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 Post subject: LMI String height gauge
PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 2:42 pm 
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Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:44 pm
Posts: 706
First name: Wendy
Last Name: W
State: Arizona
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Any opinions from those who have used the LMI digital string height gauge?


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:48 pm 
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Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:20 am
Posts: 2593
Location: Powell River BC Canada
First name: Danny
Last Name: Vincent
Never seen it but I have a SM Dial type gauge. All I've found it useful for is the 12 fret measurement. If there's more I Would like to hear about it.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:23 pm 
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First name: Wendy
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State: Arizona
Country: USA
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Danny, Robbie O'Brien did a Tips Du Jour video on using it. He used it at both the nut and the 12th fret I think, and it looked so quick and accurate. I was just curious to see what people who have used it think.


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:18 pm 
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Location: Creedmoor, NC
First name: Tim
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Zip/Postal Code: 27522
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Best one I've found, I use it daily.

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PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 9:04 pm 
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I have the Stew-Mac version as well. I don't use it at the 12th, but think it's incredibly useful at the nut. A digital version would be easier to zero, and the fact that you can switch between decimal, fraction, and mm, is super convenient.

I wouldn't sell my Stew-Mac version for it, but if I didn't already have one, I'd certainly consider LMI's.


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PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:04 am 
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Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
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Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
City: Lake Forest
State: California
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i have the StewMac also. It is very handy for the 1st and 12th frets. I also use it to check neck relief.

Having a zero set digital gauge does sound like an excellent thing to have.

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PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 6:59 am 
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First name: Willard
Last Name: Guthrie
City: Cumberland
State: Maryland 21502
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Focus: Repair
Status: Semi-pro
We use a slightly modified iGaging or similar digital depth gauge...these run anywhere from $8 to $25 on eBay or Amazon (we paid about $16 + $1 in hardware and .100" Lexan scrap). A little modification on the base provides the ability to do fret height, action at 1st or 12th, saddle height, etc. Given the cost of labor, the $15-$30 premium asked by LMII to do the modifications seems reasonable. After about 18 months of availability of what is essentially the LMII gauge, they are used less frequently than the StewMac nut height setting gauge (nut action setting), the StewMac setup rule (12th fret and string height at bridge), or a standard digital caliper (saddle height, string height at bridge)...which may be force of habit, but may also be that the existing tools work a little better for the intended job and live on the benches.

Here is the link to the tool we modified with the add-on Lexan base...similar to the LMII core tool. Again - if time is valued at something more than $60 per hour, buying the tool ready made seems to make more sense.

https://www.amazon.com/iGaging-Electronic-Digital-SnapDepth-Fractions/dp/B0063LMXJ6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493120762&sr=8-4&keywords=igaging+depth+gauge

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