Anyone Bring Their Tool Kit to Gigs?

[Big Al]

I always like to be prepared in case something goes wrong at gigs. I bring too many guitars in case of string breaks or tuning problems, extra amp head and extra tubes. I also bring a fishing tackle box with miscellaneous guitar related repair stuff (screwdrivers, soldering iron, tape, allen wrenches, etc...). The other guys laugh at me when they see me bringing in a tackle box in a club but they always come to me asking for a Sharpie, screwdriver, tape, Exacto knife or super glue.

Does anyone else use a tackle box? Most guys do bring an emergency kit...right?

[Chad]

Yeah, I keep a lot of stuff in the pockets of my Furman pedalboard bag. I have also been "the guy" several times when people need a spare cable, screwdriver, or whatever. Being prepared is part of being professional.

[VitaminG]

I have a little toolkit I picked up at an auto shop. It lives in my cable bag (a hardwearing tradesman's toolbag with shoulder strap & loads of internal & external pockets). The toolkit has a set of pliers, sidecutters, modular driver with a range of screw, hex and socket tips, jeweler's screwdrivers, feeler gauge. It has come to the aid of a bunch of band members over the years. It was $20 well spent. And then there is the gaffa tape, zippos, torch, bag of guitar picks, etc floating around or stashed in pockets in my cable bag.

[CowboyFromHell]

I'm with you guys and would rather be prepared and safe than sorry. I'm not as well prepared as Al with extra tubes and such but the tools I wouldn't be caught without.

[Big Al]

I'm with you guys and would rather be prepared and safe than sorry. I'm not as well prepared as Al with extra tubes and such but the tools I wouldn't be caught without.

I have to be prepared, seems like all kind of things go wrong when we play. I have a fear that one day I will be carrying my tackle box into a club and the latch will give way and screws, pots, nuts, knobs will go all over. I probably should find something more professional or musician looking but it works very well and keeps me organized with all the compartments intended for lures.
I keep all of my home guitar related stuff in it so I will not forget anything when we play out.

[BenoA]

I'm with you guys and would rather be prepared and safe than sorry. I'm not as well prepared as Al with extra tubes and such but the tools I wouldn't be caught without.

+1! Same here.

Last gig, my wireless capped out. My replacement cable too... My band mates told me my gear was "haunted" ! But the show must go on.

[Scooter]

Yep, same here. Right now I just have an old taped up box, but I like the tackle box idea. I keep everything I can think of to do any on the fly repair we'd need, and somebody always needs a wrench or screwdriver.

[Chad]

A guy at a local gig did indeed have a tackle box or either a small tool box. Minutes before he was set to go onstage he found that his wireless receiver's power adapter had died. Amazingly, in that box of junk he didn't have a spare guitar cable. lol. He was scrambling around asking to see who had an extra cable on hand. If you're gonna have a tool kit, at least stock it properly.

[Big Al]

That's another issue...thinking of all the things that can fail. I would have never thought about the wall wart for a wireless going out. I do keep a cable looped over the handle of a cabinet in case my wireless craps out.

[roodyrocker]

Yes, always bring all that stuff with me plus DI boxes, zip ties (for hanging band banner, tying cables/cords, etc...). I bring a spare amp or my Axe Fx Ultra. I don't bring spare tubes as I wont have time to trouble shoot a failed amp live, simply switch it out and fix later.

[Axegrinder87]

I keep a beastly tool box on the bus. Spare pots, wire, pickups, strings, soldering rig, knobs, tubes, meter, fuses, BATTERIES, all the tools you could imagine, and then some more.

Luckily, I've never so much even needed to strap on my back-up guitar, though sometimes I switch just for giggles.

[Chad]

I would have never thought about the wall wart for a wireless going out. I do keep a cable looped over the handle of a cabinet in case my wireless craps out.

Yeah, that is definitely a weird one. But, like you, I have an extra cable on-hand in case my wireless would stop working for whatever reason.

[straycat]

Yep I always bring my tool kit.

[mr426]

I use this rolling tool box for gig. All my cables, mics, pics tools etc are in there and it rolls and breaks down for easier storage too.....

http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=ZAG+ROLLING+WORK&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=STST18613&SDesc=Stanley%26%23153%3B+3%2Din%2D1+Mobile+Workcenter

[CowboyFromHell]

That's the one I have had for years. Lots of great organized storage plus a good sized bottom bin for bulkier items. Add to that wheels and a handle and it's hard to beat.