellent quality but if you're a guitar instructor as well as repair tech..watch your fingers! The edges are precision machined and can be a bit spiteful if handled with anything less than caution.

Works great, wish there was one for shorter scales (mando, tenor guit,etc)

I work in a large retail music store where the norm for guitar setup prior to my arrival was the "just throw a wrench on that guitar" (meaning adjust the truss rod) approach. Any guitar tech or luthier with half a brain knows that proper guitar setup is much more than a truss rod adjustment. These straightedges allow for an ultra precise view of your neck's relief or lack thereof. Sure, you can eyeball it, but WHY? I love being able to demo this tool while I'm checking out a customer's guitar. Customers are VERY interested in what it is and what it does. It really makes you look like a pro because pros use the right tool for the job and don't worry about looking like a know-it-all, eyeball it and hope for the best, Mr. Cool dude.....

Although pricey, this sturdy straightedge is excellent for all leveling & adjustment tasks of the neck for the rest of your life. The thickness and weight make it easy to make precise adjustments. The edges are sharp and will scratch your work easily so you may wish to give the corners a light sanding.

My favourite tool for evaluating the fretboard and sometimes even the frets themselves.
A great tool, well worth the price!
Thanks StewMac :)

I'm not a professional luthier, but have always done all my own guitar setups and have generally been extremely satisfied with the results.

I purchased a Taylor T5 off e-bay a couple of years ago and had neck problems with it from the get-go. Someone had cut the nut slot for the 3rd string too deep, so after fixing that I decided to focus on the sting buzz I was gettign on the higher frets. I discovered the guitar was just a bit too dry, so did no adjustments until it had properly humidified. Then slowly over the next several months would work on leveling the frets each time I changed strings...just a little at a time.

When I decided it was time for the final leveling I bought the Stewmac slotted straight edge in order to get it exactly right. Didn't have to wait long for the delivery and found the tool to be exactly what I needed. The tool revealed all the hidden problems I had been battling for so long and the leveling went perfectly.

For the first time since I've owned it the guitar has the kind of action one should expect from a Taylor and a clean, clear tone all the way up the neck. I think that without this tool I would still be fighting the thing.

Very precise, very qualitative. The price is quite expensive.