List of guitar tools

This is also useful if your aim is off, as it will prevent denting your guitar. If using a timber malette, consider drilling a hole in a section of play wide enough for the pins as this can serve as a collar and prevent dents. If you are doing the wiring yourself , you are going to need a soldering iron. This is the case for even some of the easier kits to assemble e. Soldering is best done, once you understand the basics. You can read more about how to correctly and safely use a soldering iron here.

Also, keep in mind a soldering iron can be useful for repairing dents. A combination of heat and a damp rag can reduce the impact of a dent if held over the dent until the timber swells.

Coping saws feature thin, flexible blades similar to a jigsaw which allows more precise cuts and curves to be made when shaping your headstock.

Always remember to mark the outline using a lead pencil and be sure to cut well outside the lines to compensate for the thickness of the blade while leaving sufficient room for sanding.

You are also going to require a way to measure the scale length of the guitar, along with measurements required for aligning smaller components. Rags are considered a consumable rather than a tool per se, but finishing staining or painting is a large part of any DIY guitar kit project and you are going to need rags, lots of them, for applying stain, protecting the guitar from scratches and cleaning up. If you are using rags to protect the guitar from scratches, ensure the rag is clean, is not soaked in anything that will damage the paint e.

Flexible sanding blocks conform to bumps or non-uniform sections when sanding, preventing a flat finish and making it much more difficult to achieve a professional finish - learn more about Sanding a Guitar Body Prior to Painting.

A guitar stand will keep it stored safely and can even tastefully display your prized six-stringed possession. A stand is also beneficial to have on stage, as it allows you to easily access other instruments. For acoustic players or an electric player living in very dry conditions , a humidifier can combat the effects of fluctuating weather. Guitars are made of wood , which "breathes" as temperatures and humidity change, not just when moving them from a hot car to a cold room, but also within the confines of your home.

That can lead to cracking and warping, fret sprout, fret buzz and more headaches. Guitar case humidifiers sit in the actual guitar case to keep the case regulated. Room humidifiers are good for those that have multiple guitars to safeguard. And soundhole humidifiers either cover the soundhole or are composed of a rubber tube that sits between the strings and runs down into the guitar.

Both types of the latter are basically an enclosed saturated sponge that moisturizes the wood without dripping water on it you only need to re-wet these every week or two. You want to keep your gutiar looking fresh, so it is smart to have a few cleaning accessories close by, like a microfiber cloth and polish to increase the luster and longevitiy of the finish.

View a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to cleaning your guitar here. If you have designs on being a tinkerer, or you just want to keep your gutiar in working order, there are some basic items to have at your disposal. You could pick up a ready-made kit complete with a screwdriver, a hex adapter for truss rod adjustment, telescopic adjustment mirror, ruler, diagonal cutter, feeler gauges and string winder, or just amass your own kit as you see fit. Whether you are just beginning your guitar journey or looking to brush up on your chops, lessons can help you reach the next level as a guitarist.

With bite-sized tutorials, guided paths and expert instructors, you can access thousands of skill and song lessons on Fender Play that will help you reach your goals. Skip to main content. The 11 Essential Tools for Any Guitarist Find out what you need to round out your guitar toolkit and keep everything sounding and looking great. By Mike Duffy. Below is a list of essential tools to note: Guitar Tuner With the Fender Tune app , tuning your guitar has never been easier, which is a good thing because playing a guitar that is out of whack won't do you any favors.

Extra Strings Your guitar most likely came with a set of strings , but sooner than later, one of those is going to break due to wear and corrosion, age, or tension. String Winder Adapter If you find using a hand crank string winder cumbersome or uncomfortable, a string winder adapter makes winding up stress excess a breeze.

Be sure to use a power with relatively low power and spin rate like a cordless screwdriver. Precision Straight Edge For a fool-proof method of checking general straightness of a guitar neck, a precision straight edge is the setup tool to use. Pro Tip: With the strings off of the guitar, flex the middle of the straight edge while setting it at different points around the neck.

This will give you an instant read, and allow you to straighten the neck properly for further work. Neck Support A guitar neck support is a key investment as it keeps the neck and headstock safe by elevating it off the work surface.

Plus it gives you room to work around the tuners and rest of the instrument hands-free. Guitar Mat A guitar neck support is a key investment as it keeps the neck and headstock safe by elevating it off the work surface. Micro-Mesh Sandpaper Micro-Mesh Sandpaper works wonders for polishing frets and other metal guitar parts to a new shine.

When used in the proper grade sequence and with proper technique, you can also use it for minor finish touch-ups. The best part? It lasts virtually forever! Guitar Radius Gauges For measuring fretboard curves, these guitar radius gauges are better than the currently popular under-string radius gauges — though those do have their place. Be sure to use the highest quality solder, avoid cold solder joints, and of course refrain from using marettes in guitar wiring!

Electrical Contact Cleaner Especially useful for rejuvenating scratchy sounding pots, electrical contact cleaner is a must-have to keep your controls working and sounding great.

Precision Screwdriver Set There are those small screws and parts around a guitar that require a little more finesse to deal with. Particularly useful for acoustic players. When combined with a bright little flashlight, an inspection mirror helps you see internal guitar problems such as broken braces and cracks. You can also check out the cabling of an onboard pickup system, and easily determine the source of other problems.

Guitar Knob Puller Many press-on knobs, especially acrylic, will crack without uniform pressure when trying to pull them off. To get around the potential cost of damage and replacement, particularly with original vintage parts, this inexpensive guitar knob puller tool will do the job safely. The adjustable toggle switch wrench from Allparts makes this job soooo much easier. Guitar Nut Files A set of guitar nut files are crucial for finessing guitar nuts and saddles.

A single file designed to cut one gauge only is worth its weight in gold. Hex keys with handles. Guitar Neck Shims If your strings are too high or low, and all the other obvious adjustments have been done, the problem may be in the neck angle. These precision-sanded guitar neck shims are designed to help correct the neck angle with respect to the body. A digital caliper is indispensable for checking string gauges, fretwire dimensions and other measurements that require a high degree of precision.

Because pickups and controls can develop shorts or open circuits through wear and tear, a multimeter is the tool of choice for tracking down these electrical problems. Even the best guitar setup tools kit includes items that are relatively obvious. They can be found in utility drawers, in the garage, or your existing arsenal of general tools. The tongue depressors come in handy for keeping strings away from the fretboard area loosened strings can be safely corralled under the neck.

When making floating system adjustments, a tongue depressor can be set flush under the back end of the trem system to keep it from drawing back down into the body. Another trick is to taper the flat edge so it can be used to gently pry up guitar knobs.

Another way to look at it is to think a little outside the box. You can also find substitutions and variations for each tool, but the list as it is makes a great start! After comparing a host of different types of This is bluegrass, or at Which website provides the best online guitar lessons?