The 5 Best Guitar Setup Tool Kits (2023)
A guitar setup tool kit is one of the most important pieces of equipment for every guitarist. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you want to keep your instrument in great condition. For that you need tools and if you’re buying single pieces, there is a big chance that you’ll probably miss something. Getting a guitar setup tool kit is a great option, especially for beginners.
All kits on the list include everything you need to do a proper setup and while all of them are great, the Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit is our top pick. Not only that it includes all the tools you need, but all of them feature good quality and will last for a long time.
If you want something affordable, the TIMESETL 26 Pcs Guitar Repairing Tool Kit is our budget pick. It’s cheap but has everything you should need.
Contents
The 5 Best Guitar Setup Tool Kits (2023)
Let’s look at them in more detail.
1. Ernie Ball Musician's Tool Kit
Ernie Ball is one of the highest reputable string makers in the guitar world but it also offers all kinds of quality accessories, including this setup tool kit. It includes everything you’ll ever need to do a proper setup and more importantly, all pieces feature great quality.
Pros
- Quality pieces
- So many Allen keys
- String winder included
Cons
- More screwdriver sizes would be nice
The first thing you’ll notice is that there are so many Allen keys. There are 18 pieces, more than you would probably ever need. On the other hand, there are just two sizes of flat heads, Phillips and nut drivers – it could use more. The string cutter and winder feature decent quality, while the 6” string ruler features both metric and imperial units, which is convenient.
| Number of Pieces | 31 |
| String Ruler Units | Metric and Imperial |
| Pouch Included | Yes |
The set also includes a couple of pieces for instrument care, such as a polish cloth and 3 wipes (String Cleaner, Instrument Polish, and Fretboard Conditioner). Also, I really like the pouch design, as everything looks perfectly organized when packed inside.
2. TIMESETL 26 Pcs Guitar Repairing Tool Kit
This kit includes everything you’ll ever need to do a setup, whether it’s about acoustic or electric guitars or any other string instrument. Furthermore, you also get additional pieces such as guitar picks, bridge pins, and a string winder.
Pros
- Lots of tools
- Very affordable price
- Several additional tool pieces
Cons
- Could use more Allen keys
Besides typical pieces like string ruler, screwdriver, or Allen keys, this pack also includes a couple of pieces you won’t get in some much more expensive kits. We particularly like the files and fingerboard protection, so you can take care of the frets without worrying about damaging your fingerboard and neck.
| Number of Pieces | 26 |
| String Ruler Units | Metric |
| Pouch Included | Yes |
The rest of the tools, including the string cutter, also feature decent quality. The pouch is small and looks nice, but putting all the pieces inside may be a little bit tricky.
3. MIFOGE 45Pcs Guitar Repairing Maintenance Tool Kit
This pack includes more tools than an average guitarist will ever need. There are 45 pieces in total, including various files and other luthier tools, such as grinding sponge, grinding stone, needle files, etc. The kit is excellent if you want to keep your frets in perfect condition.
Pros
- Lots of tools for fret crowning
- Feeler and radius gauges for perfect string action
- Well-organized pouch
Cons
- Screwdriver not included
Besides fret crowning, this kit is also excellent for string action setup. It includes things like a string feeler gauge, understring radius gauges, and a well-designed action ruler. The kit also includes a string spreader, wiping cloth, and bridge pins. Practically, the only thing that is missing is a good screwdriver.
| Number of Pieces | 45 |
| String Ruler Units | Metric and Imperial |
| Pouch Included | Yes |
The MIFOGE tool kit includes 45 pieces in total but the pouch accommodates all of them with ease. Moreover, it is designed pretty well and everything looks perfectly organized when packed – like a real professional tool kit.
4. Jim Dunlop Complete Guitar Setup Tool Kit
It’s always good to have a guitar tool kit with you and that’s why compact packages are always smart choices. This pouch is pretty small but you will find a lot of things inside, including a couple of pieces for instrument care, such as microfiber cloth and a small bottle of cleaner/polish.
Pros
- All pieces feature great quality
- Very compact package
- Gig light included
Cons
- Premium price
- A few more tools would be nice
Compared to other kits on the list, this one features a notably higher price. In return, you get tools that feature pretty impressive quality. There aren’t many of them, but they will last for a very long time. Essentials like string cutter, fingerboard protection, screwdriver, uniwrench, and string winder are included and all look very durable.
| Number of Pieces | 12 |
| String Ruler Units | Metric and Imperial |
| Pouch Included | Yes |
Many unpredictable situations can happen on gigs and in most cases, it’s too dark to work on your instrument. That’s why I really like that a small gig light is included in the kit. There is also a small superglue pen for quick fixing.
5. D'Addario Guitar Maintenance Kit
If you look at the list of features, this kit definitely looks a little bit different compared to other products on the list. For example, it includes a capo, as well as a headstand and a body mat. On the other side, things like a proper screwdriver and Allen keys are missing.
Pros
- Quality tools
- Compact package
- Few extra features
Cons
- Not the cheapest kit around
- Some essentials are missing
The D’Addario Guitar Maintenance Kit is a very compact package, so it’s no wonder it includes pieces like multi-tool. Moreover, it also features a nicely designed string winder with a built-in string cutter, which also saves some space.
| Number of Pieces | 8 |
| String Ruler Units | Metric and Imperial |
| Pouch Included | Yes |
Among extra features, you will also find a Lubrikit, as well as a fret polishing system. The pouch is small but features excellent quality. I should also mention that there is a bass version of the kit on the offer.
What’s Included in Guitar Tool Kits?
These are some of the most common pieces of guitar tool kits:
String Winder and Cutter
String replacement is the most common thing you do on your guitar and that’s why string winder is one of the most important tools to get. String winding and unwinding are much faster and more convenient with it. Once you’ve winded all the strings, you need a string cutter to cut the part that excesses on tuning machines.
String Ruler
A playable guitar needs proper action and you can’t set up the height of each string without a string ruler. In most cases, string rulers feature both metric and imperial units.
Allen Keys
There are two main reasons why we need Allen keys. The first one is to adjust the neck truss rod. The other one is typical for electric guitars, where you need them to set up string action on the bridge.
Fret Crowning Tools
Fret crowning is important if you want to keep your guitar playable. To do that, you need tools like files, grinding stones, and similar things. These tools may be included in the package or not. On the other hand, every kit includes fret collars, which are critical for fingerboard protection.
Screwdriver
Many parts of a guitar (especially electric) are fixed with screws – tuning machines, bridge, pickups, neck, etc. So, it’s hard to imagine a good guitar tool kit without a screwdriver that includes both flat and Phillips heads.
Summary
This would be our list of best guitar tool kits. As you can see, these kits may include more or fewer pieces, but most of them include all the essentials. Products like Ernie Ball Musician’s Tool Kit offer a great balance between price, quality, and a number of tools. On the other hand, the TIMESETL 26 Pcs Guitar Repairing Tool Kit gives everything you need at a really affordable price.
Finally, products like MIFOGE 45Pcs Guitar Repairing Maintenance Tool Kit are great if you want extra features. To summarize – you can’t go wrong with any of these kits on the list.
