{"product_id":"stewmac-2-in-1-precision-straightedge-12-18-in-professional-tool","title":"StewMac 2-in-1 Precision Straightedge 12-18 in - Professional Tool","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of the StewMac 2-in-1 Precision Straightedge 12-18 in the bottom line is simple: this is a workshop-grade tool for luthiers and techs who need repeatable, measurable straightness over the scale length of guitars and larger instruments. The review finds the straightedge's\u003cstrong\u003edual-sided precision\u003c\/strong\u003e and guaranteed tolerances provide the single biggest reason to buy - it removes guesswork from neck and fretwork setups while remaining lightweight and comfortable to handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDual-sided functionality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Two precision-milled sides give you two working edges in one tool so you can switch depending on the clearance or surface you need to check.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccurate tolerances:\u003c\/strong\u003e Precisely milled edges maintain tolerances of.0015in per ft to deliver reliable, repeatable straightness checks for professional setups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e6063 aluminum construction:\u003c\/strong\u003e Industrial-grade aluminum keeps the straightedge light to hold while providing a stable reference that resists warping in shop conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlack anodized finish:\u003c\/strong\u003e The finish reduces surface wear and gives a durable working face that stands up to regular contact with frets and fingerboards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eErgonomic design:\u003c\/strong\u003e The slim profile and balanced weight make the tool easy to maneuver along necks, bridges, and fingerboards without hand fatigue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVersatile length:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 12-18 in range covers most guitar and bass scale lengths, making it useful for a wide range of larger fretted instruments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe straightedge is aimed at professional luthiers, repair techs, and serious hobbyists who routinely set up guitars, basses and other larger fretted instruments and need a dependable reference tool. It is especially useful when doing fret leveling, neck relief checks, and bridge alignment where small deviations matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose who should look elsewhere include casual players who only need occasional checks and prefer a lower-cost plastic gauge, or specialists who require an ultra-long reference for full-body instruments beyond the 18 in range; for everyday hobby bench use the StewMac offers precision that may be more than needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHigh accuracy with.0015in per ft tolerances gives confidence for professional setups.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDual-sided milling provides flexibility for different tasks without changing tools.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLightweight 6063 aluminum construction is comfortable to use and resistant to shop wear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eBlack anodized finish extends the life of the working edges under regular use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLength is limited to 12-18 in, so it may not cover very long instruments or full-body straight references.\u003c\/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePrecision tool requires careful handling to maintain accuracy; it is overkill for casual, infrequent checks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStewMac\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2-in-1 Precision Straightedge, 12-18 in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6063 aluminum\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack anodized\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAccuracy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e.0015in per ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFunctionality\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDual-sided precision-milled edges\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended use\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGuitars, basses and larger fretted instruments\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe StewMac 2-in-1 Precision Straightedge 12-18 in is a practical, durable reference for luthiers and repair techs who need accurate, repeatable straightness checks across guitar and bass scale lengths. Its\u003cstrong\u003edual-sided precision\u003c\/strong\u003e, light weight and hard-wearing finish make it good value for professionals; casual users may find the precision greater than required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this straightedge accurate enough for professional fretwork?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The edges are precision milled to.0015in per ft, which is suitable for professional fret leveling and neck relief checks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the finish protect the edges during regular shop use?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe black anodized finish reduces wear on the surface and helps the tool hold up under routine contact with frets and fingerboards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the length suitable for all instruments?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 12-18 in length covers most guitars and basses, but it may be short for very long instruments or full-body straight references.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"StewMac","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48669375398107,"sku":"B0B149KD1Z","price":87.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71HzRLx9N5L._AC_SL1500.jpg?v=1778699124","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/stewmac-2-in-1-precision-straightedge-12-18-in-professional-tool","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}