Find Text (Optional):
Guitar String Action GaugeGuitar String Action Gauge
The most reliable way of measuring the action of a guitar is to compare the height of the string to something of known height also sitting on the frets . This is best done visually without touching the string or the gauge.
The gauge is basically a thick aluminium sheet with steps milled into it that are 0.1mm lower each step - the steps are 5mm long. The steps provide a very accurate visual height reference that can be placed anywhere on the fretboard. A little handle has been milled on each end of the gauge - used when the guitar gauge is positioned by both hands and the guitar is in normal playing position. Alternatively with the guitar laid down horizontally the gauge can rest on the guitar fretboard without to support it by hand - this means you can carefully and adjust the gauge position and carefully judge the action without having to hold anything in position. An advantage as then you cannot possibly change the string position by accidentally touching it.
A typical use is to place the gauge behind the lowE string at the 12th fret and slide the gauge along so its height matches the string height then you have a direct measurement of the action.at the 12th fret - which is typcially 2.3mm for lowE and 1.8mm for high E. The gauge covers these regions of height in 0.1mm increments and so offers a very precise way of assessing the action..
The gauge is basically a thick aluminium sheet with steps milled into it that are 0.1mm lower each step - the steps are 5mm long. The steps provide a very accurate visual height reference that can be placed anywhere on the fretboard. A little handle has been milled on each end of the gauge - used when the guitar gauge is positioned by both hands and the guitar is in normal playing position. Alternatively with the guitar laid down horizontally the gauge can rest on the guitar fretboard without to support it by hand - this means you can carefully and adjust the gauge position and carefully judge the action without having to hold anything in position. An advantage as then you cannot possibly change the string position by accidentally touching it.
A typical use is to place the gauge behind the lowE string at the 12th fret and slide the gauge along so its height matches the string height then you have a direct measurement of the action.at the 12th fret - which is typcially 2.3mm for lowE and 1.8mm for high E. The gauge covers these regions of height in 0.1mm increments and so offers a very precise way of assessing the action..
Guitar Tool 2010-01-01 Id:264 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £13.78
Guitar Neck Rest. English Hardwood. 240mmGuitar Neck Rest. English Hardwood. 240mm
Constructed from Beech with Cork on neck contact surface with softwood ramp This is a simple design of neck rest consisting of two parts
1. The part that the guitar neck sits in. This is a "V" shape cork surface attached to a heavy block made from Beech Hardwood.
2. A softwood ramp. This provides an incline of about 20mm in 240mm. The hardwood neck rest can be placed on the ramp to give slightly angle the neck upwards.
It weighs about 850g.
The back of the neck sits in a stable position in the V and the cork provides a good surface that will not scratch the guitar and not let it slip. I have also put a layer of cork across the base of the hardwood rest, so it does not slip on the ramp or whatever surface it rests on.
It takes care of the supporting interface to the guitar neck - the height it supports the back of the neck is about 40mm. further packing (simple sheet wood) to get the height to match a particular guitar may be needed.
1. The part that the guitar neck sits in. This is a "V" shape cork surface attached to a heavy block made from Beech Hardwood.
2. A softwood ramp. This provides an incline of about 20mm in 240mm. The hardwood neck rest can be placed on the ramp to give slightly angle the neck upwards.
It weighs about 850g.
The back of the neck sits in a stable position in the V and the cork provides a good surface that will not scratch the guitar and not let it slip. I have also put a layer of cork across the base of the hardwood rest, so it does not slip on the ramp or whatever surface it rests on.
It takes care of the supporting interface to the guitar neck - the height it supports the back of the neck is about 40mm. further packing (simple sheet wood) to get the height to match a particular guitar may be needed.
Guitar Tool 2010-01-01 Id:263 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £26.18
Guitar Neck Rest. Guitar Neck Rest.
This neck rest / neck caul is available in many different lengths. Please contact us if the size you require is not listed.
This is a simple design of neck rest consisting of a "V" shape cork surface attached to a block made from RedWood Pine
The back of the neck sits in a stable position in the V and the cork provides a good surface that will not scratch the guitar and not let it slip. I have also put a layer of cork across the base of the rest, so it does not slip on the surface it rests on.
The rest takes care of the supporting interface to the guitar neck - the height it supports the back of the neck is about 40mm. further packing (simple sheet wood) to get the height to match a particular guitar may be needed.
As a guide
1) the 200mm, 240mm and 300mm sizes are suitable for standard sized guitars;
2) the 75mm and 150mm sizes can be used as smaller guitar OR as head support on standard guitars;
3) the larger 370mm and 440mm are suitable for bass guitars.
This is a simple design of neck rest consisting of a "V" shape cork surface attached to a block made from RedWood Pine
The back of the neck sits in a stable position in the V and the cork provides a good surface that will not scratch the guitar and not let it slip. I have also put a layer of cork across the base of the rest, so it does not slip on the surface it rests on.
The rest takes care of the supporting interface to the guitar neck - the height it supports the back of the neck is about 40mm. further packing (simple sheet wood) to get the height to match a particular guitar may be needed.
As a guide
1) the 200mm, 240mm and 300mm sizes are suitable for standard sized guitars;
2) the 75mm and 150mm sizes can be used as smaller guitar OR as head support on standard guitars;
3) the larger 370mm and 440mm are suitable for bass guitars.
Guitar Tool 2010-01-01 Id:265 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £17.64
Fretting MalletFretting Mallet
This is an inexpensive soft headed mallet. It can be used for fret installation and it's width means it is best suited to mainly low fret end of the fretboard where there is room for the 40mm wide heads. We sell a variety of fretting mallets and hammers to suit all fretting applications.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:195 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £12.30
Fretting MalletFretting Mallet
This is an inexpensive soft headed mallet. It can be used for fret installation and it's narrow width means it can get between the high frets. We sell a variety of fretting mallets and hammers to suit all fretting applications.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:194 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £14.34
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 3 Polyurethane Rubber FacesChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 3 Polyurethane Rubber Faces
The faces are screwed into an aluminium head. The three sizes of face, allow easy access to both the widely spaced low end frets and narrow high frets. The hardwood handle is close grained Ash wood.
The main body is made from aluminium bar tapered down to 20mm each end, drilled and tapped with an M16 Coarse thread. About half the weight (80g) is in the body and half in the handle, which results in the centre of gravity about 1/3 the way along the handle from the head - this is ideal for simultaneous control and ease of use. The eye (the hole in the hammer head) of the hammer is properly milled such that it is a conical oval shape wider at the end allowing a 2mm wide hardwood hammer wedge to be used to secure the head safely. Traditional hammer design and craftsmanship is used throughout and the hammer stale is particularly robust for a hammer this size, which adds to the strength and comfort in use. The hammer is made by Chris Alsop, in his Woodville Guitar workshop, to a design that is tried and tested for accurate fret installation.
The main body is made from aluminium bar tapered down to 20mm each end, drilled and tapped with an M16 Coarse thread. About half the weight (80g) is in the body and half in the handle, which results in the centre of gravity about 1/3 the way along the handle from the head - this is ideal for simultaneous control and ease of use. The eye (the hole in the hammer head) of the hammer is properly milled such that it is a conical oval shape wider at the end allowing a 2mm wide hardwood hammer wedge to be used to secure the head safely. Traditional hammer design and craftsmanship is used throughout and the hammer stale is particularly robust for a hammer this size, which adds to the strength and comfort in use. The hammer is made by Chris Alsop, in his Woodville Guitar workshop, to a design that is tried and tested for accurate fret installation.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:198 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £30.88
Fretting Hammer and Mallets by Chris AlsopFretting Hammer and Mallets by Chris Alsop
A comparison of the fretting hammers and mallets sold by Chris Alsop Guitar
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:193 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £28.74
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 2 FacesChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 2 Faces
The hardwood handle is made from close grained Ash. It has replaceable heads that screw in - one is brass and the other hard rubber.
The main body is made from aluminium bar tapered down to 20mm each end, drilled and tapped with an M16 Coarse thread. About half the weight (80g) is in the body and half in the handle, which results in the centre of gravity about 1/3 the way along the handle from the head - this is ideal for simultaneous control and ease of use. The eye (the hole in the hammer head) of the hammer is properly milled such that it is a conical oval shape wider at the end allowing a 2mm wide hardwood hammer wedge to be used to secure the head safely. Traditional hammer design and craftsmanship is used throughout and the hammer stale is particularly robust for a hammer this size, which adds to the strength and comfort in use. The hammer is made by Chris Alsop, in his Woodville Guitar workshop, to a design that is tried and tested for accurate fret installation.
The main body is made from aluminium bar tapered down to 20mm each end, drilled and tapped with an M16 Coarse thread. About half the weight (80g) is in the body and half in the handle, which results in the centre of gravity about 1/3 the way along the handle from the head - this is ideal for simultaneous control and ease of use. The eye (the hole in the hammer head) of the hammer is properly milled such that it is a conical oval shape wider at the end allowing a 2mm wide hardwood hammer wedge to be used to secure the head safely. Traditional hammer design and craftsmanship is used throughout and the hammer stale is particularly robust for a hammer this size, which adds to the strength and comfort in use. The hammer is made by Chris Alsop, in his Woodville Guitar workshop, to a design that is tried and tested for accurate fret installation.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:199 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £28.74
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammers sizesChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammers sizes
Overall size of Chris Alsop Guitar made fretting hammer
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:200 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £28.74
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting HammerChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer
The eye (the hole in the hammer head) of the hammer is properly milled and is a conical oval shape wider at the end allowing a 2mm wide hardwood hammer wedge to be used to secure the head and make it safe. Traditional hammer design and craftsmanship is used throughout and the hammer stale is particularly robust for a hammer this size, which adds to the strength and comfort in use.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:201 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £28.74
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting HammerChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:202 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £28.74
Chris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 4 facesChris Alsop Guitar Fretting Hammer with 4 faces
This hammer is supplied with four 16 & 20mm diameter faces - it weighs 175g.
The hammer is 280mm in length. The hardwood handle is made from close grained Ash. It has replaceable heads that screw in - one is brass and the other hard rubber.
This hammer has enough weight to make the frets to go in easily, but not too much weight to over do it. It is well balanced allowing both good aim and control.
The specially shaped handle allows good control over direction of the head. It allows you to feel confident about hitting the frets in just the right place, in the right direction with the right amount of force. A good job results with minimal high or low spots of the frets.
The heads - one rubber and one brass - complement each other. The rubber head allows a wide spread of a low impulse across the fret, and the brass head allows a precise tap of a high impulse in a specific place.
The Ash wood handle is fashioned so it gives the right balance and feel. The hardwood used is close grained Ash which is both light, tough and flexible. The handle is shaped to bulge to a relatively large thickness at the midpoint- which makes it easy to apply many accurate small taps to seat the fret properly.
This hammer has enough weight to make the frets to go in easily, but not too much weight to over do it. It is well balanced allowing both good aim and control.
The specially shaped handle allows good control over direction of the head. It allows you to feel confident about hitting the frets in just the right place, in the right direction with the right amount of force. A good job results with minimal high or low spots of the frets.
The heads - one rubber and one brass - complement each other. The rubber head allows a wide spread of a low impulse across the fret, and the brass head allows a precise tap of a high impulse in a specific place.
The Ash wood handle is fashioned so it gives the right balance and feel. The hardwood used is close grained Ash which is both light, tough and flexible. The handle is shaped to bulge to a relatively large thickness at the midpoint- which makes it easy to apply many accurate small taps to seat the fret properly.
Guitar Tool: Hammers and Mallets 2010-01-01 Id:203 ChrisAlsopGuitar
Current Price: £33.73