MONO classic dual bass case. (gig bag) hands down best gift i ever got for gigging. i play a 4 and a 5 string so i always have two basses at a gig. that case has held up well, protects the basses well and makes load in/out so much easier. second place would be K&M double guitar stand. i have used hercules but they just don’t hold up well for me. the K&M’s are much better built.
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What has been a game changer for you for convenience?
- Thread starter TheKillersFan
- Start date
If you don't have one, maybe a wireless unit?
This depends... Wireless is an awesome quality of life upgrade for shows, but only if you avoid the 2.4GHz units. A $200 wireless might be great for home use, but if you're out there gigging, that same $200 wireless will struggle to hold signal in a packed gig. That 2.4GHz range competes with wifi and everyone on their cell phones, weddings and corporate events are particularly troublesome. I have a Line 6 G10 that's collecting dust because I couldn't get five feet from my amp without signal dropout. Kind of defeats the purpose of a wireless unit.
I tried a few units and finally upgraded to a Sennheiser EW-D, and am SO much happier.Big +1 to a double bag. I got an iGig double when I first started gigging, and it's still been probably the best "convenience" purchase I've made. Always bring two basses to a gig. I'm finally considering replacing it after 15 years of solid use. I wish iGig was still around, because I've never seen another bag with as much storage... I can fit an amp, cables, and more in the front pocket.
If you are giggin' with a cab a folding hand cart.
Another +1 here. I've tried the Magna Cart and they're certainly handy, but I wanted something a little bigger with a little more stability... I've been using a Rock-N-Roller Cart for years. Two bass cabs, pedalboard, gear bag, show clothes, sometimes small stage lights, occasional odds 'n ends... all in one trip.
Yet another +1. If you're in a gig that uses charts, an iPad with ForScore was a total game changer. All charts for everything in once place, complete with full annotation options. I still remember a particular three-gig day from several years ago... two different musicals and an evening gig with my main band at the time... I would have had a stack of binders for paper charts.
As a bonus here, if your pedalboard is set up with MIDI, you can also use an iPad to control it.
(MIDIPad for controlling, or you can program ForScore to send commands automatically.)5sg.
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For convenience, Mustang micro amp. All of my playing at home is through headphones, it's nice to not be tethered to the DAW.
JeezyMcNuggles
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I used to be the one who said i didnt want compression. My "Natural" sound was not to be changed. Now i cant play without it.
If your not familiar you should get one.
If your not familiar you should get one.
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GruvGear Gigblade gig bag. Carries what I need for frequent casual jams.
Foldable cart to haul gear at gigs.
Foldable cart to haul gear at gigs.
When I first saw the title, the first thing that came to mind was roadies, so you just walk on stage. I have had roadies for close to 15 years of my time so recognize the luxury and value, but because your wife suggested this, I would recommend you cherish her as the value and take her (let her take you) somewhere nice for dinner you would not normally go.
If you want something else, an item of convenience, never overlook a quality guitar stand, as stable as you can find and heavily constructed. A pain to carry, but insurance for your chosen instruments. If you ever had a broken guitar headstock, you will never overrate this accessory.
If you want something else, an item of convenience, never overlook a quality guitar stand, as stable as you can find and heavily constructed. A pain to carry, but insurance for your chosen instruments. If you ever had a broken guitar headstock, you will never overrate this accessory.
Roller carts, wireless, lighter cases with shoulder straps, everything else mentioned - all reasonable answers. But arguably none of that matters if you can't properly hear the music.
You are 30. If I could go back to then (ideally even earlier) I'd tell myself about the convenience of good hearing as you age. Tinnitus sucks. Struggling to hear every conversation sucks.
Invest in the convenience of quality hearing protection. People will tell you that's lame, you're weak, [insert rock legend here] didn't need earplugs, etc. Write those people off as unredeemably clueless and take care of your self.
You are 30. If I could go back to then (ideally even earlier) I'd tell myself about the convenience of good hearing as you age. Tinnitus sucks. Struggling to hear every conversation sucks.
Invest in the convenience of quality hearing protection. People will tell you that's lame, you're weak, [insert rock legend here] didn't need earplugs, etc. Write those people off as unredeemably clueless and take care of your self.
Lots of suggestions for good gear here that's well over your stated budget of $200. Here are a few that are within your range....
A Zoom B1 Four is only $100, for an extra $20 on top of that you can get the B1X Four which has an expression pedal (for wah or volume). They're very versatile units, excellent value for your money and you can use them for headphone practice too. If you don't have good headphones, you can put the extra $80-100 towards a decent set.
A little less flashy but still excellent tool is a Broughton Low + High Pass Filter. $165 new from the builder, though you may want to spring an extra $15 for a power adapter to plug in. You'll make that up in money you don't have to spend on batteries quickly. This is one of my always on pedals, it's very useful for taming extreme frequencies so your amp is only putting out the stuff that sounds good. I set mine up to cut off around 40Hz on the bottom and around 3.5kHz on the top, but it's adjustable so you can choose where to set them.
A kit of tools for setup and maintenance is also a great thing to have. Philips head driver, hex wrenches, feeler gauges, a ruler with fine measurements (one with 32nds or even better 64ths of an inch), microfiber cloth... all that plus a bag or kit case to keep it all together should be easily obtainable for less than $200.
A Zoom B1 Four is only $100, for an extra $20 on top of that you can get the B1X Four which has an expression pedal (for wah or volume). They're very versatile units, excellent value for your money and you can use them for headphone practice too. If you don't have good headphones, you can put the extra $80-100 towards a decent set.
A little less flashy but still excellent tool is a Broughton Low + High Pass Filter. $165 new from the builder, though you may want to spring an extra $15 for a power adapter to plug in. You'll make that up in money you don't have to spend on batteries quickly. This is one of my always on pedals, it's very useful for taming extreme frequencies so your amp is only putting out the stuff that sounds good. I set mine up to cut off around 40Hz on the bottom and around 3.5kHz on the top, but it's adjustable so you can choose where to set them.
A kit of tools for setup and maintenance is also a great thing to have. Philips head driver, hex wrenches, feeler gauges, a ruler with fine measurements (one with 32nds or even better 64ths of an inch), microfiber cloth... all that plus a bag or kit case to keep it all together should be easily obtainable for less than $200.
Rock N Roller carts have added a few years to my old bones playing out . You never feel the load in setup but the break down and load out is a Bitch !
Consumer Alert: Do your research and plan ahead. I did roadies the wrong way - 16 years of food, clothing, medical bills, etc. before they even helped with a single show. I've not kept track of it, but I'm reasonably certain we've exceeded the $200 budget.
A good headphone mixer/amp like a Cafe Walter HA-1A was a game-changer. With a decent set of headphones and the audio output from an iPad or laptop, I could practice my lessons, learn songs etc. And leaving everything all set up meant that I could just sit down and play any time I wanted to.
Three things.
1) A folding two wheeler.
2) Two furniture dollies (but the folding fourwheeler would probably actually be better.)
3) Not really something to purchase, but an organizational thing.
I have alll my stuff organized in bags each one with a label painted on the outside with what's in it. So: "POWER"; "SIGNAL"; "SAX BAG"; "UPRIGHT BASS"; "ELECTRIC BASS".
I've also done that in the shop, so: "DRILL MOTOR AND TWIST DRILLS"; "CHARGERS AND BATTERIES"; "SOLDERING"; "ANGLE GRINDER", etc.
For the gigging, this works really well because I just grab the relevant instrument(s), the bags related to those instruments, "SIGNAL" and "POWER" if applicable, and out the door I go. Now there are, of course, duplicates. No telling how many 9V batteries, small flashlights, pencils, clip-on tuners, clothespins, etc. are in all these bags. Well, I'm not so broke I can't afford to put a flashlight, a pair of pliers, and a multi-screwdriver in every single bag.
Since I did this, the number of times I need something that isn't there has dropped precipitously.
And don't forget the folding two-wheeler and the folding four-wheeler!
1) A folding two wheeler.
2) Two furniture dollies (but the folding fourwheeler would probably actually be better.)
3) Not really something to purchase, but an organizational thing.
I have alll my stuff organized in bags each one with a label painted on the outside with what's in it. So: "POWER"; "SIGNAL"; "SAX BAG"; "UPRIGHT BASS"; "ELECTRIC BASS".
I've also done that in the shop, so: "DRILL MOTOR AND TWIST DRILLS"; "CHARGERS AND BATTERIES"; "SOLDERING"; "ANGLE GRINDER", etc.
For the gigging, this works really well because I just grab the relevant instrument(s), the bags related to those instruments, "SIGNAL" and "POWER" if applicable, and out the door I go. Now there are, of course, duplicates. No telling how many 9V batteries, small flashlights, pencils, clip-on tuners, clothespins, etc. are in all these bags. Well, I'm not so broke I can't afford to put a flashlight, a pair of pliers, and a multi-screwdriver in every single bag.
Since I did this, the number of times I need something that isn't there has dropped precipitously.
And don't forget the folding two-wheeler and the folding four-wheeler!
They look good, unfortunately apparently not available on this side of the pond. Use similar soft-hard cases for private transport & public transport back and forth to the band room, very light and compact & offer more protection than a gig bag. For gigs I use hard shell cases when packed in the van.
@TheKillersFan give us some hints on where & what you play perhaps, would probably be easier to imagine what you might find useful or anything that bugs you that might be remedied?
LOL, I like that & sounds like something I might suggest .... and be 10 years too late doing so (unless on the used market)
Don't have a Shuttle, but a Neo-Pak 3.5 & Streamliner 900 & Genz Benz cabs and cannot justify a new amp or cabs, though the Genzler & Mesa stuff does make me drool.
not really the letter of the OP, but maybe the spirit 
--- the most game-changing "convenience" in my experience has been the discovery of 6 lb. and 7 lb EBs!
i think about them all the time.
2nd would be poly-coated fretless maple necks. 3rd would be clip-on tuners
--- the most game-changing "convenience" in my experience has been the discovery of 6 lb. and 7 lb EBs! i think about them all the time.
2nd would be poly-coated fretless maple necks. 3rd would be clip-on tuners
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