MusicNomad makes dozens of instruments and equipment for musicians and people answerable for caring for our devices. Judging by the objects despatched to me for evaluate, the corporate’s ethos appears to be making instruments which can be straightforward sufficient for the DIY tech however stable sufficient for a professional. I’m undoubtedly within the first camp—a tinkerer who likes to see what I can do alone earlier than taking a guitar to a tech. Generally, this has labored out. Different occasions . . . properly, let’s simply say I nonetheless really feel unhealthy about the best way I destroyed my Ovation—a guitar with nice sentimental worth—as a result of I didn’t know what the heck I used to be doing.

I acquired a small number of MusicNomad’s many out there objects, together with the Tri-Beam 3 ’n 1 Twin Notched Straightedge and Precision Straightedge ($39.99), the Fret Leveler L-Beam ($34.99–$74.99, relying on size), and the Fret Defend ($49.99 for guitar sizes, $54.99 for bass). All the objects seemed and felt well-made. Having borrowed instruments from a professional tech good friend that frankly confused me (his teaching didn’t assist), I appreciated how MusicNomad’s instruments are clearly marked and include on-line steering.

The Tri-Beam Twin Straightedge and the L-Beam each felt hefty and properly weighted, which gave me a way of confidence. These and different MusicNomad instruments are designed for precision, and the corporate says its meticulous manufacturing course of ensures accuracy and prevents flex. The instruments I checked out have been additionally ergonomically designed and simple to carry.

The L-Beam is available in three lengths: the seven-inch (18 cm) mannequin I acquired, in addition to 17.6-inch (45 cm) and 24-inch (61 cm) variations. That aforementioned heft is meant to let the load of the instrument do the work. As with the straightedge, MusicNomad paid consideration to user-friendly particulars: the deal with is each snug and slip-resistant, whereas the radius-beveled edge helps forestall harm to higher frets. The corporate states that its prime and backside flat edges are manufactured with an accuracy tolerance of ±.00125 inches per foot. The leveler even consists of built-in storage and comes with 3M Stikit Gold Abrasive strips.

The patent-pending Fret Defend is designed to guard the fretboard throughout fretwork and is available in six completely different scale sizes (together with a 34-inch model for bass). The chrome steel defend is .008 inches thick (.20 mm) and is precision-manufactured to get rid of any tough edges that might harm wooden.

These instruments gave me the boldness to sort out a few initiatives that had been sitting untouched since pre-Covid. And whereas I is probably not engaged on frets every single day, the gear I examined made me wish to try MusicNomad’s on a regular basis upkeep kits and setup instruments. musicnomadcare.com

This text initially appeared within the Could/June 2025 subject of Acoustic Guitar journal.