Basic Tools Guitar Players Need To Do Set Ups

[@herbotomy6618]

Not much of a commenter, but I gotta take some time out to just say thank you. Your channel always brings education in an easy to understand format. Over the past year I’ve learned so many tips to better my life long passion. Cheers.

[@steventhompson8602]

I know Phil said these videos don’t do as well as his chats, but I must say these are my favorite! I love the instructional video’s. Thank’s man!

[@Kevzilla100]

Trying to become a guitar nerd at 60, I have holes in my knowledge you could drive an Explorer through. But your content really helps! Gonna get a T-shirt as a token of my gratitude.

[@johnl.donofrio2441]

Excellent video. The Peterson strobe is worth every penny. I do understand the expense for a beginner. This is the kind of video that gives beginners the courage to try their own work.

[@monstrok]

Thanks Phil! I wish I had this information when I started playing a few decades ago. Now I work on my own guitars and these suggestions will handle nearly all light maintenance and adjustments!

[@SlowerIsFaster139]

My mom and pop guitar shop went out of business, and guitar center is kind of sketchy lol. Thanks for the video, this is a great place to start

[@ChristopherStandardTime]

i appreciate your consistent willingness to address the basics. too many musicians act as gatekeepers instead of being free with information, and you are refreshingly different, phil. thanks.

[@charlimini849]

You should have 1M subscribers. I did my first fret job with the stewmac fret file watching your videos on my epiphone yellow tv. Now I fell the need to it on the other guitars ! Thanks buddy

[@monco3512]

Thanks Phil, hope this isn't one of those videos KZbin 'punishes' you for. Very useful and much appreciated.

[@GreatWhiteLionSnake]

These cheap tools and tuners can be found on Reverb too. I saw a rocker, gage, and notched straight edge for around $18 total. I bought them and use them. Work great! So cheap

[@BretAmes]

Wow, wish I could say the same. Good on ya mate :)

[@PlayFloyd_IN]

This is probably the best guitar related public service channel. You're the man Phil!

[@Illmyst]

Made my kit from various harbor freight tools. They are more than capable for Instrument repair and maintenance.

[@altbouch]

Over the years I've acquired, what I consider, a lot of guitars. I'm not really a collector. Each one has a purpose and I use them all the time but if you have stuff, you need to take care of it. I already have some of these things but this video will certainly help me fill in the gaps. Thank you for another excellent video.

[@d_charon9704]

I had tools in a tool kit that I didn't know what they were for until I watched this(ESP TOOL). Thanks Phil!

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

This video is gold For string height I'm using feeler gauges but I might convert on the tool you're showing just for time saving sake

[@jamesclerk815]

Just found your channel today and already about 10 videos deep now 😄 Great videos, very helpful and thorough.

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

Good timing on this video. I was just putting together an order for building up a pre-loaded pick guard. I may as well add some tools to the order to save on shipping.

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Glad I could help

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

@@PhillipMcKnight also, great advise on the Weller soldering station. I soldered professionally for over a decade and Weller is my go-to as well

[@billyjoseph]

Great! I appreciate the increased speed of your Vid. Short fast and informative! Keep up ! Sweet!

[@simontemplar3359]

Hey Phil! I just wanted to say thank you so much. I have learned so much about maintaining, modding, and repairing guitars from your channel. I truly can't thank you enough for sharing your incredible depth of knowledge about all things guitar and delivering it in a really effective way. I know that I'm not the only one who is not afraid to work on a guitar now thanks to your channel. And I think that makes us better as players too if we're more in tune (no pun intended) with our guitars. Anyway, much respect and many thanks from Southern New England!

[@277southtombob]

I have a picking friend who had a real strobe tuner, one of the huge Peterson 400s with the big knobs and real wheels. He drove me nuts getting in perfect tune live but it was great for setting intonation

[@garcemac]

That handle with the sockets built in is brilliant.

[@manson9083]

Check, check, and check, got it all Phil. Thank you sir

[@WattchomanBrandySavage]

Thank you so much Phil. I'd love to see a follow up if there are any special tools you use on basses. (if not all mentioned here of course.)

[@johns1159]

Thanks for posting Phil. I have most of these tools, but have shied away from the soldering stuff.

[@PooNinja]

All great choices, again my favorite tools are fingers!

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I got the D'Addario Hurricane Nita kit which has a lot of great tools in it. I would like to get that Music Nomad screwdriver kit, too.

[@michaelrosa2589]

Phil, again thanks for the information. It sure helps to have the proper tools. This video gives me options to check out. You are my go to guy for guitar knowledge. Playing guitar is a adventure and I am glad you are my companion.Happy Trails

[@davidw4664]

Yup youtube I like and comment on video that I appreciate the content of. Thanks Phil!

[@BretAmes]

Thanks Phillip. Great Video as always. I hope you don't mind me saying this........ I want to warn people on here about getting 'cheap' Fret Rockers and cheap notched straight edges. I have 2 Cheap Rockers and a notched.bla bla.... The cheap rockers rocked on lots of frets and frightened the life out of me. Now I use a Crimson Fret Rocker and I Trust it. :) I am going to try and straighten the Notched straight edge with a file or sandpaper. Let's be careful out there people LOLOL

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you posting

[@ThunderFalcon333]

The music nomad esp wrench is awesomely handy

[@phreak1118]

my 6" ruler with 64ths is my best setup friend.

[@phreak1118]

@@Catsincages :-O

[@DavidLee07]

I agree on not regretting buying quality tools. And don't worry about duplicating tools. Having multiple versions of everything is a good thing to have near all the places you might want to work! I have some of the pieces of the Music Nomad kit, but maybe I'll get the whole thing just to have more quick guitar tools close at hand. Look at it this way--tool GAS is way cheaper than guitar GAS, and if your guitars are in good shape you might not need to buy additional guitars (or at least not as many ;-)

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

Tool GAS is definitely a real thing. As a former avionics tech I often need specialized tools. That's why I have socket sets, ratchets and screwdrivers that all together are about equivalent of the price of a master build CS or Murphy lab. That was just the tools. Thank God I didn't have to buy my own electronic test equipment! But you're absolutely right. When you have the right for the job is a lot easier and more enjoyable to do the work. Money spent now saves a ton of time and frustration later!

[@DavidLee07]

@@ImNotOld_ImVintage Totally agree with you!

[@chriscreed6410]

In my view it's way cheaper to buy the quality tools and be able to fix your own guitars. As a purchaser you're always worried about trying to get the perfect guitar of the box. However if you can fix the flaws yourself, not only does it alleviate most of this worry, but you can probably get some pretty killer deals on guitars with minor flaws like fret sprout, etc. And with the prices guitar center charges for setups.... over the length of your playing career it will more than pay for itself. Let alone the fact that they have a pretty poor track record of giving you back a damaged guitar. Lol. If anyone's gonna damage my guitar.... it's gonna be ME ! 🤣

[@SoonAfterOfficial]

Great information, Phil you are the ultimate distiller, you tell us exactly what's what without any over the top "selling" or over-explaining. Phil Nye The Guitar Guy :P

[@MattPula]

Great video as always Phil! For me getting a string action gauge was the biggest game changer for doing my own setups!

[@davesuchy5130]

Excellent video of basic, needed tools!

[@Madchris8828]

That is a Beautiful guitar imo. And I've learned a ton of setup tips from you and Dave's channel.

[@edwinstovall3334]

Hey, Phillip, I wonder if you have interest in doing a how-to on setting up short-scale (22") mini guitars for playing in E-standard tuning. I have a Mitchell that I can't play because the thing is built with parts that are intended for full-sized guitars. (For instance, the strings don't pass over the bridge pickup's pole pieces squarely. I replaced my bridge with a TOM-like unit that features saddles that can be moved and removed, and thereby allow the strings to be respaced with no trouble.) The nut is a trifle wide for the neck and the string slots are cut for 9s and 10s. At this short scale length, 9s and 10s will NOT stay in tune! I think 12s might be needed here ... but they won't fit in the relatively tiny slots. Also, could there possibly be notched straightedges for these scale lengths? Thanks!😎❤️️🎸‼️

[@edwinstovall3334]

@Question Everything Thank you! You are very kind to offer me all this help. I think I should mention that I solved the string spacing problem with a bridge from Guitar Fetish. It's a brass affair that has moving saddles. I was going for sustain, but found it easy enough to reposition the misaligned strings. The string nut I'll have to look into; thanks again for the ideas you've given me.

[@zaz4667]

Tuner-got it! Tools got it! Fret rocker - got it! String winder - got it! Measuring rule to check string - got it! Straight edge - got it! Fret files/tools - got it! Multimeter and Soldering iron- got it! Millions of guitar parts - got it! Not enough time - absolutely not enough!

[@tinkerbell4896]

I have the StewMac 6" fret leveling file also, I love that tool. Rock On!

[@avisingolda]

I love what are you doing every video thank you very much

[@joesatchton212]

Nice one, Phil! I would only add: - .0000 steel wool for some quick yet effective fret polishing; - a required partner for .0000 steel wool would be painter's tape or plain old masking tape; - finally, for Floyd style and floating bridges, a TREMOLOK. Priceless and required tool for simple Floyd/floating bridge adjustments and string changes. I still use my original Tremolok that is over 20+ years old. Cheers!

[@joesatchton212]

@Question Everything That's why PAINTERS TAPE and/MASKING tape, fully protecting the PUPs.... Lots of opinions on this. Yours is the first in 20+ years I have ever heard so against .0000 Steel wool when applied properly. Cheers and thanks for the feedback but i will continue to do what has worked for me for more than 2 decades on my own guitars, with zero issues. :) We respectfully agree to disagree. Nearly every tech on NYC's original musicians row did/does use 0000 steel wool BUT YOU'RE RIGHT - VERY CAREFULLY. good enough for me :)

[@trevorgwelch7412]

My Clapton Strat has too much tension on the strings , causing sore fingers . What adjustments can I make to fix this . ? 🎸☮️ Thanks .

[@elenbrandt290]

What a rockin' and useful video - Thanks Phil!

[@glennsophie3235]

Wish I had known about the music nomad kit. I've got the same tools now but they are all over the place. Takes longer to find than to use.

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

Excellent video! The Nomad tool for tightening nuts underneath the knobs = #lifehack

[@oldguy5381]

Good information Phil, always a pleasure

[@GabiOprea]

Hello Phil! Great video!

[@PhillipMcKnight]

Thank you

[@andy_182]

Awesome video Phil! Really appreciate your guidance

[@mitchmatthews6713]

One "tool" that you didn't mention but was obvious in the video is the neck rest.

[@Danger0use]

This had to be made. Thanks phil!

[@adamjolin]

Thanks Phil, as always!

[@maeyer]

I have some questions about mold. How do I clean it off pick up wrap? Can I replace the pick up wrap/ribbon? Do opt for a pick up replacement? It is a humbucker pick up.

[@gredmer]

Very informative video. Thanks Phil.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Wassup Phil!!!

[@patlindgren8996]

As usual very informative, 😊

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Great video very informative help me do a great set up on my latest and greatest guitar thank you!

[@enriquearguelles1534]

Info is straight to the point and super helpful. I am thankful. Ive been playing for years and have a few tools but i just got a cheap guiar for my niece and noticed it needed more love than usual 😂 thank you

[@rain3430]

This video is very helpful and interesting. Super 👍

[@wagzzzz]

Actually just started doing my own setups. Just basic truss,action, intonation and fret polish. That’s where it ends though. Fret work and wiring is for the pros!!

[@chriscreed6410]

Wiring is super basic. You can handle it bro. This is coming from an electrician.. So maybe I'm a bit bias... lol. But I could teach a kid to do it. There's really nothing you can break by messing up either. Meaning if you wire everything totally wrong the pickups will still be fine.

[@wagzzzz]

@@chriscreed6410 thanks Chris. This is coming from someone that wouldn’t turn a truss rod a few years ago. So never say never. Might just get that soldering iron yet!

[@lruddy8820]

whats the best way to clean and maintain your crowning file and dressing file after and during use

[@chriscreed6410]

Hey Phil, Could you post the link for the guy that was making the Fret Rockers? I remember you did a shout out for him during a live once and gave away a few. I like to support mom n pop when possible. Thanks for the Video! This is EXACTLY the video I needed just now. Edit: And Thanks for the info on the beam. Didn't realise you needed to buy Rolls of sandpaper. Saved me learning the hard way. 🤣👍

[@andylivingston5486]

Hey I was looking into a epiphone les Paul modern in Caribbean blue fade. Looking around I see a lot of negatives about epiphone QC. Do you have an opinion on this? I know you like Sweetwater so do they catch nit picky stuff as I have ran across such as the frets are gritty , set up is not right things like that. Thanks for your time I enjoy your KZbin channel thanks for your videos

[@hawkhead418]

Hey didn’t see that AZ in the collection video!

[@CreativeMaintenanceSolutions]

I have a brand new schecter evil twin, paid over 1600$ with the case. I want to drop tune it to C and I changed the strings, but now I need it setup. How would I avoid paying the 100$ or so to get it professionally done. What are the steps to making this awesome guitar play and feel amazing in this lower tuning with bigger gauge strings.

[@JohnnyGuitaristOfficial]

Hey Phil, 👋🏻 sweet tips and tricks! Love your guitar garage... Idk if it's a garage but you know what i mean lol *what do you think about some tools from harbor freight for guitar teching?*

[@nickzemartis9935]

Try to Orangewood Pomona live 1st artist series from Orangewood spruce top, Rosewood sides and back mahogany neck and it looks like the hummingbird or dove

[@davemclaughlin2305]

"I think even if you don't measure or work on things, people understand half" This is the beauty of SI.

[@nickzemartis9935]

POMONA LIVE ORANGE WOOD GUITARS I’m gonna try to have them send you one to review. It’s an acoustic laughing out loud.

[@DavidHBurkart]

Thanks Phil!

[@SuperBagMan217]

Hi Phillip! Love the channel and the wealth of knowledge you have! I am in the Phoenix area and have a guitar I’d love to get refinished. Is there somewhere locally you’d recommend as a quality shop to get this kind of work done? Thanks for your time!

[@grantgames4637]

What’s your reasoning for using metric vs imperial on the stewmac measurement tool? Is one faster or better? I have an American fender strat

[@steinhalvorsen_]

Yayy! Here's a comment to let YT know we like this video.

[@justthomas3565]

Great video as always now how about one that shows us how to use them thanks

[@bobbyu878]

Anyone know where I can buy a good fret crowning file without spending the $90 for the Stew Mac (Z-file)?

[@chriscreed6410]

I was looking at this aswell. Hoping you get a good answer, but honestly I think it's one of those "Bite the Bullet and Have it For Life " situations.

[@TheMetaldudeX]

Hey Phil! Have you tried the fret guru file?

[@jetblack7044]

great job man

[@SmittysShop]

Great info! Thank you!

[@denny.h776]

anyway you'll give that AZ away to me heheheh? or at least the neck or middle pickup super hard to come across the hyperion single coils. I love the AZ sound, really wish they would sell the pickups separately

[@Rockies007]

Great advice!

[@sometimesdimneverthin]

Is there any point in measuring things if you are only ever going to set-up your own guitar? I tried using documented settings but changed to whatever felt right for me and ignored the numbers.

[@davehallock3656]

damn, Phil, what about the stand you lay your neck on?

[@BV_Beve]

Salut Phil !!!

[@donciseau]

Very educational!

[@ytrgh4157]

One should mention that the Ibanez multitool is only metric. If you have an US made guitar you should probably get the Gibson one, which has imperial and metric tools. (Don't know about the Dunlop)

[@thehowlingjoker]

Where can I get a Phillip for my setups?

[@bigwavedave8492]

Thanks Phil

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

I would defo advise a decent fret rocker too, need those edges to be properly straight or you might end up creating a problem where there wasn't one. I find tuners, switches and pots are all metric as standard too, just sayin lol

[@lruddy8820]

id say fret rocker is the least important, as long as you have a ruler to double check your straight edge (which you should do periodicly to a fret rocker anyway) then any straight edge works

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

I'm not on about the importance in regards to a tool set but if you're going to get one buy a decent quality one, that's what I was saying.

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

@Question Everything I wasn't suggesting you have to spend stupid money on one. Most expensive decent one I know of costs about £15 UK from crimson but it's coated and all sorts. Mine cost about £5 from chicken bone John though and it's perfect. The first couple I bought off ebay and both were bent lol.

[@marco_82]

Can you make a review for the Dean Zelinsky LaVoce? Please, and thanks for all your videos!

[@jray5363]

They do make some sharp looking guitars! A review of any of the Zelinski models would be cool.

[@terrybear8712]

Cool video.

[@armax00]

We have the same soldering station! Is great, isn't it?! :)

[@weshinds9884]

Should the action be the same height across all 6 strings? I have some guitars where the action is lower on the high E string than it is on the low E string.

[@chriscreed6410]

No it shouldn't. If you get one of those action gauges it has a chart on it that shows you where to set the High E and Low E. Then you follow that across the 12th fret. The Music Nomad one is fairly cheap and it's black with white lines so it's very easy to see.

[@weshinds9884]

@@chriscreed6410 Thank you for the response. I have been playing for about 20 years off and on and have always just adjusted it to feel. I recently bought a guitar from evertune and the way they have the action set, the high E string is lower than I normally have it. It makes it feel weird when alternate picking.

[@normanmastrian]

Nice video

[@MrRafaztar]

I’m here to help the algorithm

[@theeugenicsprofessor9212]

What model guitar is that in the video?

[@allendean9807]

Strobe tuners make me cross-eyed! Hahahahahah

[@joshwairau183]

Awesome mate

[@benjaminnielsen4288]

So I'm going to assume that the guys who gave this video thumbs down are just crabby ass guitar techs who don't like customers working on their own guitars. hahahah. Another great tutorial. Thanks Phil. I'm gonna start getting these tools soon!

[@toemasmeems]

THANKS PHIL

[@semiografo]

If I buy everything I need on Stewmac, I'll end up needing to become a guitar tech to cover all costs. $100 should be enough for all the non-electronic stuff, from setting up action, truss rod and fret work. However, just the levelling fretbar kit hits the $100 mark.

[@lruddy8820]

you can buy packs of various grits of sand paper cut it to the size you need and attach it to scrap wood or anything else youd find useful to do fret levelling, crowning and dressing work for a lot cheaper then any one individual file

[@alexanderroesch2287]

Critical Tip: IMHO, when investing in soldering gear, a proper soldering sation (such as the Weller brand) is an ABSOLUTE MUST. The simple, generic, soldering irons are too weak and very slow to heat up.