Cost of luthier tools rant - SM

[John_P_WI]

I have dabbled tweaking guitars for over 30 years and started assembling "parts casters" in the 90's. Recently, on a stroll through Warmoth's web site, a flamed maple strat body "accidentally" fell into my shopping cart to pair with a Birdseye maple neck I had. Being a sucker for quality and proper tools, I was going to use this super strat project as an excuse to buy better tools to handle the stainless frets.

Off to Stew Mac I went, OMFG, they raised the prices of their items, not a little but a lot. Virtually every item has a 10 to 15% price increase over their already existing high prices. A certain diamond crowning file 1 year ago was $90, last week was $103 (and out of stock), now it is $117. Eff that, files are consumables.

While we are working stiffs hoping for a 2% pay raise and strapped with life's expenses, SM's increase makes it hard to purchase specialized tools for a hobbyist, damn them.

Not a tool, but blank tusq nuts for $13.35, come on, time for a new tool / parts house.

[vibratoking]

Stew Mac has always been overpriced IMO. I haven't done business with them for many years just on principle. Everyone should boycott them. Instead, I go out of my way to buy elsewhere, be creative and repurpose whatever I can to get the job done. Stew Mac sucks.

[John_P_WI]

+1 VK,

I have dropped a fair amount of cash with Philadelphia Luthier Tools, buying Gotoh Floyds, EV510 trem bridges, Locking tuners etc. Time to start looking at their Japanese Hosco file offerings. It has been a very positive experience with them so far and with fair shipping prices too.

Stew Mac has hit the obscene price gouging point. Eff em.

[randalp3000]

Do yourself a favor and master the 3 corner file. After 25+ years and thousands of fret dresses I switched to a 3 corner file 5 years ago and I'll never use a fret file again. I make my own by chopping the tip off with a dremel cutoff wheel and sanding the corners with my belt sander for under $6. For the handle I use a piece of surgical tubing for single coil pickups.

Tools I use. Ruler and wide file for finding and knocking down single high frets. Diamond stones for leveling from 220 - 1000 grit. File for crowning then sanding with 220, 400, 600, and 0000 steel wool. 10 minutes for most jobs.

Also I HATE doing SS frets.

[NickC]

I have dealt with Stew-Mac for a long time; decades.

I have no complaints. Only praise. They have never let me down (nor have their products) and I have always received EXCELLENT service.

Maybe they are more expensive (if ya'll say so, I believe you .... I don't comparison shop any more because they've won me over as a customer until they FUBAR something, hasn't happened yet). Frankly, I don't mind paying for quality, especially quality customer service.

0.02

[John_P_WI]

Thanks Randal, I agree. My set up is very similar to yours, I love the diamond sharpening stones and after getting my ass kicked this last go around with the Jumbo stainless frets I thought i would try a diamond crowning file... until I saw the price.

Nick, I have had good luck with SM and have been a customer for 20+ years. I was put off last night when I saw that they increased the price 10-15 % across the board. Must be a May 1st thing. Honestly, I don't know too may companies outside of healthcare or oil that can levy an increase like that...

[NickC]

........

Nick, I have had good luck with SM and have been a customer for 20+ years. I was put off last night when I saw that they increased the price 10-15 % across the board. Must be a May 1st thing. Honestly, I don't know too may companies outside of healthcare or oil that can levy an increase like that...

Sadly, we're all going to see more of it. It is inevitable. The politicians have betrayed us; sold us out. We (the minority of sensible people .... by virtue of our affection for vacuum tube technology) are being dragged down by corrupt bureaucrats and corrupt people within the electorate.

Gibson, Fender, Marshall (et al) have all hade massive price increases over the past few years. It cost me $3.95 a gallon to fill up last night. A healthy percentage of that is state fuel tax, surcharges, and fees. It's a sign of the times.

[passfan]

I too make my own tools. I can't afford to pay what SM wants for their stuff and it's really unnecessary. I dont know how they sell anything.

[Reeltarded]

Ebay

The only thing I buy from stew mac is spiders and cones for resonators, and they are overpriced.

[LeftyStrat]

I've been shocked by Hammond's prices. They used to be competitive, but now they're one of the more expensive options, not MM expensive, but still.

Just checked xe.com. CAD is worth about 10 percent more that the USD. Guess that might explain it.

[Structo]

SM has some great stuff but as discussed, expensive.

I try to make a tool if I can or find a substitute brand that will work.

For example, you can make a notched straight edge from a metal ruler.
Notch where the frets are and notch it with a dremel or other tool.

Useful for checking the fret board when making the neck flat for fret work.

[johnnyreece]

Yep, I have made many of my own tools, but for the ones that can't be duplicated, I try to save up enough stuff on my wish list to hit it all at once. Their shipping charges are a little outlandish. I will say, even though they're expensive, I've never had any trouble from them whatsoever. That's definitely a plus.