My TOP 10 Life Savers as a Gigging Guitarist
Whether you're a seasoned pro, or a beginner just making your mark on the local scene, this short list of gems uncovers some essential tools and accessories every gigging guitarist should have in their arsenal.
With that said, these are NOT only for those who regularly perform in public, a lot of these items, in my opinion, are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to keep your guitar well maintained & your sanity in check.
This list is in no particular order. To me they're all equal important.
First on the list we have:
1. Ernie Ball Musicians Tool Kit
This should be a no brainer, but I'll tell you, it wasn't for me. It took many years and frustrated situations for me to realise I needed a self contained pack, full of all the goodies required to bring about the best experience both on stage and off. This pack has everything you need all in one. Thanks Ernie Ball!
And what about when you break a string? Do you have a second guitar & a guy to fix it for you? I mean, good on you if you do, but I don't. So to get that new string on and tuned in record time, I recommend grabbing one of these.
- Ernie Ball Power Peg String Winder
- D'Addario String Winder & Cutter
2. Guitar Strings
Speaking of strings, you need spare strings! I have been stupid enough to go unprepared to a gig in the past. Luckily for me I had a second guitarist at the time who did have spare strings. Let's just say I learned my lesson.
And literally 2 days ago (as of writing this) I had a guitarist come in from the party next door and scalp a G string from me. He promised me a beer, and I'm still waiting.
So don't be dick, take spares!
- D'Addario XT 10-46 - 3 Pack.
These strings were an absolute game changer for me! They feel slick, natural, slinky, amazing tone & long life.
- D'Addario XS 10-46 - 3 Pack.
My second choice for strings. Almost on par with the XT with a great feel, tone and long life span.
- D'Addario XS ACOUSTIC 12-53 - Personally I use a lighter gouge on my acoustic, but that is fairly uncommon. However I still recommend the D'Addario for the same reasons as above.
I used to use Elixers, and did so for many years. Their tone are amazing, long lasting and quality made. Below are the ones I used, and still have as my backup strings.
Electric - Elixir Polyweb 10-46 - Single Pack.
- Elixer Optiweb 10-46 - 3 Pack
Acoustic - Elixer Phosphor Bronze 12-53 - 3 Pack.
3. Dunlop Pick Holder - for Mic Stand
We've all seen how cool our favourite rock stars look grabbing a pick from their mic stand. Sure you could use a piece of tape, but why not have a well designed holder to take from gig to gig, that will last! Tape costs money, and eventually you're gonna use a lot of tape. Buy once, look cool every gig and save $$ in the long run.
4. Gig Bag
Seems pretty obvious right. You've got all this awesome stuff, now you need something to carry it in. And trust me, that hot chick at the bar isn't impressed by your little plastic bag from Coles.
We all know BOSS. They are one of the leading companies for a reason, & their bags are no exception.
I have both of these bags and both get used regularly for different occasions.
- Backpack - This backpack is amazing. I don't know why I didn't get one sooner. You've got a tone of space for all your goodies, leads, a laptop, or an FX Modeller like the GT-1000. Check out my video here.
- Over Shoulder Satchel - This one is perfect for the GT-1000. I think it was technically made for the GT-100(?), but it's still spot on. I've used mine for many other things as well, such as extra leads, a projector, etc.
5. String Cleaner - Finger Ease Guitar String Lubricant
I'll never forget the first time I used this stuff. I was in my early 20's and my band mate told me that "this stuff will make you play 10 times faster..." He was obviously full of s#*t & we had a good laugh, but since that day this is my go to for bringing new life to a set of well played strings.
You're going to need a cloth of some kind with you. You could simply take a tee-towel from the kitchen like I did when I was younger (thanks Dad), but if you're paying attention you will notice that you get a cloth with your brand new Musicians Tool Kit.
6. Guitar Stand
Another seemingly obvious item, but I can guarantee that you, yes you, have gone to a gig without one and ended up leaning your precious baby up against your amp, or the wall, or laid it down on the ground and hoped for the best.
Don't be a stupid. Take a stand.
The Hercules brand is a fairly well renowned name in the music industry. These stand are genuinely brilliant. They are sturdy, well built, and the foam used is guaranteed to protect your Nitrocellulose finish on these extra special guitars.
- Hercules Single Guitar Stand - Hanging Auto Grip
- Hercules Dual Guitar Stand - Hanging Auto Grip
7. Charger For Rechargeable Batteries
As a musician, how many batteries have you used over the years? And how much do you think that has cost you? I know right! Hurts to think about.
Do not hesitate one day longer, buy yourself some rechargeable batteries and take this with you to every gig.
- Enecharger 12-240V - This is the charger I have and it's been fantastic.
- Enegon Smart Multifunction AA AAA 9V - As the name suggests, this one is multi function including 9V charging as well. I'm gonna have to get myself one of these!
8. Strap Locks
If you're going to stand and use a strap on your guitar, you NEED strap locks! I'm not even going to bother explaining why. You KNOW why!
Schaller Strap Locks are my preference. They are quality made by a quality brand, and they give you many different colours to choose from to perfectly match your weapon off choice.
- Chrome
- Gold
9. Drink Holder For Mic Stand
Ok, I know, you're now probably thinking "What? This guy's lost it...", but no no no, do you know how many times you've stupidly sat a beer on your amp? Or on the floor, or on that table over there cos that's all there is? Yeah, I've lost count too!
And do you know who else uses a drink holder on their stand? FAMOUS PEOPLE! It genuinely surprised me when I started noticing just how many rock stars do exactly this. And not with a beer or a cup, but with a plastic sports bottle, because they've some serious business to attend to.
This is holder I have and use, and it's the bomb.
10. Tuner
This one should be completely obvious, but somehow it isn't. Buy a Goddamn tuner!
Stop tuning by ear, loudly between songs. Buy a Goddamn tuner!
Stop interfering with your rehearsal by tuning loudly, arguing with your drummer, and annoying your singer. Buy a Goddamn tuner!
"Why do I need to waste money on this, I can just use my phone..." No mate. No. Stop being a less than average wanna be, and just buy a Goddamn tuner!
Yeah, there's a lot of built up rage here... Haha!
I remember I absolutely resented needing to spend money on something as plebeian as a tuner pedal, but in complete honesty, I've had mine for 20+ years and it has been invaluable. Not everyone is going to need a stand alone tuner, most modellers have one built in that will mute your output, but if you don't have that luxury these are the ones that I would go for.
And there we have it. My Top 10 Life Saving Items that I use at every gig, all thanks to years of completely ignoring these essentials.
If you took the time to read, I appreciate you. If you do decided to click through these links and purchase any of these items, these are affiliate links that go towards helping me continue my journey as a YouTuber and mentor, so I thank you.
Good luck on your own personal journey. Stay tuned, and I'll catch ya next time!