Anyone own the Stew Mac Jack the Gripper tool?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Electronics,_pickups/Jack_The_Gripper.html?tab=Pictures#details

Does it work well? Is it worth the money?

Allparts has a plastic tool that's supposed to do the same thing: http://www.allparts.com/Bullet-Guitar-Jack-Tightener-p/lt-1400-023.htm

It doesn't work very well. The hex part that holds the nut strips pretty easily.

The StewMac tool looks great, and I've thought many times about buying one.

I also bought the Allparts tool ($12 on Amazon)...and I'm very close to stripping it. It should have been made of harder plastic, or maybe aluminium.

As usual, StewMac's tools seem somewhat expensive, but very good indeed!

http://www.allparts.com/Bullet-Guitar-Jack-Tightener-p/LT-1400-023.htm
I don't have this, but was going to try it soon.

http://www.allparts.com/Bullet-Guitar-Jack-Tightener-p/LT-1400-023.htm
I don't have this, but was going to try it soon.

Is this the one that you guys were saying is made of plastic and strips?

Is this the one that you guys were saying is made of plastic and strips?

Yes.

I have the Stew Mac Jack The Gripper tool and there is absolutely no plastic in it.

As most things are with Stew Mac, it is pricey but it is well made and works wonderfully.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

http://www.stewmac.com/product_images/1lg/0814/Jack_The_Gripper_sm.jpg

As most things are with Stew Mac, it is pricey but it is well made and works wonderfully.

Trudat. I've never, ever been disappointed by a tool I bought from StewMac. There have been things I copied myself, but sometimes I weigh the the cost of my time making the tool vs. the cost, and usually it works out about even.

There are lots of things in their catalog that are overpriced repurposing of other tools, but this doesn't seem to be one of them. I can't find a cheaper version of something like this elsewhere. If you're working on a lot of guitars, this seems to be the go-to tool, and well worth it.

The JackTight tool (http://www.amazon.com/JackTight-Electric-Guitar-Output-Repair/dp/B0062OJV0I/ref=pd_cp_MI_0) ($17) looks interesting too...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51P38gNyFSL._AA1000_.jpg

http://jacktight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IMG_0238-300x200.jpg

$36.70 for that!!!!

Absurd.

I bought this guy a year or two ago and it is an essential tool that works perfectly. It is an extremely clever design -- simply tighten the set screw at the top and the knurled piece in the jack widens to hold it in place while you tighten the nut. I have a number of guitars and eventually all the jack nuts slip a bit. Take out my little tool and fix them in a second. Plus it is cheap -- got mine for $15.

String Swing Guitar Jack Tool .
Believe me, it works.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31VMXv%2Bp4LL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/6/001/420/942/DV019_Jpg_Regular_713107_in_use_on_guitar.jpg

I have the one from All Parts. I agree it may not be the best built, but for snugging up a nut on a jack cup every now and then it's fine.

If I was working on lots of guitars all the time, I'd get the one from StewMac.

Cheap tools are almost never worth the price. I'm not accusing the Allparts and String Swing tools of being cheap, but if you use tools a lot, or use them for a living, the more expensive tools are usually higher quality and last longer, which makes them cheaper in the long run. I wouldn't use a plastic tool for anything except extremely light-duty work.

Cheap tools are almost never worth the price

Dude, we aren't removing control rods from a nuclear reactor here. We simply want a tool to hold the jack in place while you tighten the nut. What exactly do you think a tool for that little task should be priced at? Near $50?!?

I have quite succesfully used bent knitting sticks for this. You know, sticks used to knitt ( hope I use the right word, this is neither my first language or my field of expertise, knitting i.e.) A better tool would be good if I would need it more orten than I do but for occasional work it is sufficient IME, YMMV

It doesn't look like the String Swing or the JackTight work on recessed jacks, like you have on a Tele.

If the jack is surface mounted then I use something similar to drvoodoo's bent knitting needles.

The StewMac tool was invented by Frank Ford, who is the king of finding cheap, practical tools to get the job done. I gotta believe that if there were a better & cheaper way of getting at the recessed jacks, he would have just published an article on his website. He tells you how to do damned near everything else!

Frank is the man!

Good tools do not not cost you money, they make you money.

It doesn't look like the String Swing or the JackTight work on recessed jacks, like you have on a Tele.

If the jack is surface mounted then I use something similar to drvoodoo's bent knitting needles.

The StewMac tool was invented by Frank Ford, who is the king of finding cheap, practical tools to get the job done. I gotta believe that if there were a better & cheaper way of getting at the recessed jacks, he would have just published an article on his website. He tells you how to do damned near everything else!

I agree about the String Swing tool, but the JackTight looks to me like it would have plenty of "reach".

But, as you rightly say, StewMac tools - while they may never be the cheapest - always work beautifully.

go to frets.com and frank ford teaches youhow to make one that works.

Stewmac. Always a bit pricey but always exactly what you need for the job.

I bought the toggle switch wrench below and have used it exactly ONCE but it is perfect for the job.



.

String Swing Guitar Jack Tool .
Believe me, it works.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31VMXv%2Bp4LL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/6/001/420/942/DV019_Jpg_Regular_713107_in_use_on_guitar.jpg

That looks like a nice tool but will it work with a socket for recessed jacks?

Here is the Stew Mac tool:
123534

Dude, we aren't removing control rods from a nuclear reactor here. We simply want a tool to hold the jack in place while you tighten the nut. What exactly do you think a tool for that little task should be priced at? Near $50?!?

:lol:

Seems like a cool tool, but wHY would you need one for a Strat????
There are 2 screws to remove and you pull the jack plate off, hold the jack and tighten it, that's the way I have always tightened a loose jack on a Strat.

That looks like a nice tool but will it work with a socket for recessed jacks?

Yes, the String Swing tool works perfectly in a Strat jack. The tool head is rather small and it sits perfectly in the Start jack plate. (And as Ringo pointed out if your Strat jack slips, you really don't need a tool. Just take the plate off, flip it over and tighten away. However, the process is easier with this tool.)

As for the recessed Tele jack....I just checked and, yes, that tool's nose is long enough to reach and hold the jack and still give you ample room to get to the nut. Only thing on a Tele is that you'll have to use a needle nose pliers to reach in the well to tighten the nut.

I have a number of guitars so this tool was a definite buy. All jacks eventually loosen. I reach into my kit, take out this tool, tighten up the jack, done. Takes me all of about twenty seconds. It's made of solid brass, it ain't breaking down. For under $20 the thing is a steal.

go to frets.com and frank ford teaches youhow to make one that works.

Ed, did you find something besides his article on how he actually manufactures the gripper tool? This is what I found: http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/Products/JackTheGripper/jackthegripper.html

Fascinating, but since I don't have a machine shop and don't need 100 of them, it's a little out of reach...