Tools

String Spacing Ruler - Steel, for marking string locations
Get accurate string spacing without the use of complicated tools with this easy-to-use String Spacing Ruler. "Mark outer string locations with pencil lines (high and low E strings on guitars), usually about 1/8" in from fingerboard edges. Turn ruler over (use marked side). With wide spacing toward bass side, narrow spacing toward treble side, find group of marks (six for guitar) which best fit your two pencil lines. Use a razor knife or thin mechanical pencil to mark the string positions through the ruler's slots.
$19.95
Fingerboard Guards - 2 Sizes, for protecting frets
Designed to protect the fingerboard when doing work on your frets. These shields are indispensable when doing any sort of fret work. Being only .010” thick they can bend to accommodate and fingerboard radius. Made of 304 spring stainless steel.
Comes with 2 sizes: 3-1/8" x 7/8" x .010" - 1/4 inch protection on either side of the fret, 3-1/8"" x 0.59" x .010"" - 3/8 inch protection on either side of the fret
$4.30
package of 2
Fret Press Inserts - for Pressing Frets, Multiple Radiuses
Fret press inserts. 2.5” width brass inserts fit the S-T259-A and S-T260 fret press cauls. Used to press frets into guitar fret boards as an alternative to hammering.
$6.99
Fret Rocker - for Identifying Uneven Frets
Fret rocker luthier tool. Four precision ground flat edges having lengths: 4.0”, 3.0”, 2.0” and 1.3”. Perfect for finding the source of fret buzz. Place the flat edge over three frets at a time and try to rock the tool. If the tool rocks, you’ve located the uneven fret.
$8.80
Adhesive - Bob Smith Industries, Insta-Cure Super Thin
Bob Smith Industries™ Insta-Cure™ Super Thin Cyanoacrylate. A must have for luthiers! Insta-Cure™ has a water-thin viscosity that wicks deep into joints by capillary action and cures in a matter of a few seconds (1-3 sec.). Surfaces to be bonded must be tight fitting (no visible gaps) and should be held together or clamped while you apply the CA around the edges of the seam. For glue applications with small gaps or looser fitting joints the higher viscosity Insta-Cure+™ is recommended.
  • Water-thin consistency
  • 1-3 second cure time
  • For tight fitting applications
  • Available in 1oz. and 2oz. sizes

WARNING: These products are eye and respiratory irritants. Product can bond skin instantly. Keep away from children!
Starting at $6.50
Adhesive Applicator - Bob Smith Industries, 6” long, Non-clog
Non-clog 6" long pipette for CA glue application. The regular tip is recommended for gap filling and extra-thick CA. CA is sucked up into the applicator by inserting it into an open CA bottle with the bulb at the end compressed, like an eyedropper The fine tip is recommended for the application of thin CAs. It can also be used for the fine application of Insta-Set accelerator and for applying fine lubricating oils. CA can be kept in the applicator for two weeks.
$1.25
Adhesive - Bob Smith Industries, Insta-Cure Gap Filling
Bob Smith Industries™ Insta-Cure+™ Medium Gap Filling Cyanoacrylate. A must have for luthiers! Insta-Cure+™ is a higher viscosity CA for loose fitting joints in which the adhesive must bridge gaps or the parts to be glued don’t fit perfectly. Medium viscosity super glue is the most common glue used in many luthiery applications due to it’s cure time and viscosity. Recommended for binding repair and small poly finish touch ups. Normally, the thicker CA is applied to one surface and then the parts are held tightly together for about 5 to 15 seconds. For large surface areas, including those with close fitting joints such as laminations, INSTA-CURE+ ™ should also be used. To prevent premature curing, don’t spread the glue into a thin film. Lay down a serpentine bead with about 1" separations on one surface, then assemble the parts, letting the pressure spread the CA out. To speed up curing time use the Insta-Set accelerator!
Starting at $6.50
Fret Puller - Narrow Jaws, for removing frets
A specialized tool for cleanly pulling out frets. The narrow jaws are designed specifically to allow for a clean grip on frets. The special flush ground 1/2" jaws can easily bite the frets without damaging the fretboard.
$7.95
Truss Rod Wrench - Phillips Head / Cross Head
High quality Phillips head truss rod wrench. This Japanese made wrench is the perfect tool for cross slotted truss rod nuts found on many Fender® necks. The compact 9mm diameter head has a thin 11mm width allowing for adjustments without removing the neck
$10.16
Adhesive Replacement Top - Bob Smith Industries
Replacement top that is on all of BSI's non-Pocket CAs. Perfect for replacing damaged tops on any of the CA glues. These tops can be soaked in acetone overnight to remove any buildup of CA on the inside and outside of the nozzle. Compatible with S-F500,S-F501, S-F502, S-F503, S-F504, S-F505, S-F550, S-F551, and S-F540.
$1.25
Adhesive Extender Tip - Bob Smith Industries, for Glue
Bob Smith Industries ™ Extender Tip for CA glues. This extender tip can be used with all viscosities (Thin,Medium,Extra Thick) of cyanoacrylate that we offer from Bob Smith Industries™ and is compatible with both available sizes (1oz and 2oz) Extender tips can help you reach difficult spaces and control the flow of glue for more precise application.
  • Helps focus glue stream
  • Works with all three CA glue viscosities
  • Package of 6
$3.55
package of 6
Wrench - Steel, Multi-Spanner, for guitar components
A small, easily-portable tool designed for quick adjustments of various instrument parts (including nuts and thumb wheels), from potentiometers and pickup switches to tuning machines. One end is designed for loosening, the other is designed for tightening. The device has been chamfered and polished to avoid damage to your instrument when used.
$9.05
Nut Slotting Gauge - Digital, luthier tool
Digital Nut Slotting Gauge. Accurately measure the guitar string height over the first fret with the digital version of this handy luthier’s tool. Display measurements in inches or mm with an accuracy of 0.0005” (0.01 mm).
$66.95
Fret Hammer - Twin Heads, for delicate work
Precision luthier hammer with wooden handle. Dual sided head has a steel end and a plastic end to allow for delicate work. Can be used for applications such as ensuring a proper fret fitting.
Starting at $19.50
Nut File - Edge-Cut, for slotting guitar nuts
Edge cut nut files in popular gauges specially designed for slotting nuts. These files cut a smooth, round bottom slot. Also great for slotting tune-o-matic bridge saddles! Always try and use a file gauge that’s not more than a couple thousandths larger than the gauge of string you are using. Smaller files can be used to create wider slots by using a side-to-side movement while cutting.
  • 4.5” cutting edge
  • Double sided (both sides are the same gauge)
  • 10 gauges available
  • Sold individually*
  • Made In Japan

*See S-T213-SET for a set of all 10 sizes.
$11.95
Feeler Gauge - 20 Sizes, for measuring gaps / clearance
This precise set of 20 feeler gauges in the luthier's workshop can perform a wide variety of functions to measuring with string action to measuring the correct nut slot depths, fret slot width, string to fret clearances, and other hardware installation work, these ground steel feeler gauges are marked in both metric and imperial measurements for easy use.
$8.30
package of 20
Nut Files - Double Edge, for guitars, 3 sizes
Double edge nut files featuring popular guitar gauges specially designed for slotting nuts. Each set of files is specifically designed for guitars of a particular type. This set of three files will cover the work of six and cuts a smooth round bottom slot. Always try and use a file gauge that’s not more than a couple thousandths larger than the gauge of string you are using. Smaller files can be used to create wider slots by using a side-to-side movement while cutting.
  • 4” cutting edge
  • Set of 3 files
  • Made In Japan
Starting at $53.65
package of 3
Partially Out of Stock
Nut File - Edge-Cut, for guitar, 10 sizes
Edge cut nut files in popular gauges specially designed for slotting nuts. These files cut a smooth, round bottom slot. Also great for slotting tune-o-matic bridge saddles! Always try and use a file gauge that’s not more than a couple thousandths larger than the gauge of string you are using. Smaller files can be used to create wider slots by using a side-to-side movement while cutting.
  • 4-1/2” cutting edge
  • Double sided (both sides are the same gauge)
  • Set of 10 files
  • Made In Japan

Set contains one of each size:
  • 0.010"
  • 0.013"
  • 0.016"
  • 0.024"
  • 0.028"
  • 0.032"
  • 0.036"
  • 0.042"
  • 0.046"
  • 0.056"
$120.70
package of 10
Fret Cutter - 190mm, for Trimming Fret Wire
Fret Cutters. Use to trim the ends of new fret wire close to the fingerboard without leaving marks. Made in Japan. Dimensions:
  • 190 mm total length
  • 27 mm jaw width
$38.95
Understring Radius Gauges - 9 Sizes, for Saddle Adjustments
Our low profile aluminum understring radius gauges have a precision radiused top and bottom for accurate measurement. The slim shape allows you to take measurements of several radii without removing the strings on your guitar.
  • Obtain accurate measurements of your instrument's fretboard radius using the bottom radius of the gauge. The bottom radius can also be used to set pickup polepiece height to the string radius.
  • Use the top radius of this gauge to determine the proper height adjustment for the bridge saddles.
  • The following gauges are included in this set: 7.25" 9.5" 10" 12" 14" 15" 16" 17" 20"
$13.95
package of 9
Sandpaper - Kovax rolled, 1400 x 64 mm, Self-Adhesive
1.4m, Self adhesive type, 64mm width for S-T229-X sanding blocks.
$4.95
Fret Files - for Filing Fret Crowns
Solid steel crowning files with dual cutting edges for precision fret crowning. These should be in any luthier’s tool kit!
  • Made of solid steel
  • Soft rubber coating on the handle
  • Double sided (both sides are the same size)
  • 4-3/16” cutting surface
  • Available in three sizes to cover most fret sizes (small,medium,large)
$29.95
Adhesive Replacement Cap - Bob Smith Industries
Replacement colored cap that fits over the S-F312 top. These are sold individually and the color is randomly selected
$1.25
Fret / Fingerboard Leveler - for checking frets
Fast, accurate leveling tools for the pro shop. This heavyweight steel tube is precision-ground for flatness on the narrow sides. Attach abrasive to quickly level frets or unfretted fingerboards.
Each heavyweight rectangular 1" x 2" steel tube is precision-ground for flatness on two opposite sides. The tool's edges are smooth to prevent gouging.
Starting at $11.95