If you've ever heard a guitarist mention needing to check their frets, or if you own guitars and wonder whether they're actually level and properly seated, a fret evaluation kit might answer questions you didn't even know to ask. The MusicNomad Precision Fret Evaluation Kit with Fret Rocker and Gauge (MN870) is built specifically to help you diagnose what's actually happening with your instrument's frets—before they become expensive problems.

Understanding what these tools do, and whether you genuinely need them, is the first step toward smarter guitar maintenance and repair.

What Frets Actually Need to Do (And What Can Go Wrong)

Frets are the thin metal strips running across a guitar's fingerboard. When you press a string down at a fret, that's where the string vibrates. If your frets aren't perfectly level relative to each other, you'll get uneven action (the string height changes as you play), dead spots where notes won't ring, or buzzing sounds that no amount of adjustment can fix.

Most guitarists can feel when something's wrong—the guitar just doesn't play right—but diagnosing exactly what's wrong requires being able to measure. That's where a fret rocker comes in. Rather than guessing, you can see whether your frets are truly level, whether individual frets have sunk, and whether frets are seating properly in their slots.

What the MusicNomad MN870 Actually Does

The MusicNomad Precision Fret Evaluation Kit includes two main tools. The Fret Rocker itself is a precision straightedge made of stainless steel that comes in four different lengths: 1.25 inches, 2 inches, 3 inches, and 4 inches. You place the rocker across multiple frets and look for gaps between the tool and the fretboard. These gaps tell you whether frets are high or low.

The design includes five edges rather than one, which helps distribute weight evenly and gives you multiple measurement points across the frets. The stainless steel is manufactured to very tight tolerances, meaning the edges themselves are genuinely flat—otherwise the measurements would be meaningless.

The kit also includes a String Action Gauge, which measures how high strings sit above the fretboard. The gauge displays measurements in inches, metric, and 64ths of an inch, so you can work with whatever measurement system your guitar's specifications use. A reference chart is printed on the gauge itself showing proper string heights for different instrument types.

The second tool is a Fret Gauge Measuring Tool that evaluates four specific things: whether frets are level relative to each other, whether frets are properly seated in their slots, the actual height of individual frets, and the width or size of the frets themselves. Unlike traditional feeler gauge sets, this tool is made from smooth stainless steel and doesn't require oil, making it cleaner and less messy to use. Instructions are printed directly on the handle.

Who Actually Needs This Kit

A fret evaluation kit is genuinely useful if you own multiple guitars and want to understand their actual condition, if you're buying a used guitar and need to assess what you're getting, or if you're having playability problems and want to know whether fret issues are the culprit. Repair technicians and luthiers use these tools regularly.

You don't need this kit for basic setup adjustments. Most guitarists can handle truss rod adjustments, bridge height changes, and string replacements with basic tools. But if you want to know whether your frets themselves are the problem—whether they're worn, uneven, or improperly seated—these tools give you real data rather than guesses.

Getting Accurate Results from Your Measurements

A fret rocker is only as useful as your technique. The straightedges need to lie flat across the frets with consistent, gentle pressure. You're looking for light gaps that indicate high or low frets, not trying to force the rocker down. Using all four included sizes lets you check different sections and fret combinations, which helps you understand whether the problem is localized or affects the whole neck.

The MusicNomad MN870 kit includes a reference chart for proper action heights by instrument type, which removes guesswork about what your measurements should actually be. The pickup height ruler included in the kit helps you fine-tune pickup position, which affects both tone and action feel.

Maintenance and Care

Precision tools like the MusicNomad Precision Fret Evaluation Kit need straightforward care. Keep the stainless steel edges clean and dry. Store them in a safe place where they won't get bent or dropped. The precision tolerances that make these tools useful also mean they can be damaged by impact or incorrect storage. Treat them as precision instruments, not workshop tools to be thrown in a toolbox.

Once you understand what your frets are actually doing, you can make smarter decisions about whether your guitar needs professional fret work or whether other adjustments might solve your playability problems.

The product in this guide: MusicNomad Precision Fret Evaluation Kit with Fret Rocker & Gauge (MN870)