File:Basic guitar toolkit by TT Zop.jpg

Tools used to perform this retrofit (Gold Top Retrofit):

• The Gibson Les Paul Handbook by Paul Balmer ($16.50 from Amazon)
• Dremel™ rotary tool (grinding, fret polishing)
• Screwdriver with hex head socket, multiple tips stored inside
  • Hex bit for the above, to use sockets
  • Deep 1/4" socket, for jack and pot nuts
  • Narrow walled 5/16" socket, for truss rod adjustment
• Small Phillips and Standard tip jeweler's screwdrivers
• Wire snips and needle-nosed pliers
• Multimeter, digital auto range ($13 on eBay)
• Pair of alligator clip leads
• Micrometer, with digital readout ($12 on eBay)
• X-Acto™ knife
• Small pistol-grip battery-powered drill with hex head socket
• Turbo Tune string winder, pulls apart for drill use ($8 from Stew-Mac)
• Helping Hands clips w/ lighted magnifier and soldering station
• 25 Watt soldering iron (pen type), chisel tip
• Desoldering bulb, solder wick for cleanup
• Solder, 60/40 resin core
• Wire strippers
• Bright halogen desk lamp
• Acrylic ruler with metal straightedge to check fret level (not shown)

Also essential: Besides a few cleaning/polishing products, three large thick bath towels to lay flat or roll up, to both support and protect the guitar.

Don't let a fear of soldering prevent you from doing your own guitar work. If you can play guitar, you already have more than enough dexterity to do it. Basic instructions and how-to videos are all over the Web; spend five minutes to learn and five minutes to practice, and you'll have it down.