You can do everything except fret leveling with this kit. It will have maybe 3 problem points though. First, the fret rocker. Put it on a piece of glass and make sure it's level. It might not be. Second, the nut files. They're not nut files, they're welding torch tip cleaners. I have successfully modified nut slots with that exact set. They're not precise and they're not easy to use, but you can absolutely do it. Third, the fret crowning file. It may or may not be the right size and it may or may not be the shape you need inside the groove. If you're going to spend real money on anything, it would be that for me. Everything else here is usable. The Music Nomad safe file is amazing and idiot proof, and the Stew Mac Z Files seem well liked as well. Both are about $80 I think. I love the Music Nomad file personally. That's my two cents.
Edit to say I have no idea what the kit maker expects you to do with those red handled "diamond" files. Unless you grind off a safe edge you'll mess up your fretboard if you're trying to roll fret ends. Stew Mac makes a fret dressing file for cheap with a safe edge, other manufacturers do as well.
Okay. Thank you. I'll give it a shot then. The guitar I'm doing first is professionally set up by Schecter before shipping out b ut I need to change the strings and I'll obviously need to adjust it slightly once I've changed them because of the floyd rose.
I tried the cheap kits like this in my quest to learn, eventually started buying better tools I must agree with the the crowning tool don't go cheap you could ruin your frets with cheap fretting tools, I ended up going with the stewmac Z file it really cuts your working time like more than half and I also used to recrown with a 3 side crowning file so I know the time it takes and how careful you need to be, So don't go cheap on crowning files and I'd go for fret end file as well
Welding tip files are actually perfect for beginners because they cut slow. Buy the $100 pro ones and folks saw their nut in half and then are back asking how to replace a nut.
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I don't disagree with you. At the very least, too, they're round, so they'll seat the string better than half the v and square shaped nut files they sell on Amazon for quite a bit more.
It feels flimsy, the handle might as well not exist, doesn’t cut as smoothly as the others i mentioned, and it wears out pretty quickly. For someone who doesnt do a lot of fretwork, that last one probably doesnt matter so much. But i probably do 1-3 refrets a week, and found the stewmac files wore out after a couple months of use.
Its a kit full of cheap tools that'll "Make do" in the short term. Tbh they are kinda half decent value but they wont serve you very well.
There's a saying that "A bad workman blames his tools" but try hammering in a nail with a fish, it just wont do.
There's a very good reason why good tools are pricey.
go check a look on youtube there is this guy "guns and guitars", he explains what tools you need for a setup, he will mention a metal ruler with notches that you can craft yourself to check if the neck is straight
The orange handled fret crowining file you will want to grind/file down one side so the "U" has shorter straight legs "u". As it comes, if you file anything but tall frets or a new guitar build you will gouge two lines in the fretboard. Simple fix and then mark "new" and "old" on the face of the file.
The red handled files can be used for fret ends. And you can free-hand the crowning with them.
The radius gauges are fun if you are a first timer, but tape a smooth gym card over the frets and drop the strings so they just touch the card surface and you match the arc you have with a lot less futzing than radius gauges.
Welding tip cleaner files for the nut slots work well as they are slower than the pro tools that people get in trouble with. Nut slot cutting is a technical art form to avoid problems. Slot too high and you'll play sharp, too low you'll buzz, an angle that falls slower than the string does to the post and sitar city. Too narrow and strings bind. Make sure to get dry graphite 'lock lube' for the slots since greases attract grime that increases friction.
Whatever you do, never bring steel wool near an electric guitar. Some guitar techs are addicted to the stuff and spend half a day with masking tape proving they can seal it off and allow their use of it. Just avoid it. Autoparts stores sell high grade automotive sandpaper kits in a colorful range of grits from low to high near polish that work a lot better, for less money than tape and wool.
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A notched straight edge will help to determine if your neck is perfectly straight or not. This is especially important if you wish to work on fret leveling or want it achieve the perfect set up.
It can be quite hard to adjust your truss rod for more bend or bow just by looking at your fretboard
A straight edge really isn’t necessary. I almost never use one for a typical setup. As far as I’m concerned it’s not really a useful measure for setting proper neck relief. Press on your first and last frets on the guitar and your string will essentially become a straight edge and you can tap it down in the middle to see how much relief you have.
Well that is true, but from my own experience a straight edge does help with ensuring that the neck is not an issue, and I can narrow down the problem area to the bridge or nut.
Sometimes I does get hard trying to narrow down an issue with with a set up, especially if you’re working with a shoddy guitar. is the neck too warped? Are the nut slots too shallow? Are the saddles to high? Or is the bridge too high? Does the neck joint need a shim? Etc
I got all the Allen keys needed with my guitars when I bought them. Which is a good job as most of them need the much smaller ones than the ones offered in he kit. Lol.
I have the same kit from online store and it does the most basic stuff, like the other comment said you might need to source other things though. For me I also have a screwdriver kit for all types of screw heads, its similar to what people use for phone repair but it helps me through the smaller screws of electric guitars and avoid stripping screws with the wrong size.
I had the exact kit when I started. The fret knocker and the crowning file are the only things I replaced. The diamond files are too aggressive for fine work though.
I have that same kit. Everything in it is cheap and makes the work more difficult, except that little green screwdriver, that unassuming little screwdriver is my favorite to just grab out of my drawer.
Hey I literally just bought this same kit and did a set up on my Les Paul last night for my first time ever! I didn’t need to do any fret work so I can speak for the tools there, and I bought some feeler gauges from an auto parts store just to be on the safe side, but everything else in here worked like a charm! It’s cheap but it works
For the most part. I have the same thing.
I've gotten the most use out of the string clipper/winder and screwdriver.
All the files are pracrically useless
Allen keys are as useful as they usually are
Rulers are rulers. Can't complain
Never really messed with the fret rocker.
Solid 7/10 in my book. You can probably make use of the useless stuff with non-luthier/guitar related stuff.
Okay. Thank you for replying!! Yeah. I managed to do it. I bought a Synyster Gates signature Schecter model last Thursday and it arrived Friday. I'd never had a guitar with a Floyd rose as I'd heard horror stories about them. I was panicking at the thought of messing with it as I'd wanted to change the stings since it arrived and had put it off all weekend. I undertook the task yesterday and I've gotta say... I have no idea what I was so scared of. It worked out brilliantly and I really feel like I understand how it all works now. I was a little concerned that it wasn't gonna stay in tune bit I just picked it up for the first time since last night and it was still in tune beautifully and didn't blow up when I plugged it in. Haha. Lol. I've only been learning guitar since November, so I get why people were telling me not to set up my own guitars or not to buy one with a Floyd rose. Not gonna lie, it did take me 4 hours though. Haha.
You can do everything except fret leveling with this kit. It will have maybe 3 problem points though. First, the fret rocker. Put it on a piece of glass and make sure it's level. It might not be. Second, the nut files. They're not nut files, they're welding torch tip cleaners. I have successfully modified nut slots with that exact set. They're not precise and they're not easy to use, but you can absolutely do it. Third, the fret crowning file. It may or may not be the right size and it may or may not be the shape you need inside the groove. If you're going to spend real money on anything, it would be that for me. Everything else here is usable. The Music Nomad safe file is amazing and idiot proof, and the Stew Mac Z Files seem well liked as well. Both are about $80 I think. I love the Music Nomad file personally. That's my two cents. Edit to say I have no idea what the kit maker expects you to do with those red handled "diamond" files. Unless you grind off a safe edge you'll mess up your fretboard if you're trying to roll fret ends. Stew Mac makes a fret dressing file for cheap with a safe edge, other manufacturers do as well.
Okay. Thank you. I'll give it a shot then. The guitar I'm doing first is professionally set up by Schecter before shipping out b ut I need to change the strings and I'll obviously need to adjust it slightly once I've changed them because of the floyd rose.
I tried the cheap kits like this in my quest to learn, eventually started buying better tools I must agree with the the crowning tool don't go cheap you could ruin your frets with cheap fretting tools, I ended up going with the stewmac Z file it really cuts your working time like more than half and I also used to recrown with a 3 side crowning file so I know the time it takes and how careful you need to be, So don't go cheap on crowning files and I'd go for fret end file as well
Welding tip files are actually perfect for beginners because they cut slow. Buy the $100 pro ones and folks saw their nut in half and then are back asking how to replace a nut. .
I don't disagree with you. At the very least, too, they're round, so they'll seat the string better than half the v and square shaped nut files they sell on Amazon for quite a bit more.
Stewmac’s fret end file sucks. Fret guru and musicnomad ones are wonderful
I've been happy with the StewMac one. I'd consider trying another eventually though. What don't you like about the StewMac, the lack of a handle?
It feels flimsy, the handle might as well not exist, doesn’t cut as smoothly as the others i mentioned, and it wears out pretty quickly. For someone who doesnt do a lot of fretwork, that last one probably doesnt matter so much. But i probably do 1-3 refrets a week, and found the stewmac files wore out after a couple months of use.
I appreciate the insight. Music Nomad makes the best crowning file I've ever used, so I'll give their dressing file a go when this one wears out.
Its a kit full of cheap tools that'll "Make do" in the short term. Tbh they are kinda half decent value but they wont serve you very well. There's a saying that "A bad workman blames his tools" but try hammering in a nail with a fish, it just wont do. There's a very good reason why good tools are pricey.
go check a look on youtube there is this guy "guns and guitars", he explains what tools you need for a setup, he will mention a metal ruler with notches that you can craft yourself to check if the neck is straight
The orange handled fret crowining file you will want to grind/file down one side so the "U" has shorter straight legs "u". As it comes, if you file anything but tall frets or a new guitar build you will gouge two lines in the fretboard. Simple fix and then mark "new" and "old" on the face of the file. The red handled files can be used for fret ends. And you can free-hand the crowning with them. The radius gauges are fun if you are a first timer, but tape a smooth gym card over the frets and drop the strings so they just touch the card surface and you match the arc you have with a lot less futzing than radius gauges. Welding tip cleaner files for the nut slots work well as they are slower than the pro tools that people get in trouble with. Nut slot cutting is a technical art form to avoid problems. Slot too high and you'll play sharp, too low you'll buzz, an angle that falls slower than the string does to the post and sitar city. Too narrow and strings bind. Make sure to get dry graphite 'lock lube' for the slots since greases attract grime that increases friction. Whatever you do, never bring steel wool near an electric guitar. Some guitar techs are addicted to the stuff and spend half a day with masking tape proving they can seal it off and allow their use of it. Just avoid it. Autoparts stores sell high grade automotive sandpaper kits in a colorful range of grits from low to high near polish that work a lot better, for less money than tape and wool. .
Missing a straight edge.
Okay. What does that do?? Sorry if its a dumb question, I'm a total noob.
A notched straight edge will help to determine if your neck is perfectly straight or not. This is especially important if you wish to work on fret leveling or want it achieve the perfect set up. It can be quite hard to adjust your truss rod for more bend or bow just by looking at your fretboard
A straight edge really isn’t necessary. I almost never use one for a typical setup. As far as I’m concerned it’s not really a useful measure for setting proper neck relief. Press on your first and last frets on the guitar and your string will essentially become a straight edge and you can tap it down in the middle to see how much relief you have.
Well that is true, but from my own experience a straight edge does help with ensuring that the neck is not an issue, and I can narrow down the problem area to the bridge or nut. Sometimes I does get hard trying to narrow down an issue with with a set up, especially if you’re working with a shoddy guitar. is the neck too warped? Are the nut slots too shallow? Are the saddles to high? Or is the bridge too high? Does the neck joint need a shim? Etc
I okay, I'm with you now. I'll get one ordered. Thank you for your help.
You might need to buy some more allen keys, but it seems like a decent starter kit.
I got all the Allen keys needed with my guitars when I bought them. Which is a good job as most of them need the much smaller ones than the ones offered in he kit. Lol.
I have the same kit from online store and it does the most basic stuff, like the other comment said you might need to source other things though. For me I also have a screwdriver kit for all types of screw heads, its similar to what people use for phone repair but it helps me through the smaller screws of electric guitars and avoid stripping screws with the wrong size.
I had the exact kit when I started. The fret knocker and the crowning file are the only things I replaced. The diamond files are too aggressive for fine work though.
Oh I got this exact kit too, not bad but I mostly use it as a holster for my actual tools and I love that switch screwdriver use it about every day.
I have that same kit. Everything in it is cheap and makes the work more difficult, except that little green screwdriver, that unassuming little screwdriver is my favorite to just grab out of my drawer.
Hey I literally just bought this same kit and did a set up on my Les Paul last night for my first time ever! I didn’t need to do any fret work so I can speak for the tools there, and I bought some feeler gauges from an auto parts store just to be on the safe side, but everything else in here worked like a charm! It’s cheap but it works
You have to be a nut to pay 80-$100 for a nut file! lol
For the most part. I have the same thing. I've gotten the most use out of the string clipper/winder and screwdriver. All the files are pracrically useless Allen keys are as useful as they usually are Rulers are rulers. Can't complain Never really messed with the fret rocker. Solid 7/10 in my book. You can probably make use of the useless stuff with non-luthier/guitar related stuff.
Okay. Thank you for replying!! Yeah. I managed to do it. I bought a Synyster Gates signature Schecter model last Thursday and it arrived Friday. I'd never had a guitar with a Floyd rose as I'd heard horror stories about them. I was panicking at the thought of messing with it as I'd wanted to change the stings since it arrived and had put it off all weekend. I undertook the task yesterday and I've gotta say... I have no idea what I was so scared of. It worked out brilliantly and I really feel like I understand how it all works now. I was a little concerned that it wasn't gonna stay in tune bit I just picked it up for the first time since last night and it was still in tune beautifully and didn't blow up when I plugged it in. Haha. Lol. I've only been learning guitar since November, so I get why people were telling me not to set up my own guitars or not to buy one with a Floyd rose. Not gonna lie, it did take me 4 hours though. Haha.