John Lee Walker Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Sitting in a motel room in Allentown, PA, bored to death, so I thought I'd start a thread that would maybe be helpful to some of us. I'm curious as to what y'all keep in your guitar gear bags. Below is a list of the contents of my road kit. I keep more junk in the Anvil case at home, but this is pretty much the basics that I take on the road when I travel with a couple of acoustic guitars. Hoping that I see something from some of you I don't know about. Call me a gadget voyeur, but I think it's interesting to take a peek into someone else's tool box lol - ya might learn something:) Virtuoso Polish and Cleaner Gibson Guitar Polish Dunlap Lemon Oil Olive Oil (for fingerboard I mix with the lemon, great on rosewood) Component Cleaning Brush (available at most truckstops, actually for dusting electronics, etc, great for moustache bridges and under strings at end of neck) Terry cloth towel Dean Markely treated wipe towel Gruhn wooden neck rest All-in-one tool kit w/screwdrivers, nutdrivers, allen wrenches, pliers, cutters, file, etc String Winder w/pin puller Fine sandpaper Capos Extra 9v battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jefleppard Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 you sir are a finely tuned road warrior. i just looked in my bag. ugh. what a mess. i am a squirrel. i found chords that dont work that i never threw out all tangled in with the ones that work, dead 9Vs mixed in with ones that work, seven packs of elixir 13s with the g strings missing 'cause you can't buy singles and thats the only string i ever break (kinda like the neopolitian ice cream with only the chocolate stripe eaten out of it), three pairs of wire cutters, a granola bar (strawberry), an empty canada dry ginger ale bottle (i used to sneak CC into the clubs that way!), five sets lists, a clock radio (no idea), broken mic clip, power bar, a rented effects module i forgot to return several years ago, many dollar store adapters - 1/4 to 1/8, hiZ/lowZ, hiZ/1/8", female 1/8"/female1/8" and a baby's arm holding an apple. oops, forgot to ask! so your siiting there in allentown? are they closing all the factories down? out in bethlehem are they killing time? filling out forms? standing in line? sorry, couldnt' resist. i am a j**ka**. thanks for the story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Hey, you're about 50 miles from my mom's house! She's in Coatesville. I don't have a gear bag, but I do have a string-changing kit...... Lots of old T-shirt material and flannel PJ's for cleaning guitar little mahogany box with picks inside strings graphite pencil truss rod wrench pliers (?) 2 string winders my airmiles card (that I cut up when I had to shim this guy's saddle) Kyser capo (for holding the string while I wind) two fingers of a rubber glove (for working on those pesky E and B strings) wire cutters Fretboard cleaner Gibson Pump Polish (mmmmmmm.... smells so good, I think I have to have a sniff right now) Headchair, for holding the headstock when changing strings (it's actually meant for suntanning, but I gave that up years ago in order to preserve my flawless skin) there's a tuner in there somewhere too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 cunk - hah, I bet if I emptied my Anvil at home I'd find stuff I never knew about, too...year-old slices of pizza, empty Coke bottles, etc. I try to streamline on the road:) GG - lol! I got a kick out of the airmiles card, too funny. That was kewl. Love the smell of Gibson polish, too:) BTW - Allentown is booooring. But the trees are looking good up here and there is a definite nip in the air. Fall is pretty up north...but I wanna go home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 ... Virtuoso Polish and Cleaner Gibson Guitar Polish Dunlap Lemon Oil Olive Oil (for fingerboard I mix with the lemon' date=' great on rosewood) Component Cleaning Brush (available at most truckstops, actually for dusting electronics, etc, great for moustache bridges and under strings at end of neck) Terry cloth towel Dean Markely treated wipe towel Gruhn wooden neck rest All-in-one tool kit w/screwdrivers, nutdrivers, allen wrenches, pliers, cutters, file, etc String Winder w/pin puller Fine sandpaper Capos Extra 9v battery[/size'] A bit too much for me on a road trip. Package of strings soft cloth Clamshell eyeglass case with various picks, and capo Tuner(apparently Johnny Lee has one of them Robo'tars) Suction cup tuner pick-up some picks Silicone shoe polish sponge (for lubin' the strangs (99¢)) Another clamshell eyeglass case with manicure supplies -clipper -diamond file -buffer -couple picks Staff paper pencil pen copy of songs I'm working on Copy of the NIBA Bluegrass Jam schedule. Latest or back issue of Backwoodsman Magazine. A pick stuck up under the strangs. (I got lots of picks) I leave my tools and polishin' supplies at home as that is where I do that kind of work. The only tool I carry is in my LH butt pocket, a Swiss army knife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I've been thinking about a thread like this.....I have a lot of the same stuff you guys do....BUT I do not have a good gear bag!!!! I've looked at tool boxes, my wife's old purses, lol.....and laptop computer bags, but nothing really has the right compartments, or functionality for a gear bag for guitars.....any suggestions????? (OH, I have an 18" straightedge that I use to check setup, so it would have to hold that too....polish, pics, finger pics, spare parts, string changing stuff, etc, etc. Thanks...wily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Gillian Girl...... I have been trying to figure out what the purpose of the "Headchair" is for changing strings and I am stumped! Could you please explain? or is it just that you get a head ache from the process and use that to rest afterwards. Do the rubber fingers really protect against the E string? I ask because I just got a bad bloody E string poke last night changing strings and it is still stinging this morning......left hand index so it hurts to play :-( If so that is a great idea!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertjohn Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I was given a Gibson holdall with lots of pockets and zips, which is very handy but I'm always losing stuff in it. Yesterday I found a half used pack of Golden Virginia, a packet of green Rizlas, a lighter and a packet of condoms - unused. Ah...............those were the days. PS I have not found it necessary to utilise any of the above mentioned items, since finding them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I don't gig anymore but still play at some weddings and funeral type stuff. (Once a year a group of us hockey dads get's together to practice playing at our annual "adults only" party at the end of every hockey season too.) I have most of what you gigging musicians have sitting on my shelf in my music room, but when I go out to play I always bring a couple capo's, extra strings, a few picks (I am mostly a fingerstyle player), my tuner and a strap. If I could find the room, I would throw my SoundSeat "Wide ***" guitar chair in the car as I love sitting and playing on it for hours without any butt discomfort. It is the thing I miss most when not playing at home.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Might seem like too much stuff for some, but I am on the road 6-8 weeks at a time and I live by the old Boy Scout motto - Be Prepared. I end up adding stuff I wished I'd had every time I pack to go out, so I never regret hauling all that crap around with me. GG - try one of those leatherette thimble thingys that leather lacers use. Been thinking about one of those myself:) As for bags, right now I carry all of it in a Peavey gig bag that is getting smaller and smaller ha. I've been thinking about buying this tech case I saw on MusiciansFriend - check it out - http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Core-One-Tech-Box-Guitar-Workstation?sku=481270 Looks to be everything you need for a maintenance kit huh? I like it! Even folds out for a workstation for the guitar to rest on, nice. Even has a little compartment to store those extra COLOSI BRIDGE PINS:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 Taylor - Love the Wide *** seat! Where can I find one of those? Nice pic bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 On second thought, if you read the product reviews of the Core Workstation Box, not many are happy with it. Think I'll look around for something else along those same lines. They are saying the inside sucks, poorly made, and not worth the money. That's a hefty price for something that doesn't add up on the inside, which is what counts IMHO. Just a fair warning, should have read further. Good thing I did read that, cuz I was lookin at it with the Visa in hand lol...after reading the customer reviews, I don't think I would recommend it to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I've been thinking about a thread like this.....I have a lot of the same stuff you guys do....BUT I do not have a good gear bag!!!! I've looked at tool boxes' date=' my wife's old purses, lol.....and laptop computer bags, but nothing really has the right compartments, or functionality for a gear bag for guitars.....any suggestions????? (OH, I have an 18" straightedge that I use to check setup, so it would have to hold that too....polish, pics, finger pics, spare parts, string changing stuff, etc, etc. Thanks...wily[/quote'] You lookin' for something to keep it all together whilest tossed in the glove box of your guit tar case? or something to carry along with your guit tar case or to sling over your shoulder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Might seem like too much stuff for some' date=' but I am on the road 6-8 weeks at a time... [/quote'] Yeah, I agree. If'n you're on the road that long, you gotta bring the tool and cosmetics kit along with. My 'on the road' consists of 5pm show-up at the Ofir Community Center, pretend to know what chords to play, back home by 11 pm to kiss the dog and play with the wife... or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Taylor - Love the Wide *** seat! Where can I find one of those? Nice pic bro! Looks like something they sell to ... gasp... drummers, called a 'throne'. 'Course over here on the left side of the Atlantic, 'throne' is synonymous with what you folks on the right side of the Atlantic call the 'loo'. So.. throne. what the drummers do.. It fits. =P~/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Taylor - Love the Wide *** seat! Where can I find one of those? Nice pic bro! Hey JLW.... You can find it here: http://www.soundseat.com/ JR Baker is the owner of the company and a real stand up guy like Bob Colosi. These are the kind of guys that understand customer satisfaction!!! I have had mine for several years and it is as good as the day I got it because it is built so well. Yes JR Baker was and probably still is a "Gasp" Drummer!! :D But his seats are customizeable (Check out the ones on his site that he did for the guys in the band "Little Feet". When I got mine, he was still building them in his garage, but his business has taken off and I think it is a bigger operation now, but you still will get to talk directly to JR probably and he always calls after you receive it to make sure everything is good. They used to be billed as the "Wide ***" chair and I think you can still get that printed on it, but you could also have your name, band name or anything with just about any color done custom to it as well. These chairs are built for comfort, with different size lifts for your frame size etc. Check out the site. I can recommend these above any other guitar chair I ever sat in. They are "Da Bomb"!!!! They also have one that breaks down for you gigging guys that like to sit and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Tommy, ..... a case for pics, strings, wire cutters, tuners, tuning cranks....all the related guitar stuff....I could take it to a friends going over to play, open mic, etc....a bag where things won't get lost, easy to use...I have not found anything yet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 "Wide *** seat", "Head seat"????? are we still talking guitars????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 "Wide *** seat"' date=' "Head seat"????? are we still talking guitars?????[/quote'] Hey, I lost 60 lbs 2 years ago and have kept it off..... no more wide *** for me, but I still LOVE my chair. I have to steal it back from the kids and my wife though as they like it too and keep moving it out of my music room!!! Damn.... I need my own house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Hey' date=' I lost 60 lbs 2 years ago and have kept it off..... no more wide *** for me, but I still LOVE my chair. I have to steal it back from the kids and my wife though as they like it too and keep moving it out of my music room!!! Damn.... I need my own house! [/quote'] New house!!!!???? I think a half dozen 'Wide A$$es' would be cheaper. Six foot of aircraft cable to lash it to the floor would be cheaper still! :D/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I've been thinking about a thread like this.....I have a lot of the same stuff you guys do....BUT I do not have a good gear bag!!!! I've looked at tool boxes' date=' my wife's old purses, lol.....and laptop computer bags, but nothing really has the right compartments, or functionality for a gear bag for guitars.....any suggestions????? (OH, I have an 18" straightedge that I use to check setup, so it would have to hold that too....polish, pics, finger pics, spare parts, string changing stuff, etc, etc. Thanks...wily[/quote']OWF, have you seen the gear box that Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings use? It's an old vintage tweed box with 3 drawers in it. The things were probably worth $25.00, up until people started noticing Gil and Dave's. Then there was a flurry of them on eBay. They were going for $280.00! So, if you've got one of these in your attic, never mind the gear box idea, sell it on eBay and retire! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Gillian Girl...... I have been trying to figure out what the purpose of the "Headchair" is for changing strings and I am stumped! Could you please explain? or is it just that you get a head ache from the process and use that to rest afterwards. Do the rubber fingers really protect against the E string? I ask because I just got a bad bloody E string poke last night changing strings and it is still stinging this morning......left hand index so it hurts to play :-( If so that is a great idea!! Stephen' date=' the Headchair is to rest the neck of the guitar on when I'm changing strings. I suppose a Gruhn wooden rest would be more professional, but I like my Headchair! Changing strings for me used to mean a ball of yarn and a pillow, but those days are gone. I use the rubber gloves to throttle down the E and B when I'm winding them up. I find them hard to work with because they're so fine. [b']The old days:[/b] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geelinus Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I travel with a set of strings, a stringwinder/pn puller, wire cutters, and a tuner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Stephen' date=' the Headchair is to rest the neck of the guitar on when I'm changing strings. I suppose a Gruhn wooden rest would be more professional, but I like my Headchair! Changing strings for me used to mean a ball of yarn and a pillow, but those days are gone. I use the rubber gloves to throttle down the E and B when I'm winding them up. I find them hard to work with because they're so fine. [/quote'] "Ahhhh I see" said the blind man as he picked up his guitar and played G, C, E, G, C and E Oh and I would love one of those old vintage tweed boxes, but only if I could pull out a harmonica and play Pocahontas live like Dave...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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