Measure Your Frets and Fingerboard with the Utmost Accuracy
While a traditional straightedge sits directly atop an instrument’s frets, the unfortunate truth is that frets are not always perfectly level — much to the dismay of guitar techs everywhere! So, if you’re trying to gauge the fingerboard’s straightness, you’ll need a tool such as MusicNomad’s MN821 Tri-Beam 3 ’n 1 Notched Straightedge. This beam features notches cut into two of its three edges to accommodate a multitude of scale lengths, and since the beam contacts the wood instead of the frets, it offers a perfect readout of how straight your fingerboard is. Moreover, the third edge functions as a bog-standard beam for the rest of your standard straightedge duties, including determining how level your frets are. Whether you’re a professional luthier or an at-home DIY tech, Sweetwater’s guitar maintenance gurus find the MusicNomad Tri-Beam 3 ’n 1 notched Straightedge to be a simple, accurate, and highly cost-effective solution to gauge the straightness of both your fingerboard and your frets.
Related Videos: MN821 Tri-Beam 3 'n 1 Dual Notched Straightedge
Notched to perfection
The Tri-Beam 3 ‘n 1 Notched Straightedge’s notches leapfrog over your fingerboard’s frets, effectively removing them from the equation when measuring the straightness of your fingerboard. There’s only one issue: guitars with different scale lengths have their frets in different places! Fortunately, Music Nomad’s tri-beam design all but eliminates the need to carry several scale-length-specific models by accommodating drastically different scale lengths on two of its respective edges:
F-25.5: this side fits guitars with scale lengths ranging from 25.34 inches to 25.625 inches, including most Fender-style electric guitars and long-scale acoustics.
G-24.75/P-25: this side is designed for scale lengths between 24.625 inches and 25 inches — ideal for most PRS and Gibson guitars with standard scale lengths.
Precision-ground edges for the utmost accuracy
To ensure that every single one of the Tri-Beam 3 ’n 1 Notched Straightedge’s sides is perfectly flat, this beam is constructed with premium-quality 6063-T5 aluminum and cutting edge-manufacturing techniques with accuracy up to +/- .00125-inch/ft. Plus, each corner and edge has been perfectly polished to all but eliminate the potential for dents and bruises during normal use.
MusicNomad MN821 Tri-Beam 3 ‘n 1 Notched Straightedge Features:
- Tri-beam straightedge with two notched sides to measure fingerboard straightness and a standard 17.6-inch straightedge to measure how level your frets are
- Each of the 2 notched edges are designed to accommodate guitars of different scale lengths up to 22 frets
- F-25.5 notched side is perfect for instruments with a scale length between 25.34 inches and 25.625 inches
- G-24.75/P-25 notched side is designed for guitars with scale lengths from 24.625 inches to 25 inches
- Premium 6063-T5 aluminum construction is built to last
- Blue anodized finish is extremely abrasion resistant
- All corners and edges are highly polished to remove the possibility of denting your fingerboard during normal use
- Precision ground edges are accurate to a tolerance of +/- .00125-inch/ft
- Convenient hang hole to keep your beam within easy reach on a tool board
