8 Essential Tools for Pimping your DIY Kit

8 Essential Tools for Pimping your DIY Kit

Let’s start by saying that to assemble one of the DIY instrument kits available at Thomann you don’t really need any tools. A bit counter productive you might say?? Yes and no.

While we almost all have an old screwdriver or two on hand (or an oyster knife huh, that works too), any DIYer will tell you that quality tools designed for the job will save you a ton of time and headaches!?

So here are 8 essential tools you’ll need for either basic assembly or for creating the instrument of your dreams for our #DiyKitChallenge!

Phillips and Slotted screwdriver set

Let’s go back to the oyster knife, and let’s establish right away that it’s not the ideal tool to install your hardware, adjust your bridge or install pickups! This little Swiss Army knife from Groovetech is made for that! You’ll find Phillips, slotted (flat-blade), much-needed Allen keys and even a wrench to allow you to tighten the nuts of your tuners and jacks!

GrooveTech Tools Guitar/Bass String Cutter

The cutter is self-explanatory, it cuts! Still don’t get it? No problem! Easily cut off the pieces of string that dangle from your tuning pegs, unless you’re into that look 😉

Saw

Yes I know, this is another level. Although not necessary, it will become essential for anyone who would like to customize the shape of the body or the head of her/his new guitar. A few marks and contours with a pencil, measure twice to be sure and go for it!

Sandpaper

Sandpaper is a must! You can use it to smooth out the new original curves of your instrument, polish the freshly sawn corners of the head, or customize the profile of the neck for maximum comfort. These Kovax adhesive strips give you a choice of different abrasives, and you can stick them to any tool or piece of customised wood, in any shape, to give you super precise sanding at any angle!

Precision Ruler

This Warwick Rock ‘n’ Ruler will allow you to measure, with precision, the height of your strings, your pickups, your bridges, for a perfect set up of your guitar or bass! Plus it’s conveniently small so there’s no need to change toolboxes.

Paint and spray lacquer

Yes, it’s obvious, but if you want to customize your kit, an essential step is to paint the instrument. The bodies and necks included in the kits are prepared to receive paint. Make sure that the surface is smooth, even if it means sanding it with a fine sandpaper to perfect it, and let’s go! Apply thin coats, taking time to dry between each one, especially if you use nitrocellulose paint and lacquer, which is more fragile than polyurethane. After each coat, sand with a very fine paper soaked in water to smooth the surface, and repeat the operation 4 or 5 times. Then do the same for the clear coat and finish by polishing the last coat.

Guitar and bass neck rests

These accessories are very useful once the guitar or bass is assembled, to work on the settings without risking any damage to it. And this is of course valid for each adjustment you will have to do on this instrument or another. It will greatly facilitate your string changes and cleaning by preventing your instrument from moving and getting damaged against your work surface.

Scotch tape

Aaaaah the tape! You’re going to need it. Mask the parts of the instrument you don’t want to paint? A Van Halen-like pattern in mind? This is exactly what you’ll need! It will also be very useful to protect the fingerboard of your instrument when working on the frets, or to hold a bridge, a pickup or tuning machines in place in order to take measurements for their installation. Indispensable!

What other tools would you recommend to perfect the construction and installation of your DIY kit? Have you already sent in your video to participate in our #DiyKitChallenge contest? If not, check HERE for all the info you need!

Author’s gravatar
Joe has been singing since he can remember and started playing guitar when he was 10. He's been using it as a songwriting tool ever since. He is passionate about melody and harmony and admires musicians who create these in unique ways. Check out his alternative / indie projects Best of Feelings and Zef Raček.

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