I never play a gig without these 8 essential tools – build your own guitar first aid kit from just $8.99 in the Prime Day sales

These Craftman Allen Wrenches will cover any guitar setup scenario you're ever likely to face, thanks to the mix of imperial and metric sizing to cover guitars made in different places. The bottom end of them is rounded off, which is super handy for getting into places where you can't necessarily go straight into the slot, and a universal T-handle adapter gives you extra leverage when you need it. They’re over 50% off at the moment, making them an absolute bargain. Buy these, and you'll never need another set of Allen wrenches again.

These Workpro Wire Cutters are fantastic for cutting strings and will do any gauge of string, even those on a bass. They're lightweight, but the grippy handle gives you plenty of leverage, while the hardened cutting edges ensure it'll make light work of old strings. For just $9.99 in the Amazon Prime Day sale, this is a must-buy for anyone working on their own guitars.

You're probably thinking, over $25 for a ruler? Well, it is more expensive than the cheaper ones on Amazon, but there's a good reason for that. The first thing is that Stew Mac takes the time to ensure that the edge is a 'true zero', meaning it's far more accurate than cheaper stamping machines can do. When we're talking fractions of an inch, that matters a lot. The satin finish also makes it easy to read under any light, making it much more useful than many of the cheaper, chrome options available. It's normally just below the $40 mark, so well worth picking up at this price in the Prime Day sale.

There aren't many discounts on string winders in the Prime Day sale, mainly because they're so cheap anyway. If you're all about getting as much value from your money as possible, however, this Powered by Rock Guitar String Winder has a cheeky 5% discount to save you a tiny bit more money. It's part string winder, string cutter, and peg puller, making it a versatile tool for any guitar player's gig bag or tool kit. It's bright red too, which immediately makes it better than a black one.

A capo is often an overlooked tool for setting up guitars that comes in handy for a variety of things. I use a capo for measuring the action on a guitar, checking the neck relief, looking at the nut slot height, as well as shimming and bridge adjustments, without having to remove the strings. A capo can also double as a handy desktop stand for headphones or cables! This Kyser Quick Change Capo has got a 12% discount in the sale, and is actually good for literal use as a capo!

This screwdriver is an absolutely amazing tool that will cover everything you're ever likely to face when setting up a guitar. With the addition of star keys, too, it also covers your interactions with other music gear like pedals and amps. The extra screw ends are stored in the handle, so less chance of losing them, plus you can use it as an impact driver attachment with your drill. For just $17.99, this is one tool no guitar player should be without.

Before I ever soldered anything, it seemed like this scary thing that only experts could do. As part of my music production course, one of my tutors took me through the process, and there was one thing that really surprised me. Soldering is actually a ridiculously simple process once you know how. It takes seconds, literally, to solder a joint. The most common repair I have to do is output jacks. Because they’re so frequently used, they’re one of the first things to go on a guitar, but they’re so easy to repair that it’s hardly worth the cost of taking it to a tech, especially when you can pick a soldering kit like this Yihua 60-Watt Soldering Iron for less than $40.

File sets are typically pretty expensive, and if you're doing proper luthier work, then I would recommend a Hosco or MusicNomad set for cutting brand new nuts or crowning frets. If you just want to slightly adjust your nut, however, this BeiXu File Set will do the job. It comes with a variety of fret dressing tools that are a great option for anyone who wants to get started doing fretwork or adjust a nut without having to spend hundreds of dollars on a file set.

If buying all of these things individually seems like a pain, or you just don't have the budget for it, this cheap Micling 72-piece tool kit on Amazon isn't bad considering what you get. These tools won't last as long as the ones I've listed above, but for just $11.99, I don't think anyone is expecting them to last for decades. It includes everything you need to set up a guitar: hex wrenches, files, string action rulers, radius gauges, feeler gauges, and a nice bag to store it all.