I was very lucky that in primary school it was all imperial,

I can't remember that far back @robin!!

I can visualise distances more easily/accurately in inches/feet.  But I'll use metric for any measuring that I do.  As MattB says, it's far easier (IMHO) to measure a precise distance in metric than in imperial.

Maybe I'm bi-lingual.

I happily converted to the metric system  after moving to Germany, it’s soooo much simpler and more accurate imo.

I still measure a few things in imperial like fretwire, action and scale length but pretty much everything else I would use metric.

@mattbeels Yeah, in a lot of ways Europe is superior to the colonies! (Joke 😆)

The only thing I measure in imperial is scale length, only because it’s part of the terminology in guitar making.

Im just glad I didn’t take up a hobby in pyramid building, I’d have to learn everything in cubits. 😳 

, it’s soooo much simpler and more accurate imo.

I think it's telling that machinists who work in Imperial (i.e. mostly Americans and old school British) work in thousands (or ten thousandths) of an inch. Multiples of ten are just so much easier to deal with.

So it's okay that I use imperial? Got it, cheers.

Use what works @cheesewhisk! I mainly use metric but somethings (especially string action and fretwire) I use imperial.

Although when I measure action on a concert guitar I use metric 🤷🏼‍♂️ so yeah, whatever you like.

I was joking about imperial to be fair. I use metric because that's what we were taught at school. Many, many moons ago. But yeah certain things you just use imperial because it's the standard ie 25" scale length.

On the subject of Imperial v Metric. Does anyone know if there is any need for Imperial drill bits or can I always use Metric? 

🙂🙏🎸🎶

@Russ - I needed to get a 1/2" bit once when I was using imperial sized bridge posts.

There was no way that a 12.5mm hole was going to be big enough, and the posts just fell out of a 13mm hole (drilled in a test piece, naturally).  You might not think that 0.2mm *diameter* would make that much difference, but it did!

@Russ - I needed to get a 1/2" bit once when I was using imperial sized bridge posts

Cheers @tv101. I thought that there may be some hardware from America that could be made with Imperial measurements. I guess I'll just have to watch out when buying parts. 👍 

🙂🙏🎸🎶

@russ

If you’re doing repairs and refitting old parts that need to be shimmed then Imperial would be needed, but if you are only doing new builds them all parts can be sourced from European suppliers which are metric. You can also buy metric which are a good match for imperial, like 6-34mm is 1/4 inch. Engineering supply companies like MSC in the UK are best for this. There will always be run out on a drill so go a bit smaller then what you think you need.

 You might not think that 0.2mm *diameter* would make that much difference, but it did!

I have experienced the same with bridge post holes. I have a 3/8" for , if I recall correctly,  Floyd Rose posts, which is about 9.5mm 
The funny thing is. I bought that drill that was advertised as a 9.5mm drill, but it is in fact a 3/8" bit ( ok it is almost the same ). Usually for bridge posts I can get by with my 10 and 11 mm drill bits.

Engineering supply companies like MSC in the UK are best for this.

Cheers @rocknroller912. Thanks for the advice.

🎶🎸🙏🙂

when he remembered that it's a 22 fret solo and he was playing a 21 fret guitar!

For that, they invented bending! 😉 

ok ok I ll shut up now with my witty remarks 😎 

For that, they invented bending!  

@koendb

If you're familiar with Dave Kilminster, you'll know that if it was physically possible to play, he'll have done it (and most probably if it wasn't).

He's an absolute monster of a guitarist, the Dave Gilmour stuff is child's play to him technically.

Though of course Gilmour isn't about technique, but tone, melody and feel. I'll always remember a guitarist who walked into Hot Strings in Coventry where I used to hang out, he was trying out a strat and was a pretty hot player in the 80s rock sort of style, but he said his favourite player was Dave Gilmour. And in this thick Scottish accent said "I canna understand it, his strings are THIS thick <indicates a diameter of about half an inch> they're THIS far off the fret board <indicates a distance of about an inch> he goes donk, donk, donk <mimics slow heavy fretting movements> and it sounds AMAZING"

And in this thick Scottish accent said "I canna understand it, his strings are THIS thick <indicates a diameter of about half an inch> they're THIS far off the fret board <indicates a distance of about an inch> he goes donk, donk, donk <mimics slow heavy fretting movements> and it sounds AMAZING"

Haha Don't you just love listening to stories like that? , god I miss talking ( or rather, listening ) to people with a good story while having a beer

I miss talking ( or rather, listening ) to people with a good story while having a beer

Yup, you said it dude @koendb 

Does anyone know if there is any need for Imperial drill bits or can I always use Metric? 

 

The answer to that question depends on the specified diameter of your metric equivalent drills. A 12.7mm drill is a perfectly acceptable, and very accurate, alternative to a 1/2” and it is unlikely that a 9.5mm drill would be anything other than an acceptable alternative to a 3/8”. Would a 12.5mm or a 9mm/10mm drill do instead? In many cases the answer may be not. So, if you can get yourself a metric equivalent within 0.1mm of the imperial diameter then you should be fine for woodwork. Metric drills in 0.1 increments are available on line, but just not in Wickes or Screwfix.

Don’t buy any drill or router bits from DIY stores like Wickes or Homebase, disaster waiting to happen

I miss talking ( or rather, listening ) to people with a good story while having a beer

Yup, you said it dude @koendb 

Yep, it’s going to make a comeback though, have you heard? ✊

Don’t buy any drill or router bits from DIY stores like Wickes or Homebase, disaster waiting to happen

Don’t buy any*thing* from Wickes or Homebase or (my particular object of hate, B&Q).

B&Q in particular make it easy to follow the “don’t buy” guidance as they’re generally out of stock of anything you might have wanted to buy.