Evenin' all,

Last saturday I had a last minute gig for which I had to improvise myself a pickholder (I'm a picker). I had nothing but my bassguitar, some ducttape and a youth spent watching the A-team and MacGyver. Anyhoo, I fashioned myself a nice double pickholder which worked surprisingly well (and got me, I am not ashamed to say, a little giddy with pride). So I was wondering, what are the little practical tricks 'n things you've all come up with? I imagine there have to be a lot them out there. Let's share, like your mother told you to. If you've got a little story about how your tip came about, by all means. Tell us. I'll go first.

Oh by the way, I have no idea if these things are all like common knowledge in bassistland. They weren't to me. If they are, I had no intention of insulting your intelligence. Please ignore.



1 - Pickholder out of ducttape
This one is of course only applicable if you're a picker (and aren't too paranoid about scratching your basses' finish), but here goes. You take yourself a piece of ducttape and fold it back lengthwise, so you're left with one totally smooth side, and one side that is half smooth and half sticky. Like a sort of post-it.
http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/pickholder1.gif
Thusly.

Stick it onto your axe. I put it on the inner side of the bottom horn, and another on on the outside of the bottom horn, but you can of course stick it wherever you like. Even where the sun don't shine.

Anyhoo, I've stuck it on my table for the next pic. Now, take two more pieces of ducttape and put them over the sides to keep your pick from falling out sideways, and you're done. Stick your picks in the pocket. Make sure it's tight, so the picks don't fall out during stage antics, daredevilry and/or tomfoolery.
http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/pickholder2.gif
Like so.

http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/pickholder3.gif
This is where I have them on my bass.



2 - Achoring your cable
Yes. I am aware this next one may be a very very bad idea due to risk of f*cking up your amp, but I thought I'd include it anyway.

Once at a gig I had this scorching basssolo, right after a tensionbuilding bridge. When the solo came around, I jumped from the monitor into the audience, ready to shine, only to hear *plnktbzzzzzzzzzzz*. Crapola. I'd pulled my cable out of my amp. Eversince that day, I anchor my cable at the ampside, the same way I anchor it on bassside. You know how you loop your cable through your strap to prevent your plug coming out of your bass when you step on the cable? I do the same ampside by looping my cable through the carryinghandle on the amp. As I said, this may be a really bad idea, depending on the cost or your rig, your jumpingaroundedness and your common sense, but hey. There it is.



3 - Rolling up your cable without them bunching together
I love this one. It's simple, easy, looks professional and preserves your cable: When you roll up your cable, give it a little twist forward with your left hand every time you make a new loop. This will keep your cables nice and tidy. You'll know when you're doing it right, 'cause the cables will be willing to go along with you. If you do it wrong you have to fight the cable so to speak. I'll try to get some pics online, that'll make things a lot clearer.



4 - Cheapass straplocks
I can't take credit for this one, I saw a few guitarists use this trick in bars. In the Netherlands we have a type of beerbottle which is closed with a sort of ceramic plug, held in place with a metal brace ("Grolsch beugelfles". Look it up). I don't know if you have these things in other countries, but you're bound to have something similar at least. Now, this ceramic plug is made watertight by a little orange rubber ring. This ring is a great straplock.

http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/straplock2.gif

Take it off of the plug and simply stretch it over your strapbuttons (after your strap of course). It should settle quite tightly over your buttons and act as a sort of washer ring, preventing your strap from falling off. Be careful though, as not all orangy rubbery rings are created equal. Some bottles have really loose rings, others have really tight ones. Of course, you'll want to avoid the loose ones and take the tight ones home. Chuckle.

http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/straplock.gif
Here's one I made earlier. On my geetah.

Though I can't be held responsible for any damage to your bass, due to failure of said cheapass straplocks, I've never seen these fail or heard of them failing yet. Ever. In the history of man. Ever. So. Yeah.

That's it for now, now tell me yours. Aaaaaaaand go.

Some of those ideas, like the strap lock, are really cool. Thanks for posting!

For you (us) finger stylers....


Whenever you wind up with raw fingertips, or need an "instant callous", drop a few drops of Krazy glue on a coaster, cigarette box, etc. , and sweep your finger tips through it. It also gives a nice percussive sound..

Methinks that, if this topic gets enough advice, it should be stickied...but that's just what I think.

Anyway, when I think of something useful to add here, I'll post it.

I use these on my bass:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/0257

Similar idea to the washers.

Go wireless or get a 40-50ft instrument cable made up so you can go FOH during sound check to really hear how the band sounds.

Loved the straplock.

However, plastering your picks to the lower horn with duct tape would seem quite fugly, as it is in the picture. You honestly do that? I ask because that would seem to really ugly up the bass and the glue left over is only going to get worse.

They make these pick holders that stick onto your guitar and dispense picks like coins in a car made before easy pass. Pretty cool IMO. Although duct tape is the more fiscal option.

http://www.ironsun.nl/talkbass/straplock.gif
Here's one I made earlier. On my geetah.

Are you from boston?

Just kidding, these "tips" are great... I already did the loop thing on the amp side and the winding your cable. but that grolsch beer straplock.....
http://www.peoplejam.com/files/u1811/GuinnessBrilliant.jpg
BRILLIANT!!

Damn, I'm getting the most credit for the one thing I didn't come up with myself, hehe

Anyhoo, yes, I realize some (most?) people will find the ducttape pickholder very ugly, but I kinda like that look, the "I just keep patching my bass up, it barely holds together" look. Plus, I like the punkrock idea of doing it yourself and sticking it to the man by not buying his prefab pickdispensers (and instead buying his ducttape :smug:). I did have that dispenserthingy on a guitar of mine, but - besides the sticking-it-to-the-man argument - this selfmade monstrosity is actually a lot more practical. I found that when you lose your pick in the middle of a song, my ducttap pickholder is a lot easier to quickly grab a new pick out of than the dispenser. Though I guess this would also depend on the type of pick you're using of course.

Anyhoo, (why do all my paragraphs start with "anyhoo"?)
Keep posting your practical ideas everyone!

I use these on my bass:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/0257

Similar idea to the washers.

I see. But do you get two free beers with those?

ha *HA*. Touché sir.

I love the "instant callous" idea prokfrog... I've had it happen to me before but never realized it could be something bass-related!

I like the pocket design of your pick holders, though it would work much better on a pick guard instead of the actual bass' body. I always stick an extra pick in my cell phone too.

However, I'd much rather have a nice expensive pair of straplocks considering that they are protecting the floor from rapidly coming in contact with my bass.

I posted this in the "A440" thread and thought I'd put it here...

The dial tone on the telephone (land line, of course) is A440. Just pick up the phone and tune your "A" string to the dial tone!

I've used it in a pinch when there's been no other tuning alternative - works like a charm!!!

Yes, I know it's getting harder to find a telephone with a dial tone, but it never hurts to know something which may be a little helpful!!! :p

I thought the dial tone was an F????

I made an mp3 of an A 440 sine wave about 1 minute in duration and transferred it to my mobile phone (ok; cellphone to you 'mericans) so I've always got a tuning reference with me. If I get stuck without a tuner I just out it on loud speaker and tune to it.

I have one of those pick dispensers on my guitar.

However, I didn't like/trust the little glue thing that's supposed to keep it in place...

...so I riveted it to the end of my strap.

I made an mp3 of an A 440 sine wave about 1 minute in duration and transferred it to my mobile phone (ok; cellphone to you 'mericans) so I've always got a tuning reference with me. If I get stuck without a tuner I just out it on loud speaker and tune to it.

that's truly a genius idea... i'm firing up reason and making my own right now!

I thought the dial tone was an F????

Dial tone is 350 and 440 Hz.

Tip #743 - don't try to rewire your bass the night before a gig.
Unless you're big on adrenaline and stress... :ninja:

Here's a tip.

Always, and I mean ALWAYS, wrap it up before you go a pokin', unless you're married and want babies.:D

Better pedal board mounting.

My pedal-board tip:

I've had bad luck with adhesive velcro on the bottoms of pedals (invariably a pedal pulls away, and I open my board to find stuff bounced around AND covered in useless adhesive), so I took a piece of cardboard and cut it to the size of my pedal board (my board/case is one of those where the entire floor is loop-like material). I attached several patches of velcro to that cardboard with staples/glue/etc. -- permanent stuff. Now I have a large piece of cardboard with plenty of velcro attachment points, that sticks quite well to the pedal board. Then I punch holes in that cardboard to accomodate zip-ties that I use to secure the pedals to the cardboard. End result -- solid attachment, no adhesive or other alterations to the pedals, zip ties are really cheap...possibly cheaper than new rolls of adhesive velcro, and you can pretty much rearrange the pedals a million times (whereas, repeated moving of pedals with velcro on them gradually weakens the velcro's adhesive)...and if you want to make it look nicer, use black zip ties, and spray the cardboard black. Little goofy, but it saves me a ton of headaches.

Still not as cool as the beer bottle gasket strap locks, though hahahaha!

ltt

End stripped strap button holes?

I haven't really tested whether this works as intended or not, but I started doing it recently:

First thing when I get an instrument, I pull the strap buttons and screws, and then flood the holes with very thin CA glue (super glue) -- or maybe wood hardener would work. let that dry, then reseat the button and screw, careful to catch into the original grooves. My thinking is that, by hardening the surrounding wood, it may be less likely to strip out over time, it'll be easier to mate the screw and grooves any time you have to take the screws out, maybe they'll be stronger, etc. If it works, it's a helluva lot easier than refilling and redrilling the holes if they get stripped!

ltt

Cheap on-stage guitar rest/stand.

Another untested one --

I saw somebody selling a guitar "stand" that was a little c-shaped foam collar that velcros to the side of a carpeted cab. The neck of your instrument gets jammed into that, and it provides enough stability to keep the instrument from tipping over. Now, if you go to a general hardware store (like Ace, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) and look in the home child-proofing section for something called a door mouse, or door guard, etc. eBay "child door guard" -- same basic thing, and I'm guessing it's cheaper.

Cheap guitar wall hanger.

Same idea as guitar wall hangers. You can pay 9-12 bucks for commercial ones, or go to a hardware store and look in the tool storage section for u-shaped foam-covered hooks with a screw/threaded mount -- screw that into a piece of wood and mount, or screw it directly into a stud -- done 1-2 bucks. Someone on a DIY site made a nice walk-through of how to completely make your own, including a nice base -- in the end and nice cheap option. I have these all over my garage where I work on my guitars so I always have a place to set instruments aside...since I rarely finish any projects in any kind of reasonable timeframe....

ltt

Always unplug your bass guitar when it's on a stand! Not just active ones to save battery life! All basses - batteries or not!

Soundmen / band members waltzing around on stage checking monitors, laying out drum carpet or anything else can get their feet caught in the cable on the floor... If the previous tips are followed (anchoring your cable through the cab handle / through the strap) this will almost certainly bring your bass crashing to the floor...

Another tip - don't get drunk... There is NO WAY to sober up quickly: no amount of coffee, head under water or slapping can bring someone back from a zombified drunken state! (so say the Mythbusters anyway).

Keep 'em coming!

Hey everyone! just thought i'd throw in my 2cents worth (some really good ideas and advice on here btw)!

I use one of those pick dispenser things, however, since I prefer not to have anything stuck onto my axe, I velcro'd the dispenser onto the inside of my strap, about 2-3 incehes from the top horn. So that means that the pick holder isn't seen and that i can reach it easily from behind the strap. I also stitched one piece of the velcro to my strap and the other piece I superglued to the back of the pick holder. That way I can take it off the strap without pulling all the velcro off with it. :)

spend more time in this section of talkbass :D

I made an mp3 of an A 440 sine wave about 1 minute in duration and transferred it to my mobile phone (ok; cellphone to you 'mericans) so I've always got a tuning reference with me. If I get stuck without a tuner I just out it on loud speaker and tune to it.

That works great until it keeps popping up when you play your tunes on shuffle...

Buy 4 string sets + individual B strings instead of 5 string sets. It's usually cheaper that way, and you can customize gauges to your preference (ex. matching a light B string with heavier gauge 4 string set).

To save even more money, buy half as many B strings as 4 string sets, and change your B every other time you change strings. New B strings don't sound much different than old ones anyway, IME.

like the b string trick, I just got a 5er


the tool holder trick is cool....I hate paying 15 bucks for hangers


I use the pick holder plastic thingy, I have them on my basses, on the back of the headstock....no on eever sees them but me!


al

Buy 4 string sets + individual B strings instead of 5 string sets. It's usually cheaper that way, and you can customize gauges to your preference (ex. matching a light B string with heavier gauge 4 string set).

To save even more money, buy half as many B strings as 4 string sets, and change your B every other time you change strings. New B strings don't sound much different than old ones anyway, IME.

That's what I did on my last 2 sets. I just didn't know if it was cool! My last I order was for flats with .050, .070, .085, .105 and then I separate .110 for the B string. I just don't like a real big fat B string.

I've never seen the rubber washers on beer bottles here in the States - beer drinkers pretty much use cans around here anyways - so what I use is a common garden-variety metal washer. Simply unscrew your strap button, fit an appropriately-sized washer on, then your strap, screw it back, and voila! A straplock! However, your strap is now on more or less permanently, so if you need to remove your strap you'll have to unscrew your strap button. Myself, I leave my strap on all the time so it's not a problem for me.

If you are concerned about the possibility of your bass tipping forward out of the traditional guitar stand...go to Lowe's (or equivalent) and get velcro cable ties. Wrap around the front of one side, place bass on stand and wrap the velcro strip across in front of the neck.

Only way for the bass to come out of the stand is for you to unwrap the velcro from in front of the neck. Only way to tip over is for the entire stand to tip over.

I use this all the time.

Dial tone is 350 and 440 Hz.

Probably depends where you live. The OP is from Canada.

I made an mp3 of an A 440 sine wave about 1 minute in duration and transferred it to my mobile phone (ok; cellphone to you 'mericans) so I've always got a tuning reference with me. If I get stuck without a tuner I just out it on loud speaker and tune to it.

Could you upload this somewhere?

This is a great audio sharing site, in case you need hosting: http://www.supload.com/free-audio-hosting

Here ya go...

http://www.supload.com/music/Phatbass/A440/W0BRJQHEMJ66-download.html

All-purpose ties and cable clamps

So to keep cables wrapped up and together, without excessively tight loops and such, I found two really helpful and cheap things at Menards -- one is a small hoop of elastic chord with a plastic ball on the end. You can wrap it around anything, and pull the end of the hoop over the ball, and it's all tied up. A bag of 15 or 20 was something like 5 bucks -- they're really useful to have around.

Example:
http://www.adventurerv.net/images/7-inch-ball-bungee-cord.jpg/92/100/prod_info

The other one is these cable clamps that look like individual handcuffs. You can now buy these at music stores and in some places at goofy prices -- like 20 bucks for assortments...but for quite a while (I haven't looked lately) you could get these at menards or home depot for much cheaper -- 60 cents to a buck each -- not as versatile as the elastic wraps, but excellent for cables.

Here's an overpriced commercial one:
http://www.cableclamp.com/images/ccbuttonup_01.gif

in face to face conversation your guitarist is not a guitard!

I never call them that but boy could that run to a long set.:rollno:

Earplugs. They are little. They are practical. And keeping your hearing is kinda important if you are a musician.

:)

I thought the dial tone was an F????

You are hearing "Dial tone" which is an F...but he's hearing "Dial-overtone" which is an 'A' giving us a happy Maj.3rd before dialing. Take your pick.

Take some time every so often to lay out and organize all your gig gear essentials. After a number of gigs, these bags usually end up pretty messed up and you start not being able to find stuff or don't realize you're out of something at the worst possible times.

Also - I keep a variety of band-aids in my wallet. You never know when you're gonna get a cut, but you almost always have your wallet with you, right?

Oh yeah, if you're gigging during Mardi Gras, no matter where you live in the US, HAVE LOTS OF BEADS HANDY! I've been on stage watching very gorgeous, rather tipsy ladies dancing like crazy. I'd just hang some of those magical beads from the end of my headstock and suddenly HELLO! (o)(o) :eek: By the end of the night they were competing with each other for more!

Color code all your cables, instrument, speaker, speakon, etc., and put your name on them. I learned this the hard way after a gig with about 6 bands. I came with 8 cables and left with 3.:rollno:

Are you from boston?

Just kidding, these "tips" are great... I already did the loop thing on the amp side and the winding your cable. but that grolsch beer straplock.....
http://www.peoplejam.com/files/u1811/GuinnessBrilliant.jpg
BRILLIANT!!

The Grolsch Beer Ring Straplok was made popular by none other than Tim Commerford, its even on his wikipedia page.

End stripped strap button holes?

I haven't really tested whether this works as intended or not, but I started doing it recently:

First thing when I get an instrument, I pull the strap buttons and screws, and then flood the holes with very thin CA glue (super glue) -- or maybe wood hardener would work. let that dry, then reseat the button and screw, careful to catch into the original grooves. My thinking is that, by hardening the surrounding wood, it may be less likely to strip out over time, it'll be easier to mate the screw and grooves any time you have to take the screws out, maybe they'll be stronger, etc. If it works, it's a helluva lot easier than refilling and redrilling the holes if they get stripped!

ltt

Another way to fill those holes, say if theyve already been stripped, is to take a wooden match(minus the red tip) or a toothpick, stick it in the hole and then put your screw back in. My bass has had that match in there for 3 years now...

Also, in regards to a pickholder, if you use a mic stand just lay a small strip of duct tape near the end of your stand, attach pics, done!

I have a cheap strap but I am comfortable with it.

So I got some fishing line and put it thru the strap right above the leather ends and looped it around my strap button.

So IF the strap fails the finshing line should catch the bass as a backup.
I have rubber washers holding the actual strap ON the buttons.

My only concern is that since (for appearances) the fishing line is between/underside the strap and the bass horn, could the fishing line dig into the bass finish (poly)??

Berg

I posted this on a prior board and topic, but just like carrying spare strings and batteries, always carry backups for ALL of your cords on a gig. Amp power cords, instrument cables, speaker cables, etc. Come up short on one of those on a gig and it's disaster with a capital D.

Also, a Leatherman (or similar multipurpose tool) that never leaves your case should be a standard investment if you play out at all.

End stripped strap button holes?

I haven't really tested whether this works as intended or not, but I started doing it recently:

First thing when I get an instrument, I pull the strap buttons and screws, and then flood the holes with very thin CA glue (super glue) -- or maybe wood hardener would work. let that dry, then reseat the button and screw, careful to catch into the original grooves. My thinking is that, by hardening the surrounding wood, it may be less likely to strip out over time, it'll be easier to mate the screw and grooves any time you have to take the screws out, maybe they'll be stronger, etc. If it works, it's a helluva lot easier than refilling and redrilling the holes if they get stripped!

ltt

even easier solution if you've got some printer paper lying around, rip up a little and put it in the button hole(ha?) your buttons will go in almost like the hole had never been stripped.

I posted this on a prior board and topic, but just like carrying spare strings and batteries, always carry backups for ALL of your cords on a gig. Amp power cords, instrument cables, speaker cables, etc. Come up short on one of those on a gig and it's disaster with a capital D.

Also, a Leatherman (or similar multipurpose tool) that never leaves your case should be a standard investment if you play out at all.

Two really good ones there! I keep a bag in my car that has a full set of all the patch and power cables for my whole setup -- just like you described. Instrument cables are almost always the last thing people think will fail, and yet they probaby take the most abuse lol!

And a leatherman is definitely an indispensable tool -- and that made me remember -- a small flashlight. I was on a few gigs where I was setting up on a dark stage, trying to look into the back of my rack to see if a cable was misconnected...

Take some time every so often to lay out and organize all your gig gear essentials. After a number of gigs, these bags usually end up pretty messed up and you start not being able to find stuff or don't realize you're out of something at the worst possible times.

Also - I keep a variety of band-aids in my wallet. You never know when you're gonna get a cut, but you almost always have your wallet with you, right?

Oh yeah, if you're gigging during Mardi Gras, no matter where you live in the US, HAVE LOTS OF BEADS HANDY! I've been on stage watching very gorgeous, rather tipsy ladies dancing like crazy. I'd just hang some of those magical beads from the end of my headstock and suddenly HELLO! (o)(o) :eek: By the end of the night they were competing with each other for more!

Yup, band-aid in the wallet, but Damn! I gotta find a gig south of the border during Mardi Gras!

I see. But do you get two free beers with those?

ha *HA*. Touché sir.

I just tried a couple sets of these little straplock washers, instead of the Dunlops I normally use. I'm impressed. These little guys are cool - and cheap!

I keep a set of ear plugs and a pick (though i mainly my use fingers) in every gig bag and case I have so that I'm never in need of either.

For those of us with less than boutique basses, take some very fine 400 to 1000 grit sandpaper and wet sand the back of the neck. Gives it a very very smooth feel.

For those of us with less than boutique basses, take some very fine 400 to 1000 grit sandpaper and wet sand the back of the neck. Gives it a very very smooth feel.

Damn, I do that too, forgot to mention that...

One more thing I just found out yesterday: Don't shove your earplugs too deep into your ears. Or carry pliers with you. I've been trying to remove these godawful things for half an hour after rehearsal. Ended up going to a bar (like we do after every rehearsal) with them stil lodged firmly into place. My roommate finally removed them with the use of a set of pliers when I got home. I think I was being *very* loud and rowdy in the bar, what with the earplugs still in and slowly getting drunk.

Anyhoo. Yeah. Let's keep 'em coming!

I keep a set of ear plugs and a pick (though i mainly my use fingers) in every gig bag and case I have so that I'm never in need of either.

You raise a neat tangential topic -- so you have your gig-essentials, but are there things that folks, like jefkritz, keep in every case and gig bag. Space is more limited there, so you can't throw a full set of cables in every case, but what DO you like to keep everywhere.

My list:
a rag BARELY saturated with ax wax (not really saturated, but there is some residual amount in them, and I think that helps keep the strings happy longer); a tuner (I buy cheap tuners whenever they show up on CL or anywhere, and try to keep them in all my bags and cases); string winder, set of strings, picks (like someone else mentioned, even though I don't use them on bass, I tend to keep a few in the bag or case)