PRE-DESIGNED & CUSTOM MULTISCALE FRET SLOTTING JIGS

Oct 9, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jun 5

SIMPLE TO USE

Guaranteed accuracy, no measuring or adjustments required for the fret angles - simply place the template over the fretboard and saw!.

FEATURED TESTIMONIAL

“Hi Gary, Here's what I built using your #6.5 tooling........

.........Your tooling is awesome, so well made and easy to use. I built this to get my first taste of multi-scale. I would NOT have done my first without your tooling, which makes it so very much easier. And accurate....dead on perfect. Body, semi-hollow, Poplar core with Sapele plates. Indian Rosewood fretboard, turquoise markers, Pau Rosa binding. Ambrosia Maple neck. Walnut and Myrtle burl head. Sam Maloof poly/oil finish. Thanks for everything, Oh, and whoever devised/ the layout gauge

deserves a medal!”, Steve Davis, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

JIG CONTENTS

Solid Jig Base - Constructed from planed hardwood, with side mounting strips, grooved rubber grip on top for seating the fretboard & rubber feet on the underside.

Multiscale Layout Gauge - For nut and bridge positioning - in addition to general layout assistance and planning- see further below.

Multiscale Fret Slotting Template - See further below.

Special Fixed Depth Fretsaw - See further below.

Fret Slot Locators - To maintain positional relationship of the template and fretboard slots throughout cutting.

JIG SET UP & USE

The jig base has a ribbed top to help restrict movement of the fretboard.

The fretboard blank width should be trimmed for a snug fit inside the jig base side plates.

The multiscale fretboard template rests directly on top of the fretboard and is fastened in position via screws along the sides of the jig base.

A fret slot locator should be inserted after cutting the initial slot. It is recommended to use both slot locators and position these at opposite ends of the fretboard.

MULTISCALE JIG FRETSAW

Fret slot depth is achieved when the fretsaw spine contacts the top surface of the template. The fretsaw supplied – 4.5mm depth – includes an allowance for the template thickness. 5 blades are included with the saw.

The saw blade is guided in the template slots and the teeth pass through notches at the corners of the template.

MULTISCALE LAYOUT GAUGE

The Multiscale Layout Gauge is an invaluable reference tool for the instrument build. The gauge ensures correct positioning of the nut, bridge and geometric relationships of the scales with reference to the centre line of the instrument as follows:

Nut Angle

Bridge Angle

Treble Scale Length

Bass Scale Length

Nut String Spacing (Overall)

Bridge String Spacing (Overall)

.......“I’ve just been drawing up full size plans for a tenor guitar, and the layout gauge has already paid for itself for that purpose alone. So much time saved from measuring and marking and joining points. It’s worth when it comes to neck alignment and bridge placement etc is already very apparent. Wonderful, Thanks!”. T.P., Bristol, UK.

PRE-DESIGNED JIG SPECIFICATIONS

Specification Format:

(Jig# Scales-Strings-Nut-Bridge-Level Fret)

(#6.1) 24"-25.5"-6str-35mm-53mm-7th

(#6.2) 24.5"-26"-6str-35mm-53mm-7th

(#6.3) 24.75"-25.5"-6str-34mm-55.5mm-8th

(#6.4) 24.75"-26.5"-6str-35mm-53mm-9th

(#6.5) 25.5"-27.5"-6str-36mm-54mm-9th

(#6.6) 25.5"-26.5"-6str-38mm-53mm-9th

(#7.1) 25"-26.5"-7str-40mm-63mm-8th

(#7.2) 25.5"-27"-7str-40mm-63mm-8th

(#7.4) 26.5"-28"-7str-43mm-63mm-9th