Precision Guitar String Cutter

Ordinary household pliers crush a guitar string rather than cutting it, which leaves a ragged burr that snags case linings, catches clothing and occasionally draws blood. This cutter uses a hardened carbon steel jaw ground to a clean shear, so the string parts cleanly and flush and the cut end is smooth enough to leave as it is.

The jaw is narrow enough to reach in beside a tuning post, which is where string ends actually need trimming and where a bulky pair of side cutters simply will not fit. It also handles fret wire during a refret without rolling or chipping the cutting edge, which is a genuine test of steel quality. The handles are sized for controlled one-handed use rather than brute leverage, and that is the right approach when you are working a few millimetres from a headstock finish.

It belongs in a guitar technician's kit, a luthier's bench drawer and any gig bag belonging to someone who changes their own strings. Keep the jaw clean and dry between uses to preserve the edge. A drop of light oil on the pivot once a year keeps the action smooth and stops the jaw binding when you need it mid-string-change.

• Carbon steel construction
• Precision ground cutting jaw
• Narrow head for tight access
• Suits strings and fret wire