Proper's Relief Gauge
Take your setups to the next level with this precision neck and top measurement system.
When you're chasing perfect playability, guesswork isn't good enough. You need real data across the entire instrument. The Proper Relief Gauge, gives you exactly that.
Developed by legendary repair professional Doug Proper, this tool goes beyond traditional relief gauges. It's fully adjustable for virtually any scale length, reads across the entire neck, and doubles as a top deflection gauge; giving you critical insight into both neck geometry and body movement.
Whether you're dialing in relief, prepping a fingerboard, or making decisions during a neck reset, this tool puts accurate, repeatable measurements right at your fingertips.
See the whole neck—not just one point
Set the adjustable feet to your scale length and sweep the neck to read relief across its full length. You'll quickly spot high and low areas, twists, and fallaway—everything you need to produce a clean, consistent playing surface.
Use it directly on the fingerboard or on the frets, depending on your situation.
Dial in precision you can trust
The digital indicator features zero memory and can be recalibrated on any known flat surface in your shop. It delivers highly accurate readings down to 0.0005", so you can make confident adjustments without second-guessing.
More than a relief gauge
This tool also functions as a top deflection gauge.
Adjust it to fit the body and measure how the top responds under string tension. It's a powerful way to:
- Project neck angle during a reset
- Compare top movement before and after stringing
- Fine-tune saddle height decisions
- Evaluate top consistency for better bridge fitting
- Monitor the effect of humidity on top radius (flattening or sinking)
It's the kind of insight that separates a good setup from a great one.
Built for real shop flexibility
Interchangeable feet let you configure the tool for different tasks, whether you're working on a fingerboard, frets, or a guitar top.
Included extensions expand the range for longer scale instruments, including electric basses.
Everything adjusts, locks in place, and stays put so you can focus on the work, not the tool.
What's included
- Proper Relief Gauge with digital indicator
- Extension wings for longer scale instruments (including bass)
- Interchangeable threaded feet (round and flat-bottomed)
- Flat-bottom center plunger foot for fret or top measurements
