This also helps to promote proper technical development of the guitar player see under the string radius gauge below. Use a ruler graduated in 32nds or 64ths of an inch to measure the height of the top and bottom e strings. The adjustment for this lies with the truss rod, which leads us to the. I wouldnt use em for refretting, but those will serve you well for setups. To optimize your guitar s playability, it is recommended that the string heights should match the radius of the fret board. Which brings me to learning how to diy the setup process and needing the proper tools, like these puppies right here. I got my gauges from stewmac years ago and they no longer have the cheap ones i have. Thus, on a typical neck, for example a strat with typical ee spacings at the nut and bridge on a 25. Wide and thinner understring radius gauge set for guitar bridge setup. Guitar and guitar necks come in various shapes and sizes which will make for different feel and sound when held or played. Use the thumb screw or thimble exact designs vary to adjust the curve of the flexible band, until the contact is a perfect fit. Free radius gauges sign up for a completely free set of printable radius gauges. If you do any guitar work, you need a set to measure the fingerboard radius and set the radius of the bridge. These come in the most popular guitar fingerboard radii.
Aug 30, 2017 bladetype radius gauges usually come in sets of blades with a range of radii, sized at specific increments. The under string radius gauge for guitar and bass setup set of 9 my 7. Guitar radius gauges quickly find the curvature of a fingerboard or bridge with the set of radius gauges. Looking for baileigh industrial outside radius gauge, 7 to 144 range in. Guitar radius gauges for measuring fingerboard nut saddle radius set of 2.
Once you have your printable radius gauge for your guitar neck on a piece of paper. Understring radius gauge wide for guitar and bass setup set of 9. Tools for measuring your fretboard radius pic heavy. Use during fingerboardfret shaping to accurately measure your progress and eliminate mistakes. A radius gauge is used to compare the height of each string in respect to the radius of the fertboard.
Sometimes the radius can have been altered during repair or refret work accidentally or deliberately. I picked up a set of steel under string radius gauges from stew mac a few years ago they allow you to measure the fretboard radius with the strings on as well as adjust the saddle heights to match that radius. I only own one bass, and its a 200809 mim fender jazz so i can assume the radius is 7. This is why virtually all published setup specifications call for higher action on the fat strings typically 2 higher. Sep 26, 2017 a set of radius gauges should form part of the toolkit of anyone doing any sort of guitar setup. Please sign in to your account to see your pricing, which may be different from the price displayed. This is why virtually all published setup specifications call for higher.
This is an essential tool for a luthiertechs bench. Radius gauges 2 gauges for 8 radiuses amplified parts. These come in the most popular guitar fingerboard radii and make it easy to measure the fingerboard, nut, saddle, and fretwire radius. Sign up for a completely free set of printable radius gauges. As promised in number 4, here are the instructions to make your own fret board radius gauges. Next, youll need a radius gauge and you can find free ones online. Eyeballing this subtle change is next to impossible.
Guitar diy how to use radius gauges electric guitar. Son strummer set of premium luthier tools tool kit includes 9 understring radius gauge, 1 pin puller, 1 string action gauge ruler, 2 fingerboard fret protector guards for guitar bass setup. Procedure the use of radius gages is a fast and easy method. Check bottom of braces before gluing, check radius of your back or top after the braces are glued. The guitar parts center tool price list bridge slotting jig 125. To optimize your guitars playability, it is recommended that the string heights should match the radius of the fret board. Oct 06, 2017 some fingerboards can have inconsistencies the radius can differ in places. With the help of this radius measurement tool, it is easy to replicate curves between 7 and 144 made on machines such as ring rollers and plate rolls. One of the parameters is the fretboard or fingerboard radius.
A simple tool to help you get your guitar playing its best. This makes them much easier to use on the fretboard and over the pickups setting pole piece heights, or at the saddles. Combined shipping we do combine orders to lower shipping costs for our customers. Can also be used when shaping a nutsaddle or when setting string radius at the bridge. Download, trace them onto a sheet of plastic and youll have all the radii. Narrow is for measure fingerboard radius near the nut and the wide is for measuring the radius at the bridge end of the fingerboard. If you wish to use it on your own site, please contact guitarhack and we will try to assist you. I didnt have the need for a set of metal radius gauges and for quickie onetime use i made these accurate templates. Were going to do the intonation on your guitar, too. Use a strong source of light to look for a gap between the piece and the blade. Radius gauges these gauges are very useful around a guitar builders shop. Radius gauges usually come in a set so if youre not sure which one to use, try a few and pick the one that best matches the arc of your fretboard. Understring radius gauge for guitar and bass setup set. Measuring the radius of the fingerboard and comparing it to the radius of the bridge saddle.
With the strings removed, just use your radius gauges to find which best fits. Scope the radius gages is considered an in an inherently stable device and will not require recalibration unless a special request is made by the user. How to adjust a guitar bridge with diy radius gauges youtube. I was looking to buy a cheap set but these are free and should do the trick. First, sight the neck just to see what condition its in. Tools for measuring your fretboard radius pic heavy i wanted to measure some fretboard radii on my guitars and here is what i used. Radius gauges for a beginner learning to do setups the.
We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Also use them for profiling an acoustic bridge saddle and setting the string heights on an electric guitar bridge. Setting up a guitar involves working with the bridge, nut, and neck adjustments to dial in the playing action to suit the player. Stewmac understring radius gauge tool, set of 9, standard width for guitar setup, stainless steel. Notched radius gauges makes it easy to measure the fingerboard radius without removing the strings. Apr 08, 2014 pickguardian need a set of neck radius gauges. Details about guitar radius gauges for measuring fingerboard and nutsaddle radius. Remove or loosen the strings and use your radius gauge on the fingerboard. This can change the natural bow of the neck causing a change in string length. Details about guitar notched radius gauges for measuring fingerboard radius with strings on. Understring radius gauge for guitar and bass setup set of 9. These radius gauges are very, very nice because they are much lower in height than most other radius gauges that are available.
Completely not being a smart ass this is the correct way to figure the diameter. Just remember to divide the diameter by two to get the radius. Number of bids and bid amounts may be slightly out of date. Having the fingerboard and string radius match contributes to the best possible action adjustment for overall easy playability. If you were asked to find the radius instead of the diameter, you would simply divide 7 feet by 2 because the radius is onehalf the measure of the diameter. Radius gauges for a beginner learning to do setups the gear. Print them, cut them out, and youve got one of the handiest tools in your guitar or bass setup toolkit.
Dewalt, porter cable, bosch, ryobi, rigid, drillmaster, custom 1 bridge saddle slotting jig a special jig for slotting a new bridge or to fill and move an existing saddle slot. I show you how i go about adjusting a stratocaster style guitar bridge with a drill bit feeler gauge and a free radius gauge template. Dan erlewine demos three different gauges used for guitar setup and fretwork. A setup guide im reading suggests you cut out a set of radius gauges from plastic using a template. Free radius gauges and their many uses haze guitars.
Download either the postscript or pdf version of this paper and print it. Guitar radius gauges for measuring fingerboard and nutsaddle. See each listing for international shipping options and costs. Include 2 narrow radius gauges and 2 wide radius gauges. Some fingerboards can have inconsistencies the radius can differ in places. Dewalt, porter cable, bosch, ryobi, rigid, drillmaster, custom 1 bridge saddle slotting jig a special jig for slotting a new bridge or to fill and move an existing saddle slot, widen a saddle slot for a compensated saddle. Apr 19, 2018 i show you how i go about adjusting a stratocaster style guitar bridge with a drill bit feeler gauge and a free radius gauge template. If you own a guitar with saddles that allow for individual string height adjustment. Radius gauges do not account for the fact that larger strings have a larger vibrational path and need more clearance from the frets compared to smaller strings. Guitar understring radius gauges by printbit thingiverse.
These inside radius gauges are the perfect complement to your new piece of baileigh industrial machinery. With the guitar strung up to pitch and held in the playing position, use your straightedge to evaluate relief. Guitar radius gauges how to use with free download. The blades have precise curves that will match a specified convex or concave curve. Guitar notched radius gauges for measuring fingerboard. If youre going to be doing this regularly, it might be worth buying a good set but my free, downloadable, radius gauges will definitely do the trick for a while. Use them to measure fret board radius, saddle radius nut radius accurately and check your work as you smooth or shape a fingerboard or frets. Free printable radius gauges the acoustic guitar forum. Radius gage calibration purpose the purpose of this procedure is to provide general instructions for the calibration of radius gages. April 8, 2014 if you do any guitar work, you need a set to measure the fingerboard radius and set the radius of the bridge. If you go to, they have a bunch of downloadable radius gauges. Radius gauges are a highly underestimated tool for proper set ups.
Click here if you are unsure of your guitars radius. Guitars commonly have a compound radius, meaning the curvature changes from the nut to the end of the fingerboard. Go here i used an empty plastic ice cream tub to transfer gauge. With the guitar on its side, look down the fingerboard edge for overall straightness, backbow, relief forward bow and humps, as well as high or uneven frets. This makes them much easier to use on the fretboard and over the pickups setting pole piece heights, or at the. A set of radius gauges should form part of the toolkit of anyone doing any sort of guitar setup. Understring radius gauge wide for guitar and bass setup. The underside i use to measure fingerboard radius, and the topside to measure under the strings at the bridge to set the bridge radius correctly. Guitar radius gauges for measuring fingerboard and nut. Neck radius gauge instructions 1 print out on a card stock check the 1 block for accuracy.
Oct 27, 2010 dan erlewine demos three different gauges used for guitar setup and fretwork. You can click to open a new window and show the printable radius gauge pdf. At times we need to know the radius of our guitar neck and this site has a free download template with. Inside radius gauge radius measurement tool baileigh. Use the understring radius gauges to first determine the radius of the fretboard, then check the radius at the bridge to make sure they match. Radius gauges 2 gauges for 8 radiuses solid, high quality stainless steel radius gauges. Free radius gage calibration procedure ape software.
918 1396 153 462 337 1289 1117 505 1384 562 462 791 960 242 703 1022 190 1237 1379 1373 191 615 1305 1245 185 1315 106 1602 1278 39 176 522 920 736 773 381 872 259 1161 714 1359 39