• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What has been a game changer for you for convenience?

#44
TheKillersFan said:
Hello,

With my 30th birthday coming up at the end of the month, my fiancé has been asking what I’d like but I’m having trouble thinking of anything and am looking for ideas.

What have you found to be revolutionary for you? For instance, I’ve got schaller strap locks on all my basses and one really nice leather strap from Status Graphite so now I don’t need to buy a strap for each bass.

Gift budget is $200 give or take
Click to expand...

The biggest game changer for gigging convenience has been my latest gig bag. It’s this Drum accessories bag from “Ahead.” It has adjustable sleeves on the inside to keep things separated and organized. I can open it and see EVERYTHING, reach in and pull out anything I need without having to dig through stuff. There’s similar gig/cable bags all over Amazon of varying sizes. This one is a little bigger than most of those and it fits everything I could possibly need, outside of my amps/cabs/basses/stands.
 
#45
As someone who buys and sells stuff locally pretty frequently, this little bugger as been awesome, I play bass and guitar so I opted for the guitar version, since it has distortion and delay, it’s also funky orange! Makes for a really easy way to check out and play stuff without the need of an outlet, it has its own rechargeable power supply! It’s a little lacking for low end but it’s perfectly usable for playing by yourself and just jamming, it works very well for guitar! You also don’t have to worry about being too loud. It’s also got headphone out and aux in, also is able to power other pedals! I’m planning on getting a little board for this and my Zoom B1Xon, which has all the fixings, amps, effects, looper, drum machine, tuner. For when I go on vacation or camping. I’ve had the Zoom B1Xon for years at this point and it’s been excellent to bring a bass in a gigbag and stick in the front pocket, it’s dated, it’s plastic, but it is great for being along to play silently or it works great as an effects unit with a tuner that runs on batteries for practicing or gigging where space is at a premium.

If you use pedals, that would also be a huge game changer, rechargeable power supply, I’ve been using a Joyo 5 and it’s been amazing, lasts well past a 3 hour practice.
https://www.amazon.com/Caline-Elect...mzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840
https://www.amazon.com/Caline-Elect...mzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840

B1Xon Bass Effects Pedal with Expression Pedal

Joyo JP-05 Rechargeable Power Supply
 
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#47
i forgot one other thing that i really would rather not go without: Sonic Research Turbo Tuner. best tuner i have ever used and it gets used all night at rehearsals and gigs. not that my basses are always out of tune but we often play outside and as temps and humidity changes so does bass and guitar tuning so we check it frequently.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sid the Kid and Sid Fang
#50
If you have a computer but no audio interface, how about a compact 2in/2out interface? Focusrite Scarlett is a common choice but there are lots of options.

Soo useful for so many things, besides recording, for example as the hub of a headphone practice setup. Getting one of these was an absolute game changer for me.

Drawback: the home studio rabbit hole may cost you more than 200 in the end.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheKillersFan
#51
GK MB-200
200 watts, 2 pounds.
I love them.
I have 3 of them.
IMG_2396.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: S-Bigbottom and bassfran
#54
TheKillersFan said:
Hello,

With my 30th birthday coming up at the end of the month, my fiancé has been asking what I’d like but I’m having trouble thinking of anything and am looking for ideas.

What have you found to be revolutionary for you? For instance, I’ve got schaller strap locks on all my basses and one really nice leather strap from Status Graphite so now I don’t need to buy a strap for each bass.

Gift budget is $200 give or take
Click to expand...

The biggest aid to convenience, I've discovered, is realizing you don't need a bunch of crap to sound good. Ergo, less to keep track of, less to carry, less to go wrong in studio or at gig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheKillersFan and bassfran
#55
TeaTime said:
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.
Click to expand...

This. So much. Unless you're already set in this regard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheKillersFan
#59
If I had to cite one under-$200 thing, it would be the pedalboard+case I bought on sale from Musician’s Fiend a decade ago. It cut my setup/tear-down time by more than half, and I don’t even use that many pedals.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back