Guitar Setup Tools Guide [Recommendations for 2020]

A comprehensive guide to guitar setup tools you must have! Everything you need to start doing your own pro guitar setups to keep your instrument playing awesome!

What Tools Do I Need to Setup a Guitar?

Over time, the same question keeps getting asked by clients hovering over my workbench, “What tools do you use?” and “What tools do I need to do this myself?” among many others of course.

In putting the list together, my approach was this: if I had to start from scratch, what would be the essential must-have tools to get the job done?…

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

List of Essential Guitar Setup Tools:

1. Guitar Tuner
2. Guitar Capo
3. String Winder
4. Small Straight Edge
5. Guitar Neck Support
6. Guitar Body Mat
7. Super Fine Sandpaper
8. Needle Nose Pliers
9. Side Cutters
10. Nut File Set
11. 1/8″ Flat Head Screwdriver
12. 3/16″ Flat Head Screwdriver
13. 5/16″ Flat Head Screwdriver
14. #1 Phillips Screwdriver
15. #3 Phillips Screwdriver
16. 5/16″ Nut Driver
17. Allen Wrench Set
18. Guitar Radius Gauges
19. Small Adjustable Wrench
20. Utility Hand File
21. Soldering Iron & Solder
22. Fretboard Conditioner
23. Guitar Polish
24. Cleaning Cloths

Tool Quality and Working Environment

To do good work, you’ll need to set the stage properly. Here are the basic elements to get you started:

1. A good set of recommended tools that fit your budget
2. A guide on how to set up a guitar
3. A clean uncluttered workspace
4. A bit of time and patience

The quality of the tools will affect the quality of your work, and time spent on the task. Though there is something to be said for being frugal, there is no substitute for using the right tool for the given job.

As much as we’d like to think an economy tool will suffice – and in certain instances it will if it’s only used once in a blue moon – any tool you count on do finesse an end result must be up to snuff. And you need to know how to use it, especially if you’re charging for your work!

While some of the products presented on this page may look similar, there is a HUGE difference in the quality of their manufacture. It’s like watches – do you want a Casio or a Rolex?

That being said, some setup tools listed are a fine choice in their economy versions, the more expensive versions being the result of targeted marketing and good branding. Ultimately the choice is yours.

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Guitar Setup Tools in Detail:

Tool	Premium Product	Economy Product
1. A Guitar Tuner A guitar tuner is a must have tool. Handy for everyday use and absolutely necessary for calibrating exact intonation on guitar or bass. if you’re using it strictly for intonation purposes, spend the money on a good one – it’s well worth it.	Peterson StroboPlus HD Desktop Strobe Tuner | Guitar, Bass, Violin, Ukulele, Harp, Brass, Woodwind, Orchestral, Pedal and Steel Guitar | Tuner Choice of Luthiers, Technicians, Builders, Manufacturers Check Availability!	KLIQ UberTuner - Clip-On Tuner for All Instruments - with Guitar, Bass, Violin, Ukulele & Chromatic Tuning Modes Check Availability!
2. A Guitar Capo A guitar capo used intelligently for setups is like having a third hand. It can be used mid way up the neck while you thread the string post on Bigsby fitted instruments, or at the nut to keep loose strings organized.	Kyser Quick-Change Capo for 6-string acoustic guitars - Black Check Availability!	Guitar Picks Guitar Capo Acoustic Guitar Accessories Trigger Capo Key Clamp Black With 6 Pcs Guitar Picks Check Availability!
3. A String Winder For an inexpensive item, a string winder magnificent at saving your wrist and your valuable time. Tip: on cheaper models, put a metal washer between the key holder and handle, and use a wood screw to hold it all together. It’ll last for decades!	Ernie Ball Power Peg Pro, Battery Powered Peg Winder Check Availability!	D’Addario Accessories Pro-Winder Guitar String Winder and Cutter – All-In-1 Restringing Tool – Includes Clippers, Bridge Pin Puller, Peg Winder – Designed to Fit Most Guitars Check Availability!
4. A Small Straight Edge A small straight edge is great for checking short sections of neck straightness, plus finding problematic frets that may be too high or low. What your eyes miss, this tool will see no problem.		Timiy Silver Stainless Steel Fret Rocker Leveling Tool Guitar Ruler for Guitars Electric Bass Check Availability!
5. Guitar 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 such. Make sure the material in the cradle that rests directly against the neck is clean at all times.	Dunlop NC65 Formula 65 Neck Cradle Maintenance Station Check Availability!	Planet Waves Guitar Headstand Check Availability!
6. Guitar Body Mat A good guitar mat keeps the guitar body protected from an underlying hard surfaces and from getting scratched by debris. Fibrous materials will get contaminated with sharp edges and eventually cause problems. Therefor it’s extremely important they be made of material that releases dirt and cast-off junk easily.	On Sale! Music Nomad MN207 Premium Instrument Work Mat and Cradle Cube Neck Support Check Availability!	OP/TECH USA Work Mat - Large Check Availability!
7. Super Fine Sandpaper For all kinds of guitar-suited purposes, super fine sandpaper is great for polishing frets and other metal guitar parts to a new shine. Used in the proper grade sequence and with proper technique, it’s great for minor finish touch-ups.	Micro-Mesh 3 x 4 Soft Touch Pads Check Availability!	Bluecell Pack of 12 Sandpaper abrasive dry/wet paper Sheets 400/600/800/1000/1200/1500 Grit 9" x 3.6" hobby tool Check Availability!
8. Needle Nose Pliers Again, one of those must-have tools for wrangling small parts and getting into tight spaces where your fat fingers can’t. Needle nose pliers are a great tool for all sorts of fine guitar setup tasks.	Channellock E326 6-Inch Long Nose Plier, E Series, XLT Check Availability!	Stanley 84-096 5-Inch Needle Nose Plier Check Availability!
9. Side Cutters From chopping off fresh string ends to dispatching any kind of continuous wire that needs to be removed, side cutters are a super handy tool for general use around the guitar. A much better alternative to the kitchen scissors!	IRWIN VISE-GRIP Diagonal Cutting Pliers, 8-Inch (2078308) Check Availability!	Micro Cutter Check Availability!
10. A Nut File Set A must-have set of small files for finessing guitar nuts and saddles. Better tools = better results. A single file designed to cut one gauge only is worth its weight in gold. Tip: new nut files can have a lot of “bite” which can lead to chipping or binding with harder materials.	On Sale! Grizzly T25450 Nut Files, Set of 3 Check Availability!	TEKTON 6655 Needle File Set, 10-Piece Check Availability!
11. A 1/8″ Flat Head Screwdriver A 1/8″ flathead screwdriver is particularly useful on vintage instruments and reissues with fine slot screws. It also comes in handy when small phillips screws are degraded, the right angle edges of the blade provide a good bite when extracting worn out screws.	Insulated 1/8-Inch Slotted Screwdriver, 4-Inch Klein Tools 612-4-INS Check Availability!	Klein Tools 614-4 Flat Screwdriver, Precision Electronics Screwdriver, 1/8-Inch Cabinet Tip, 4-Inch Shank Check Availability!
12. A 3/16″ Flat Head Screwdriver The 3/16″ flat head screwdriver is great for general use around the guitar, especially tuner button screws, pickup pole pieces and tune-o-matic bridge intonation adjustment screws. As a rule, any screwdriver with a proper temper will work way better than it’s less expensive alternative.	Klein Tools 601-8 3/16-Inch Cabinet Tip Screwdriver, 8-Inch Check Availability!	Stanley 60-003 Standard Fluted Cabinet Slotted Tip Screwdriver,3/16 Inch X 3 Inch Check Availability!
13. A 5/16″ Flat Head Screwdriver For stop tailpiece screws and other large slot head screws that need adjustment around the guitar, the 5/16″ size flat head screwdriver is a the tool for job. Tip: it also makes a convenient lever for raising Les Paul bridges when the thumbwheels are sticky – make sure you use appropriate cautions against scratching!	On Sale! 5/16-Inch Keystone Screwdriver 6-Inch Square Shank Klein Tools 600-6 Check Availability!	TOOLBASIX TB-SD05 Slotted Screwdriver, 5/16-Inch x 1-1/2-Inch Check Availability!
14. A #1 Phillips Screwdriver The #1 Phillips screwdriver is ideal for dealing with fine Phillips head screws commonly found around truss rod covers, pickup surrounds, pickup height screws, control plates, pickguard screws etc.	RoadPro RPS1010#1 x 3 Phillips Magnetic Tip Screwdriver Check Availability!	Klein Tools 603-3 #1 Phillips Head Screwdriver with 3-Inch Round Shank and Cushion Grip Handle Check Availability!
15. A #3 Phillips Screwdriver The #3 Phillips screwdriver is absolutely necessary for things like large neckplate screws and other beefy torque-able items like strap button screws.	On Sale! Klein Tools 603-6 #3 Phillips Screwdriver with 6-Inch Round Shank and Cushion Grip Handle Check Availability!	TEKTON #3 Phillips High-Torque Screwdriver | 26683 Check Availability!
16. A 5/16″ Nut Driver A 5/16″ nut driver is a must-have for adjusting Gibson style truss rod nuts. Deep sockets can work, but they can also be oversized as they often bind against the narrowly milled pockets of some brands.	On Sale! Klein Tools 646-5/16M 5/16-Inch Hex Magnetic Tip Nut Driver with 6-Inch Hollow Shank Check Availability!	Nut Driver, 5/16" Tip Nut Driver with 3" Hollow Shaft, Cushion Grip Handle Klein Tools 630-5/16 Check Availability!
17. An Allen Wrench Set: A typical guitar friendly set of Allen keys will include 1.5mm, 3mm, 4mm 5mm, .050″, 1/8″, 3/16″,1/4″ and will satisfy the vast majority your guitar setup and adjustment needs.	Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench Double Pack, 10999 (1.5-10mm) and 10937 (0.050-3/8-Inch) Check Availability!	Stanley 85-753 22 Piece Long Arm SAE & Metric Hex Key Set Check Availability!
18. Guitar Radius Gauges A set of radius gauges is essential in fine tuning your guitar’s action. Matching your string radius to the fretboard helps create the perfect balance of playability.	StewMac Understring Radius Gauge Tool, Set of 9, Standard Width for Guitar Setup, Stainless Steel Check Availability!	On Sale! BIGTEDDY - Set of 9 Understring Radius Gauge for Guitar and Bass Setup Luthier Tools for Bridge Saddle Adjustments Check Availability!
19. A Small Adjustable Wrench As it replaces a host of individual wrench sizes, a small adjustable wrench is ideal for tightening metal nuts such as the input jack or threaded tuner bushings – regardless of imperial or metric sizing.	On Sale! Stanley 90-947 6-Inch MaxSteel Adjustable Wrench Check Availability!	TOOGOO(R) 4 Inch Professional Adjustable Wrench Spanner Hand Tool Check Availability!
20. A Utility Hand File From squaring up nut surfaces and saddle bottoms, to smoothing out sharp fret ends, a simple utility hand file with the right cut will accomplish a host of necessary jobs by milling down parts of all kinds around the guitar.	Crescent Nicholson 03533N 6" Flat Double/Single Cut Smooth File - Boxed Check Availability!	On Sale! Stanley 21-106 8-Inch Mill Bastard File Check Availability!
21. Soldering Iron & Solder If you’re working on electric guitars of any kind, a good soldering iron is an absolute necessity for repairing guitar electronics. Be sure to use the highest quality solder, avoid cold solder joints, and of course refrain from using marettes in guitar wiring – strictly for home improvement please!	On Sale! Weller WLC100 40-Watt Soldering Station Check Availability!	Vastar Soldering Iron Kit, Full Set 60W 110V Soldering Welding Iron Kit - Adjustable Temperature, 5pcs Different Tips, Desoldering Pump, Stand, Anti-static Tweezers and Additional Solder Tube Check Availability!
22. Fretboard Conditioner A good quality fretboard-friendly fretboard conditioning oil will go a long way in keeping your instrument’s playing surface in good nick. A fretboard conditioner will help replenish open-pored woods natural resiliency, especially after cleaning. Plus northern climate conditions can tend to dry them out over time.	Music Nomad MN105 F-ONE Fretboard Oil Cleaner and Conditioner Check Availability!	Jim Dunlop 6554 Dunlop Ultimate Lemon Oil, 4 oz. Check Availability!
23. Guitar Polish You’ve done a lot of work achieving a great guitar setup. Considering you just had your dirty fingers all over the most intimate parts of the guitar, let’s make it look new with a good guitar polish – clean it up!	Music Nomad MN103 Guitar ONE All-in-1 Cleaner, Polish, and Wax, 4 oz. Check Availability!	On Sale! Dunlop 654 Formula 65 Guitar Polish & Cleaner 4oz. Check Availability!
24. Cleaning Cloths Hey, if it is dirty, you need something to pick up the gunk. There are two schools of thought here: use a fine microfibre cloth to remove the surface debris, or use paper towels. My personal preference is a premium quality paper towel – toss the dirt, and the potential scratchy buildup at the same time – forever.	Zwipes Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (24-Pack) - 924 Check Availability!	Bounty Paper Towels, Print, 6 Big Rolls = 8 Regular Rolls, Prime Pantry Check Availability!

The tools selection criteria was as follows:

• Only the best tools for each category were considered
• Every item selected had to have a minimum 4 star rating
• Every item had to have at least 1 review
• All-in-one type tools were avoided to maintain job specificity
• Only top rated reviews were considered to ensure product quality standards
• Sale prices were avoided as much as possible to maintain constant pricing over time