LMI Digital string height gauge

[Peterson]

Anyone use it and can you use it on bass guitars

 

[Turnaround]

You can use it on bass, but it doesn't work very accurately. The reason is the weight of the plunger pushes the string down a few thousandths of an inch on the open string. Consequently it will understate the actual string height every time. And because different strings have different tensions, they will deflect differently under the weight of the plunger. So though the instrument can measure up to 1 thousandths of an inch accuracy, that is a moot point since the plunger deflection on the open string is not accounted for.

 

[testing1two]

It looks like you can as the notch in the base is about the same size as the plunger. That said G-Tech Guitar Works makes a similar tool with a different baseplate that fits any bass string.

I'm just starting to try this type of gauge (damn you aging eyeballs) but I tend to favor using them backwards, meaning I push the plunger down until the strings touch the fret and hold it there while I zero the gauge. Then I release the plunger and the display shows a negative number. I'm not ready to trust it yet for relief measurements, but I do like it so far for string height.