What's in your gear bag? What do you use to carry your cables, straps, misc.?

[Spoiled Grape]

I've always wondered how everyone else travels with all their cables, straps, strings, etc. I've always used a backpack, but I've seen a few people use lunchpails, cases, gig bags, purses...

Yes, this is spawned from the rig set-up thread. I'm a copycat, so what?

So what do you use as a gear bag, and what's in it?

Bag: Black Jansport Backpack. Lookin' to upgrade.

Inside: I have a few compartments, which is why I love the backpack so much. Here is how it works.

Main Area: Monster Cable, Stompbox & cable, Extension/Surge, Speakon Cable.
Second Area: Backup cable, two sets of strings. Extra strap.
Third (smallest fullzip): Axe Spray, Screwdriver, Pliers.
Pouch above 3rd zip: Handheld tuner, ear plugs, fuses.
Pouch on third zip: Pen, Sharpie, pad of paper.

[Munjibunga]

My gig bag is a large Lands' End diaper bag left over from my daughter's infancy. It holds a ton of stuff, as you will see. Right now, it has:

Shure SM-58
Shure Beta 58A
Shure Beta 57
Shure Beta 87C
Audix D6
(3) DIs, two Countryman, one Radial
(2) 25-foot Mogami mic cables
(1) 10-foot ProCo mic cable
(4) 5-foot mic cables
25 feet of George L's cable with plugs
(4) 5-foot patch cables
(4) 3-foot patch cables
A bag of every conceivable adapter (about 15)
A tool kit with screwdrivers, needle-nose, dykes, wire-stripper, allen wrenches and soldering iron
(2) 8-foot extension cords
(3) 8-foot IEC power cords
3-way power block
Bass and guitar string winders
Extra set of strings
Hercules folding bass stand
Tambourine stick


And a bunch of other stuff I'm sure I've forgotten.

[Fo' Shizzle]

I use a Paramount Pictures satchel. My brother works for Bravo in LA and gave it to me.

It holds my Line 6 pedalboard, SansAmp BDDI, cables, etc.....

[bassman314]

well it depends.

In each of my cases, I keep the following:
- Small Korg Tuner
- Basic tool kit (screw drivers, allen keys, etc.)
- Tringwinder/cutter
- 3' cable
- 20' cable
- Strap

All of my effects are on pedal boards, except for my DD3 and Microsynth, which I keep in the Microsynth box with power supplies and a cable or 2

I have a cheap bag I got at work convention that I keep spare cables, my DI's, a power strip, and some 9-volts, along with a couple of large areas of cloth for covering my amp, when required

I also have one of those Musician's Friend gigbags (tweed) for use on trips to carry whatever I need to carry. It can (and has) held everal instrument and mic cables, a couple of exgtension cords, a couple of power strips, my binder of music, extra tools ·including soldering iron and DMM) spare batteries, as well as power supplies for my digital camera and cell phone, and other random stuff as I needed to stick in there.

I also keep a couple of EHX wooden boxes for carrying mics to gigs. They work quite nicely for that purpose.

Mine is fairly simple, it's an aluminum box type case lined with foam that I bought at Lowes. I keep the following in it:

A Microphone
A Sabine tuner
Electroharmonix Small Clone w/spare batt.
A.C. Line filter
An all purpose screw driver w/4 heads
An Allen wrench set
Duct tape
3' Monster Speaker cable
6' Monster Speaker cable
12' Zaolla Silverlines Guitar cable
1' tuner cable
Assorted fuses
Small flashlight
Pen and Pad
Pitch pipe
A bottle of Aspirin, LoL.

I keep my Comfort Strapp and another 12' Guitar cable and wipe cloths and buisiness cards in my Gig Bag.

George

[seanm]

In my gig bag I keep a bass with strap, small tool kit, two 20' cables, spare strings (used), R-09 recorder, small tuner, earplugs, picks (for the guitar player) and a pencil.

For rehearsals all I bring is the gig bag.

In my knapsack (which I confusingly call my gig bag) I keep lots of cables (instrument, mic, and speaker), adapters, TU-2 with boss power supply, extension cord, power bar, guitar stand, more earplugs, DIs, and usually a preamp pedal of some sort. When I used effects pedals, they went in the gig bag too.

[jive1]

I used to carry a "gig bag" that was either a tool chest, back pack, or laptop bag. It wound up being a hassle, so I carry a gig-bag with lots of pockets. I'm naturally efficient (lazy), so my goal is to do load-out/load-in in one trip.

In my gig-bag I usually have:

Microphone
2 XLR cables
2 20' 1/4" cables
2 1' patch cables
Radial JDI or SABDDI
Tuner
Strap
Multi-Tool
Earplugs
Allen keys
LED flashlight
Notepad & Pen
Power strip
Folding guitar stand
Fuses
Speaker cables
Cough drops
2 9V Batteries
Wireless system if I feel like using it

Yes, all that fits in my gig-bag.
If I could find a mic stand that could fit in a gig-bag, or a gig-bag that fits a mic stand, I'd be all set.

[lowphatbass]

My latest and greatest is from a "surplus" store. An Israeli paratrooper's bag, all black. Holding-up quite well!!

3-speaker cables
3-instrument cables
1-chromatic tuner
2-sets of strings
4-9volt batts
1-bottle of rubbing alcohol
1-micro-fibre cloth
2-screwdrivers
1-plier
1-snipper
1-xtra strap
1-power chord
1-$20 bill(just incase!!)

[G]

Originally Posted by G

http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum2379.php

This one looks exactly like something I would use. Also looks like it might even be able to hold a small head. (Markbass or EA anyone?)

Perhaps an order is in order?

Lots of good suggestions for gear bags in this thread:

How do you store your odds and ends? (bass edition)

I carry 3 instrument cables, volume pedal, effects coupler, extra strap (sans straplocks), chromatic tuner, spare set of strings, leatherman tool, flashlight, and my scores/setlists etc. The bag above works beautifully.

[DblG]

I use an old samsonite suitcase I bought at a thrift shop for $2. I carry in it:

instrument cords
mic cords
speaker cords
extension cords
tuner
wireless unit
mike
misc percussion items
misc adapters, tools, power test unit, etc

gg

[badstonebass]

I use a big athletic bag:

BBE
Sansamp DI
Tuner
a ZILLION cables
Flashlight

[Sundogue]

I use a large tool box with an extra tray inside. It has all kinds of compartments in the top lid for strings, picks, tools, extra preamp tubes, small LED flashlight (tiny, but VERY bright), etc. Inside I keep my small pedal board (Zoom B2 and a BBE Sonic Stomp). I also keep my mic cables (voice and bass line out), vocal mic, power strip, heavy duty extension power cord, datebook/set notes/lyrics binder, instrument and patch cables.

I keep it all in there. I only need to carry my bass (gig bag), toolbox and amp head. Everything else is in the band's trailer.

[bassman314]

SO my new method of transport and storage is a couple of .50 calibre Ammo cans I got at the local Army/Navy store.

Waterproof, stackable, tough as nails, and each one can hold a fair amountof gear.

In one, I keep my Bass MicroSynth, my DD-3, my Mr. Squishy, my Vocal Mic (Senn e385) in bag with standclip, a power strip, as well as cables, power supplies and batteries.

In another I have various and sundry cables from 3' - 20', tools (pliers, screw drivers, hex-wrenches, flashlight, etc.), my DI, and some other stuff that currently escapes me..

[superkicky]

I use a Manhattan Portage Expandable Messenger Bag with these inside:

Laptop
Charger
Mouse
Monitoring Headphones
Roadie Wrench
Screwdrivers
Wire cutter
Spare cables
Flashlight
DI
9v Batteries
Fast Fret
Notepad, pen

[Winemule]

Man, I gotta get one a them little flashlights. Great idea.

I have a big black leather bag that my wife used to use for overnight travel. Now it has:

2 20ft cables
set of DR lowriders
15ft green electrical extension cord
extra strap
box of earplugs
BBE sonic stomp box w/power source
spiral notebook
couple old setlists
bottle of aspirin
couple presskits w/demo CDs

[Baird6869]

I have a Swiss Army laptop bag that is stuffed with....

25-foot mic cables for DI from my amp
2 x 20 feet cables
2 x 3 foot cables
25 foot CAT5 ethernet cable
5 foot CAT5 in case the above cable cacks!
Screwdrivers
Needle-nose plyers/wire cutter
Allen wrenches
2 x 8 foot extension cords
3 way power block
String winders
Extra set of strings
Micro cleaning cloth
Dunlop 65 guitar cleaner
2 or 3 x 9v batteries
Extra strap

Because I am playing with 5 bands currently (deciding on which one or two I will stay with) I also cram a 1" binder with all the tab/music of the songs I don't know down pat.

[beyondhairy]

my bass bag pretty much holds all the things i need, cables, and plugs and what not, have the tuner in its own pocket so the power button doesnt get turned on and drain the batter

[bassman314]

Originally Posted by Winemule

Man, I gotta get one a them little flashlights. Great idea.

It's actually a recent addition after I spent 20 minute strying to figure out by feel the back of a rack and klater trying to route some cables under the chancel at my church.. One of those 2-AA mini maglights.. works perfect.. small, and I can hold it in my mouth if I need 2 hands.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

25 foot CAT5 ethernet cable
5 foot CAT5 in case the above cable cacks!

Ok, somebody has to ask, what is the CAT5 cable for?

[CrazyArcher]

I don't bring along a lot of stuff, so a fabric bag on a strap suffices for me. A couple of cables, a strap, lyrics/tabs sheets, spare strings, and a couple of sandwiches - that's all I take for rehearsals.