Survival kit for gigging bassists!

[neurotictim]

Well, I rescued my guitar player again at practice today, with tools from my "survival kit" that I've been carrying around for a few years, more or less. I finally asked him where his kit was, and he was mystified by the idea.

It occurred to me that some of the newer bassists here (and some of the older ones, AFAIK) may not think about this sort of thing.

A survival kit is a (IMO) necessary thing to have when you're in a gigging band, and includes a bunch of things you will probably need in the future and not have handy without one. Everyone's kit is different, but here's mine, with a list:



1. 1’ Patch cable (You never know)
2. 6” Zip ties (I'm always using these)
3. Guitar picks (Because, well, you know... )
4. Ratcheting driver w/bits
5. 10-32 nuts & bolts (rack size)
6. Extra strings (used, but better than broken)
7. Scotch tape
8. Heavy-duty snips
9. Electrical tape
10. Superglue (Very handy for cuts, scrapes, & gluing picks to the tables)
11. Toothbrush (For cleaning, not really used at gigs)
12. Hex wrenches (Allen & metric)
13. Combination wrenches (For tightening pots or jacks)
14. Ear plugs (3 sets) (Plus my custom set that stays in the bass case)
15. Sharpie
16. Paint marker

So, anyone else carry around a "survival kit"? What do you have in yours?

[insomniac2295]

id say your kit far surpasses mine. although, one thing you should add to your kit is some 9 volt batteries. i go through these things like theres no tomorrow. another handy thing for a bassist to have is a soldering iron, solder, and a soldering station. its always helpful if someone in the band knows how to do that. in my band, i nominated myself for that because our vocalist does our managing and booking, our drummer doesnt need to solder anything, and my 2 guitarists are clueless and are pretty much only good for playing guitar. plus i like to think of the bass player as the glue that holds everything together in the band.

[SoLongJake]

No soldering iron? My kit contains pretty much all of that, plus a nice soldering kit and some wire strippers. also one of those micro screwdriver kits from radio shack and a couple sets of strings.

[NKUSigEp]

LOL That's funny - Mine's almost exactly the same except I have an adjustable instead of a whole set of wrenches, plus deodorant, listerine and a raincoat

[insomniac2295]

dont forget spare speaker wire and fuses also! you never know what'll happen out there

[bikeplate]

HI

Yea. Ive got everything from spare cables, allen wrenches, jewelers screwdrives, picks, alcohol wipes, you name it!! Always bailing out some idiot I gig with who has nothing to rescue him. That being said, next time I'm playing dumb and not rescueing any of them. LOL

Rob

[SKATE RAT]

a small flashlight ,i also have extra cables,strings,picks,batteries as well as tools.don't forget some rubbers,you know what they're for.

[momo]

I hate to say it, but I always carry a pair of drum sticks, a set of guitar strings, and a few pics. You won't be the only person in need of help at gigs.

[dubyaresee]

Doesn't that just further the stereotype that the bassist is the guy/gal that fixes everything? =)

Where's the gaff tape? Where's the mini-LED flashlights?

(The rack bolts are genius, BTW)

[Chad Michael]

How about a drum key....

[chuck stardust]

Good stuff in the kit! I like it. I always bring extra stuff along as well. You ever notice how some cats just don't think ahead? Our guitar player carries so much crap he needs a dolly! Our rythym player, he don't bring jack!!!! Go figure.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10958999@N03/ Still proud!! Love my new bass!
Chuck

[envika]

Originally Posted by bimplizkit

How about a drum key....

that's a good idea actually...drummers ALWAYS forget these.

picks too, because at some point in at LEAST 50% of my rehearsals some guitard doesn't have a pick. plus i play bass with one sometimes...

[SWR098]

I keep an extra power cord, among a million other things,but the power cord has been the most handy, cuz 1 of my guitar players had her power cord die during sound check

[guy n. cognito]

The only items out of my kit that have ever been used are the spare guitard strings, the drum key and the guitar picks. Seriously...

[Valerus]

Good idea!

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

The only items out of my kit that have ever been used are the spare guitard strings, the drum key and the guitar picks. Seriously...

LOL

The prepared guy has his @#%$ together.

[The Golden Boy]

I like the idea of "being prepared." However, there is a limit to how prepared you need to be.

Strings, leatherman tool, flashlight, duck tape, extra cords and cables, pens and markers, paper, spare fuses in the rack, picks, earplugs...

If there's a reasonable liklihood of something going bad, bring backup or the ability to repair. Or better yet, keep your equipment well maintained.



True story, before I met her, my wife was over at her brother's house when his roommate was making cookies. The roommate said "man, I wish I had a little mellon baller." At which point my wife reached into her purse, produced a mini mellon baller/ice cream scoop and said "like this one?"

[Marley's Ghost]

All of the above +

Liquid Skin comes in handy. Better than crazy glue for cuts, blisters etc.

[addylewis]

ORIGINAL GIG (p.a. already there - other bands on too)

Spare bass
Gaffer
3 metre surge protected extension
5-6 jack leads
Spare 9v power adapter
2-3 kettle leads
old bass strings
plecs

COVERS GIG (own p.a./mics - only band on)

same as original gig PLUS
5-6 spare XLRs
Mini toolkit (wire, cutters, soldering iron, pliers, solder)
2-3 sm or beta 58s
beta 52 or cheap bass mic
PODxt (posh D.I.)
5m reel and 5m extension + couple power taps
green/yellow insulation tape...

...is there much else I'm missing?

[nsmar4211]

LOL
I keep rescuing the guitarists myself......but it's ok. One day I'll need it They often joke its why I'm around
My bass teacher gave me the rundown of his kit before I played out, so I was already wise to the need for one. He said his changes as it gets too full of crap, he weeds it out, ends up needing something and puts it back.
I've got a couple versions. The version with the soldering iron/wire cutters/bigger tools is in a milkcrate and is only taken on big or far away gigs. The other version is between my bass case and a simple messenger bag I got on clearance. No way am I dragging all that stuff out of its hidey holes to take pics LOL

Right now in my bass case, there's
-3 instrument cables
-1 mic cable
-screwdriver with all the bits in the handle
-5 9v batteries......my luck they'd all go at once. Got them wrapped seperatly in a cloth because I was told they *can* short out if they were to , say, touch the screwdriver and catch on fire. No thanks! Had guitar friend get a burn from one in his pocket shorting out against his keys....
-a cool little kit I got from publix, had 2 mini tubes of crazy glue in a little plastic case. Used it on singer/guitarist finger last night! Liquid skin is in GLASS bottle....and they break... and it stinks... (experience). Big tube of superglue got squished in case, luckily it only glued itself to the case
-some cough drops/throat lozenges
-zip ties
-guitar picks, mine and theirs
-extra strap (don't feel like holding up my bass all night!)
-two packs guitar strings, one new pack bass strings, one used pack bass strings
-two garbage bags for emergency rain covers
-drum key (which I ran a keychain ring through and use it as a zipper pull)
-several sets earplus
-pens and small notepad
-sharpie marker
-alcohol wipes (made singer feel much better after idiot got up and used her mike to make announcement.....yuck.... couldn't get across room fast enough!)

Things not already mentioned:
-spare guitar capo (used last night also when guitar left his in the case on break......bass bag was closer..different color from theirs so I know it's mine)
-spare master set list of every song we know (we're a cover band and sometimes you can forget what songs youknow by 1 am...)
-couple of dollars just in case.... never know when you might get stuck
-wrist band in case Mr. Tendonitis starts peekin head in
-couple small spring clamps clipped to the handle
-hair clamps clipped to handles, great for keeping unruly cables out of the way

Not to mention my tuner and DI box and bass are in the case... I love pockets!!

The messenger bag has
-another mic cable
-roll of duct tape (bright pink so I know it's mine!!)
-three way heavy duty pigtail
-gfi extension
-extension cord
-my mic (I don't sing but doesn't hurt to have spare)
-spray can of contact cleaner
-good flashlight and spare batteries
-set of drum sticks

My guitarist also usually carries a ground tester with him (in addition to spare cables and all).
I do need to add spare vehicle door key somewhere cause I've already locked myself out once.....and all my gear was inside. Still haven't heard the end of that one. Luckily friend was on way to work and was going past house and was willing to get spare for me.
Also need to add spare fuses to my big bag for my amp myself.... guitar friend carries a box of amp tubes with him, he's rescused several gigs. bass teacher used to but all his got used up .
Hrm, I don't have a spare power cord.......they aren't expensive...... *goes to store*