Favorite Guitar Gadgets and Doodads?

[RC Mike]

I finally got around to doing a setup and string change on my Siggy this weekend. It made me think about how much I appreciate both locking tuners and a little gadget I've got for stretching strings.

Stretcha - Welcome

The String Stretcha is one of those inexpensive, handy guitar tools that saves me time and aggravation. A couple of passes on each string after getting them on the guitar, and everything is good to go in about a minute. I never liked stretching strings by hand. I've spent $12 in a lot of worse ways.

What are some of your favorite guitar gadgets?

 

[RickP]

The String Cleaner, offered by Tonegear, is super handy for cleaning all the way around the string. I use it right after a gig, just before casing my guitars, and it’s really helped the strings last. Clean strings just feel better, and this is quick and effective. Just slide under the strings, snap the top and bottom together, and slide from bridge to nut… done.

At ~$10 a pop, it’s a good add to your gigging guitar’s case pocket!

 

[helmi]

Picks!

 

[FatFingerBlues]

 

[d4rkst4r]

Picking up a Roadie has been helpful in winding and tuning. I know there are others, this one just checked the boxes and gets it done for me.

 

[Black Plaid]

The Crimson Guitars neck rest is super nice when I'm changing strings or doing other maintainence.

 

[Moondog Wily]

My two favorite do-daddio's are:

and

 

[deathworlder]

 

[RC Mike]

My two favorite do-daddio's are:

I’ve got a set of those fretboard guards. They work well! Used them yesterday when polishing up the frets.

 

[László]

I finally got around to doing a setup and string change on my Siggy this weekend. It made me think about how much I appreciate both locking tuners and a little gadget I've got for stretching strings.

Stretcha - Welcome

The String Stretcha is one of those inexpensive, handy guitar tools that saves me time and aggravation. A couple of passes on each string after getting them on the guitar, and everything is good to go in about a minute. I never liked stretching strings by hand. I've spent $12 in a lot of worse ways.

What are some of your favorite guitar gadgets?

What a great gadget! I’m ordering one. Thanks!

 

[László]

The String Cleaner, offered by Tonegear, is super handy for cleaning all the way around the string. I use it right after a gig, just before casing my guitars, and it’s really helped the strings last. Clean strings just feel better, and this is quick and effective. Just slide under the strings, snap the top and bottom together, and slide from bridge to nut… done.

At ~$10 a pop, it’s a good add to your gigging guitar’s case pocket!

Another thing I will order!

 

[László]

A handmade leather guitar accessory wallet like this might seem like an indulgence. I suppose it might be, but it’s not terribly expensive.

I like having an extra set of strings, a capo, those little tools that come with the guitar, a bunch of picks and other small items all in one place I can reach into my cases and grab, without having to hunt down what I need in the heat of battle.

I have one in each of my cases (I have the earlier models because they never wear out; mine are nearly a decade old).

Guitar Gear Leather Wallet | Guitar Accessories

Leather wallet for guitar accessories such as string, picks, capo, tuner, slide and more. Tough nubuck leather. Hand-built in England. Brown, black, blue or red. A great gift for any guitar player.

www.pinegroveleather.com

 

[DarkskyZ]

I have been using the stretcha for years, not essential but makes changing strings a little less frustrating to me.
I recommend.

 

[Bogner]

I Am Still Enamored With The Guitar Tuner. Now I Just Need To Learn How To Use It.

I Am Also Fond Of The Stew Mac Nut Slotting Gauge.

 

[DarkskyZ]

+1 for the nut slotting gauge. Also doubles as an action gauge.

I would add the neck relief gauge also : https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...for-necks-and-fingerboards/neck-relief-gauge/
Not really cheap either but with both of these you basically take all the guess work out of your DIY setups.
Those two are not really cheap per se but cheap enough that they pay for themselves quickly.

Also, this thread is quickly becoming a nerd thread, love it

 

[Bogner]

I Am A Big Fan Of All The Various Gadgets For Anything Set Up Related. The Tools Can Be A Bit Expensive But If You Are Interested In That Sort Of Thing The Tools Are Worth Their Weight In Gold To Me. If You Buy Good Tools Once And Take Care Of Them They Will Take Care Of You And Your Guitars For A Lifetime.

 

[László]

If You Buy Good Tools Once And Take Care Of Them They Will Take Care Of You And Your Guitars For A Lifetime.

You’re so right! Good tools are wonderfully useful items.

In the ‘80s the French toolmaking company Facom (owned now by Black and Decker, but their best tools are still made in France) was producing tool sets for some of the Formula One teams. I was heavily into doing basic, simple stuff to maintain the car I took to the track.

I wanted some good tools, and saw the name on some of the pit crews’ stuff back when Detroit hosted a Formula One race for a few years.

So I bought a smattering of their hand tools. Nothing fancy, just the basic stuff to do routine maintenance. Originally I used them on my car, but then transitioned them to my studio life.

Nearly 40 years on, they’re still like new, yet I use them often. Granted, a studio is easier on tools than a car, but 40 years is a long time.

 

[deathworlder]

+1 for the nut slotting gauge. Also doubles as an action gauge.

I would add the neck relief gauge also : https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...for-necks-and-fingerboards/neck-relief-gauge/
Not really cheap either but with both of these you basically take all the guess work out of your DIY setups.
Those two are not really cheap per se but cheap enough that they pay for themselves quickly.

Also, this thread is quickly becoming a nerd thread, love it

This is a good go/no-go nut gauge on a budget.

 

[Abe]

I have this now.

 

[László]

This is a good go/no-go nut gauge on a budget.

Great gadget if you actually know what do if you find that the nut needs some work - - which of course I don’t!

“Bye, hon, I’m headed over to the luthier because my nuts need work.”

“Shouldn’t you be seeing a urologist?”