Gigbag contents

[Rick]

I was thinking about my first gig this summer and what I would need to bring along, and I realized I didn't have an emery board.  Just wondering, besides strings and clippers what do you bring along?

For when I'm sitting down, I bring a little folding foot stool for my right foot.

 

[mayfly]

I gotta tell ya, an emery board would not even cross my mind.  Here's what I bring, assuming the PA is provided:
 
guitar gig bag: guitar, spare strings, capo, spare capo (lead vocalist is forgetful), picks, strap, setlist.
'pedalboard' bag: axeFX amp modeller, guitar cord, XLR cord, power cord, mini toolkit.
'merch' bag (actually a road case): 30 CDs, 10 hip flasks, float, loads of picks (branded with band name/logo/website), 50 beer coasters (branded with band name/logo/website), price list poster.

I seem to have different priorities 

 

[TBurst Std]

Items not already mentioned:
Flashlight, electric plug tester, batteries, battery tester,  IEMs, extra cords, extension cords (both electrical and audio).

As far as emery boards, 2 are in each guitar and bass case.  Capos? One of each in each case plus 2 spares in the gig bag. Picks? 5 in each case for that instrument, 5 of each (I use 2 different types) in the gig bag. Plus I always have 1 of each in my pocket.

 

[Rick]

@Mayfly
.... AND coasters!
Can you post a picture of one of them?

@TBird
IEM is on the next level!

The only other two things I'd add for my mundane bag is duct tape and my Shure PG 58 Mic.

 

[TBurst Std]

@Mayfly
.... AND coasters!
Can you post a picture of one of them?

@TBird
IEM is on the next level!

The only other two things I'd add for my mundane bag is duct tape and my Shure PG 58 Mic.

Then I shouldn’t mention my backup pair are close at hand also. LOL

 

[mayfly]

@Mayfly
.... AND coasters!
Can you post a picture of one of them?

I just happen to be out!  Currently not motivated to place another order
Here's the artwork:

 

[Steve_Karl]

No one has mentioned a digital tuner? That and the tool bag are probably the only practical additions.
The rest is just me being an old fart.

My "used to always bring along" was initially: Tuning fork in A. Used to strike it on my head then hold it between my teeth to get my A string in tune.
Yea, kinda like walking 5 miles to school barefoot in the snow, but actually true ... the tuning fork part, not the barefoot / snow.

The tuning fork was from 1969 until when I could afford a Conn Strobo tuner. Probably in the early '80s.
My last live gig was about 20 yrs. ago or close to that, and by that time I had a decent little Boss tuner. The Conn got stolen years earlier.

I began carrying a small tool kit, very early on, in a spare microphone bag - everything possibly needed to repair anything in use, including a soldering iron and solder, pen knife to strip wires etc.

Highly doubtful, but if I had to do it again today my Peterson VS-1 would stay at home. My clip on Boss TU-10 is good enough for live and very portable.
Spare battery for that would be in the case well. My tool kit, almost all the original tools with some new additions, now in a bank bag. (attached photo)
(Yea those all fit in the bag) My Leatherman Wave+ is always on my belt behind right hip, and I'd probably also bring a Buck 110. Oh, and maybe my Tux, in a clothes bag, depending on the gig.
And, plenty of earplugs.

 

[ChrisMC]

Gig bag:

Headstock tuner, Ibanez multi tool, multi screwdriver, Leatherman knife, jewelers precision screwdriver, tremolo arm, IEM earbuds with hard case, strap, picks, eBow, cleaning cloth, tremolo springs (I don’t even know why…they’re just…there), truss rod wrench, Fender Mustang Micro, spare strings, sheet music (if needed), CR2032 batteries, Behringer P2, Vox AmPlug cabinet sometimes (it works with the Mustang Micro!), and a thing that tells time (not really, but still…).

Helix bag:

Helix (very good job if you guessed that already), IEC cord, 1/4” TS cables, XLR cable, 1/4” TRSM to 1/8” TRSF (headphone extension) cable, sometimes a music binder. 

 

[Seamas]

One forty-five caliber automatic; two boxes of ammunition; four days' concentrated emergency rations; one drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine, vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills; one miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible; one hundred dollars in rubles; one hundred dollars in gold; nine packs of chewing gum; one issue of prophylactics; three lipsticks; three pair of nylon stockings.

 

[Jebberz]

I always carry on each gig (alongside what I use)

- Spare 1/4 and XLR Cables
- A spare microphone (cheap one, but better than nothing)
- Picks
- 9V Battery
- Zip tie, duckt tape, electrical tape
- Spare strings
- Medication (Gravol, Imodium, Tylenol and Robax)
- A multitool and a set of Allen Keys
- Spare socks and undies
- Cellphone charger
- Pen and Paper

Almost never needed any of this, but it can save your gig in case of an emergency. I i find out that I miss something on a gig, I add it to the list.

 

[Seamas]

duckt tape

Oooh, are you are trying to  thread the needle on the duck tape vs duct tape controversy?

It is an elegant solution.

 

[mayfly]

- Medication (Gravol, Imodium, Tylenol and Robax)

This reminds me of a new addition to the gig bag:  Ibuprofen !

 

[Rick]

Yeah ... definitely something like Advil.

 

[stratamania]

And don't forget a small first aid kit. Hopefully you will never need it.

 

[Jebberz]

duckt tape

Oooh, are you are trying to  thread the needle on the duck tape vs duct tape controversy?

It is an elegant solution.

Actually, it is just that english is my second language, so I make elegant mistakes like this one. I guess Duck Tape is a brand of duct tape, but I may be wrong... but still, it can replace on the fly a lost strap button or hold a car bumper in place when there is no other short term solution.

 

[Seamas]

duckt tape

Oooh, are you are trying to  thread the needle on the duck tape vs duct tape controversy?

It is an elegant solution.

Actually, it is just that english is my second language, so I make elegant mistakes like this one. I guess Duck Tape is a brand of duct tape, but I may be wrong... but still, it can replace on the fly a lost strap button or hold a car bumper in place when there is no other short term solution.

It is actually  long debated what the origins are-
Some claim it was due to the original product, which was more like a gaffers tape was backed by a type of canvas called "duck" (like an artist's canvas).
It also sounds like duct--but apparently isn't all that good for duct work.