Where can I get a string height ruler and feeler gauges locally?

Muhammad

Hey guys,

I need to do some adjustments to my strat (I'm feeling the action is too high)
Usually I just thumb-suck it till its nice and low with no fret buzz but I'm thinking I'd like to write down my setup so I can replicate it every time.

Does anyone know where I can find those string height rulers like you get from stewmac? And some feeler gauges too.

I check online at stewmac - the basic setup kit is over a thousand bucks!!
Want to see if I can find a cheaper local equivalent before I order..

Thanks in advance

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Measuring/String_Action_Gauge.html

peterleroux

I don't know about the ruler but you'll find feeler gauges at Midas- you use the. For setting gaps and adjusting spacing for sparkplugs and a few other things

Attila

Edit: Warning Many Typos on this one rather use the one in the thread below

If you want a quick and easy method I updated a string height gauge that you can download and print out on stiff paper cut out and its ready to use.

Dont use this one.... its not to scale ....only for illustration purposes

Download the PDF version from here....

~~https://www.dropbox.com/s/8nnbpqjgt3h9i8/guitar-action-gauge-ruler.pdf?dl=0~~

To download the vector format version ...

~~https://www.dropbox.com/s/mqtdxez7x49tdk/guitar-action-gauge-ruler.svg?dl=0~~

You can take the Pdf version to someone that uses a laser and they can cut out and mark on perspec or aluminum for a more permanent job.

I will see about converting this to to metric when I have time

Muhammad

Awesome stuff!! ? ?

Thanks so much guys

@Atilla - did you make the ruler yourself? That a genius idea!

Attila

I wish, ? I found it on the net and added the sting height text. But now that I have it in vector format I can mod as necessary.

Enjoy

@ Mod's maybe we can add this link to one of the resources list ?

Muhammad

Attila Barath wrote: I wish, ? I found it on the net and added the sting height text. But now that I have it in vector format I can mod as necessary.

Enjoy

@ Mod's maybe we can add this link to one of the resources list ?

Norman86

Top man Atilla ?

V8

Attila Barath wrote: I wish, ? I found it on the net and added the sting height text. But now that I have it in vector format I can mod as necessary.

Enjoy

Attila, you are DA MAN! In vector format nogal...perfect!

I have a friendly laser cutting fellow local, so I'll get it cut super neat.

Thanks & thanked!

Attila

I have partially changed the Gauge to mm. and changed the height indicators from a line to a bar let me know what suits best, I personally think the bar in more visible

PDF Format;

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4nac5g4a0quweph/guitar-action-gauge-ruler%20mm.pdf?dl=0
The pdf format just looks big when you open it but will print out to the right size

Vector format;

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gtsybxval75s93m/guitar-action-gauge-ruler%20mm.svg?dl=0

Edit: All sorted out

If someone is going to run a few copies on a laser let us know what the cost are maybe worth while doing a group deal,

The old imperial version

V8

Attila Barath wrote: I have partially changed the Gauge to mm. and changed the height indicators from a line to a bar let me know what suits best, I personally think the bar in more visible

If someone is going to run a few copies on a laser let us know what the cost are maybe woth while doing a group deal,

Verrryyy nice, +1 for metric & imperial measurements on one gauge. I also prefer the bar, reckon it should make it easier to eyeball against the string.

I'm seeing the laser fellow on Tuesday, if he can use the svg as is, it should be very reasonable $ to cut (the base rate for cutting is R4/min). Now, wondering what material to use. Ideally the markings would be burnt in - we did some 3 ply pickguard (white/black/white) material last week that he burnt a goldish/brown font into - that was cool, but we used it all up. I've some white 3mm perspex left over to experiment with. Can also do wood and metal, so there's options.

Attila

Thanks V8

I've seen them do a paint fill, similar to the markings on rulers and gauges.

Please download the most recent files, I fixed some typos and will not change again under the above naming convention.

Most guys can import from the pdf but let me know and will convert accordingly

beardedmoose

The Feeler gauge you can get at any motor car spares place, Stewmac for the height ruler. But best is if you dont have those tools. relief your string tension, make sure your neck is straight, then lower your bridge or your saddles to it's lowest. and then start raising it to where you get no dead notes and minimum string buzz. and where it's comfortable for you to play. very important, it might feel comfortable from the 5th fret down but it might be a little high at the nut... then you can remove the nut and work it down from the bottom , do not file the grooves if you do not have the right tools or experience. when finished with the nut you might have to raise the strings at the bridge a little. if its now to high at the bottom you can try installing a shim under your neck. theres alot of different factors, if you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself... rather get a pro to do it.

Gearhead

peterleroux wrote: I don't know about the ruler but you'll find feeler gauges at Midas- you use the. For setting gaps and adjusting spacing for sparkplugs and a few other things

The downside to using feeler gauges for guitar work is that it is very hard to work on strings 2-5 while the others are sitting next to it. When there are less than 6 strings, the results are meaningless since neck tension is not the way it will be at concert pitch. I have also always found that it is very difficult to 'feel' if you are touching a string or not. these gauges are designed for feeling gaps between solid objects like valve rockers and stems.

beardedmoose wrote: relief your string tension, make sure your neck is straight, then lower your bridge or your saddles to it's lowest. and then start raising it to where you get no dead notes and minimum string buzz.

This might be good advice if the guitar were a one string instrument. The downside to the raise-until-it-works method is that it will only yield string height at a playable even height if the guitar was set up fantastically to begin with. If the truss, fret dressing, the fret heights etc are not ridiculously correct, you will get the strings to sit up at different heights instead of forming an arc that you can find blindly while playing.

beardedmoose

beardedmoose wrote: relief your string tension, make sure your neck is straight, then lower your bridge or your saddles to it's lowest. and then start raising it to where you get no dead notes and minimum string buzz.

ruan01

Guys i read somewhere that some of you were making the height ruler. Can any of you enlighten me if any of you still do. Would be great especially in Johannesburg area

ruan01

I have also tried clicking on all the links and it reports a error.

Attila

Hi Ruan

I dont know what happened to the old link

try this one

www.dropbox.com/s/uwop7mo84rj6c29/guitar-action-gauge-%20ruler%20mm-%20final.pdf?dl=0

if you still have a problem email me and I will send ...

I printed it on to something like a firm matt business card paper then used broad sellotape to laminate and trimmed back to the gauge edges .... matt because you don't want something that does not reflect light