Norris Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Having read the threads in the Bass Guitar forum about carrying a backup bass (or not - I don't), I wondered how many of you carry a toolkit with you, and what you put in it. I always carry a toolkit containing: Spare strings (min 1 set, pref 2) Spare strap Pliers (large and thin-nose) Side cutters Screwdrivers of various sizes Allen keys of various sizes Stanley knife Soldering iron & solder Chunk of wood with 1/4" hole drilled in it (for holding jack plugs while soldering them) A variety of connectors, bits of wire, straplocks, etc. Gaffa tape Multimeter Over the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 All sorts of random stuff. Yeah strings and picks and batteries, allen keys, screwdrivers, coax wire cutters / strippers, multimeter, spare mains, XLR, instrument + speaker cables, spare strap, upright bass preamp, wire coathanger, kazoo, gas soldering iron + solder + braid, SM58 clone, spare mic clips and inserts, I can do just about everything at a venue except replace frets and nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawman Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) my in-case toolkit consists of 1 allen key 1 cloth 1 set of strings 1 pair of snips 2 spare batteries so comparing the two...i would say slightly OTT Edited March 24, 2011 by Shawman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Pretty much the same with the exception of the bit of wood. I just get a guitarist to hold the 1/4 jack in his left hand. Basically I have what was supposed to be a laptop case (tho the laptop would have to be about 8" thick ) & it's filled with the main leads that I use & then a load of spare cables, jacks, multitools, screwdrivers, strings, callgirl cards, adaptors, soldering iron, solder, a mic, & some other odds & sods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Hmm... Not carrying a spare set of strings can be disastrous... but I've always been able to improvise with anything else... I sometimes take a swiss army knife, but often forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 We've had a few threads on this and bass players seem to be a good point of call for spares. I even carry capos and plectrums in mine for other band members. Mine has a folding "Guitool" with all the screwdrivers etc, a towel, a stand, spare leads & instrument cables, fuses, straps, strings and a bit of band merch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Adjustable spanner Allen keys, about a million Araldite rapid Batteries Cable tester (homebrew) Cable ties Double-sided tape Files Fluke multimeter Flux Fuses Gascat soldering iron Insulating tape Knives Nail clippers Pens & chinagraphs, various Pliers Safety pins Scissors Screwdrivers, various Screws Side-cutters Solder Spare 12AX7 preamp valve Spare jack plugs/sockets Strings Superglue Switch cleaner Thread-lock Torch Various electronic components Wet wipes Wire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Oh lordy, I'm gonna regret this... Allen keys (hex) Allen keys (torx) Soldering Iron Two gauges of solder Desolder tool (various) Tip cleaner HRC Fuses FB Fuses SB Fuses Wrist strap and isolation box DVM Clamp Meter Fluke Net analysis meter RJ45 tester Cable tester Screwdrivers (flat) Screwdrivers (torx) Screwdrivers (posi) Screwdrivers (phillips) Cutters (various) Pliers (various) Mole grips (various) Adjustable spanners (various) Small spanners Socket set Trimtools XLRs (M & F) Speakons (M & F) Jack plugs and sockets (6.25 & 3.5mm) Wire strippers (pistol grip and rotational) Scissors Steel rule Stanley knife Various craft knives Superglue WD40 Blutak Switch cleaner Isopropyl Alcohol Thread lock Solder paste Crimptool (standard terminals) Crimptool (RJ45) Crimptool (RJ11) Punch tool (Krone) Punch tool (110) Punch tool (433A) Assorted crimp assemblies 16A commandos (M & F) Mains plugs and trailing sockets. Files Batteries Torch Insulating tape Gaffa Tape Self amalgamating tape Masking tape Various lumps of cable Various pens Various nuts, bolts and washers Various electronic components It all fits in one tool box that needs both hands to lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky72 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Allen keys Screwdriver (flathead & crosshead) Adjustable spanner Pliers Duct tape Plectrums (even though I play fingers just for emergencies) Electrical tape Sweat towel Spare kettle lead Spare speaker lead Spare guitar lead Spare set of schaller straplocks Spare set of strings Spare batteries Marker pen Band business cards Jack plug converters for iPod into various PAs Free Cheeseburger vouchers for McDonalds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 As well ascend usual Allen keys, screwdrivers etc, I always take the following to any gigs I do: Towel Liquid soap The reason? To remove the grime from my fingers amassed during gear set up on stage. Some of the folks I played with kind of thought it was strange, but when they too went on stage with clean hands, every one said they felt better when playing. Or maybe myself and the folks I play with are just wierdos? Hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Most of the above; not an allen key as I wouldn't need one (being a double bass player). But one very useful piece of kit is a 100mm length of welding rod with a hook formed at one end. This makes changing strings much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky72 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) [quote name='kevin_lindsay' post='1174712' date='Mar 24 2011, 02:34 PM']As well ascend usual Allen keys, screwdrivers etc, I always take the following to any gigs I do: Towel Liquid soap The reason? To remove the grime from my fingers amassed during gear set up on stage. Some of the folks I played with kind of thought it was strange, but when they too went on stage with clean hands, every one said they felt better when playing. Or maybe myself and the folks I play with are just wierdos? Hahaha[/quote] Not a bad idea... i might get some, or maybe some of that sanitiser stuff we use at festivals to stay clean... Edited March 24, 2011 by Clarky72 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 MB1. Whats in your Toilet? "Sorry! should have gone to Specsavers!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 pretty much everything plus my car has a decent tool kit as well. Allen keys, spare fuses, mini tool kit etc etc ... it all goes in my gig bag with leads, strings, batts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='kevin_lindsay' post='1174712' date='Mar 24 2011, 02:34 PM']As well ascend usual Allen keys, screwdrivers etc, I always take the following to any gigs I do: Towel Liquid soap The reason? To remove the grime from my fingers amassed during gear set up on stage. Some of the folks I played with kind of thought it was strange, but when they too went on stage with clean hands, every one said they felt better when playing. Or maybe myself and the folks I play with are just wierdos? Hahaha[/quote] Yeah, stuff to clean your hands. One of the pubs I play at regularly gives out free food in the interval. Usually pizza, samozas etc, and no cutlery. I only ate once without cleaning my hands afterwards. Disgusting greasy smelly strings. On the spares/tools bit, I'm pretty much the same as most of you. The best string trimmers I've ever found to carry around are Shimano cable cutters, designed for bicycle gear and brake cables. Light and lethal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='icastle' post='1174677' date='Mar 24 2011, 02:16 PM']Oh lordy, I'm gonna regret this... [i]<vast list of stuff>[/i] It all fits in one tool box that needs both hands to lift.[/quote] Wow, and I thought [i]my[/i] list was a bit geeky... sir, I take my hat off to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 * Two bags of grass * Seventy-five pellets of mescaline * Five sheets of high-powered blotter acid * A saltshaker half-full of cocaine * A whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='skankdelvar' post='1174961' date='Mar 24 2011, 05:27 PM']* Two bags of grass * Seventy-five pellets of mescaline * Five sheets of high-powered blotter acid * A saltshaker half-full of cocaine * A whole galaxy of multi-colored uppers, downers, screamers, laughers... Also, a quart of tequila, a quart of rum, a case of beer, a pint of raw ether, and two dozen amyls.[/quote] What happened to the Bessemer converter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 This question comes up every now and again. It seems that there are two camps. Those who take tons of unnecessary stuff and seem to be prepared for every eventuality, and those who've been gigging years and have found that it doesn't matter what you take you won't have what you need. When you start out playing gigs you take hardly anything. The amount of stuff you take gradually increases as the gigs get more important and you get paranoid about; what if this happens, what if that happens. Then as the years go by you realise, if you have good gear, stuff just works like it should and you cut right back down to bare essentials. Toolkit: wire cutters, screwdriver for bass battery compartment. I fix stuff at home I replace stuff at gigs so I carry: Spare bass, spare strings, battery, DI for PA (in case of amp failure), spare mains lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 What? No Superglue? But it's in the rules! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='Rich' post='1174594' date='Mar 24 2011, 01:34 PM'][color="#0000FF"][size=4]Safety pins[/size][/color][/quote] Just that made me laugh! As my dear old Mum used to say, " If you're going on stage in them trousers - make sure you've got a safety pin with you" God that was a long time ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='Rich' post='1174765' date='Mar 24 2011, 03:11 PM']Wow, and I thought [i]my[/i] list was a bit geeky... sir, I take my hat off to you [/quote] I'd take my hat off as well... just need to find my hat removing tool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TankJon Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) [quote name='icastle' post='1174677' date='Mar 24 2011, 02:16 PM']Oh lordy, I'm gonna regret this... Allen keys (hex) Allen keys (torx) Soldering Iron Two gauges of solder Desolder tool (various) Tip cleaner HRC Fuses FB Fuses SB Fuses Wrist strap and isolation box DVM Clamp Meter Fluke Net analysis meter RJ45 tester Cable tester Screwdrivers (flat) Screwdrivers (torx) Screwdrivers (posi) Screwdrivers (phillips) Cutters (various) Pliers (various) Mole grips (various) Adjustable spanners (various) Small spanners Socket set Trimtools XLRs (M & F) Speakons (M & F) Jack plugs and sockets (6.25 & 3.5mm) Wire strippers (pistol grip and rotational) Scissors Steel rule Stanley knife Various craft knives Superglue WD40 Blutak Switch cleaner Isopropyl Alcohol Thread lock Solder paste Crimptool (standard terminals) Crimptool (RJ45) Crimptool (RJ11) Punch tool (Krone) Punch tool (110) Punch tool (433A) Assorted crimp assemblies 16A commandos (M & F) Mains plugs and trailing sockets. Files Batteries Torch Insulating tape Gaffa Tape Self amalgamating tape Masking tape Various lumps of cable Various pens Various nuts, bolts and washers Various electronic components It all fits in one tool box that needs both hands to lift.[/quote] Why on earth would anyone need IPA and all the network cable tools and tester for gigging? ...assuming of course its your gig tool kit and not for work Edited March 24, 2011 by TankJon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Multi-tool plier thing. Small screwdriver to turn the 'mute' on the amp. The button fell out a while ago. Prostitute. Strings. That's it. I always take two basses with me just in case. Honestly, I've never had to do anything except change a string at a practice or gig. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icastle Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 [quote name='TimR' post='1174990' date='Mar 24 2011, 05:53 PM']This question comes up every now and again. It seems that there are two camps. Those who take tons of unnecessary stuff and seem to be prepared for every eventuality, and those who've been gigging years and have found that it doesn't matter what you take you won't have what you need.[/quote] In fairness I should point out that my electronics toolkit reflects the industry I work in and there are items in it that I'd never expect to have to use at a gig (a Fluke NetTool for example!). I just keep all my electronics tools in one place because I find it easier than having different toolkits for different jobs. If you think my toolkit is bad you wanna see my first aid kit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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