Building a Guitarist's Survival Kit

When performing live in small clubs and bars, few things will ruin a show like equipment failure. A broken string, a blown vacuum tube, a bad patch cord; these relatively simple, inexpensive things can end up costing you and the boys more than just the night's pay. Few things make an act look as foolish as when they aren't prepared for the unexpected (yet inevitable) disasters on stage.

A seasoned guitarist knows that it's not an issue of "if" something will go wrong, but rather "when" it will go wrong. The famous Scout motto of "Be Prepared" applies to the guitarist working the local venues as well as the more established touring acts. Fortunately, almost any guitarist can build an emergency kit for very little money, if they know where to look.

Tools are a necessity, and pliers are an absolute necessity. Get a pair of basic slip-joint pliers to tighten an loose nuts (like the one that retain input and output jacks), a pair of diagonals to cut wires and guitar strings, and a pair of needle-nose to maneuver small items (like wires and small screws) into tight places. Lastly, a 6" adjustable (Crescent-type) wrench can help make adjustments a bit easier.

Screwdrivers are another absolute essential for the guitarist. A set of three; large, medium, and small, in both Slotted and Phillips should cover just about every size screw you encounter. A good set of Allen wrenches is a must whenever a bridge saddle or truss rod adjustment has to be made. These items can be obtained for little money at flea markets, swap meets, or discount stores like Big Lots and Dollar General.

It is also a very good idea to have a backup for every item that must eventually be replaced. Things like an extra set of strings, extra picks, vacuum tubes, fuses, and patch cords are real gig-savers. Don't forget spare batteries, especially AA (some effects), AAA (pocket tuners), and square 9V (pedals and active pickups). A spare power strip and high-current extension cord with a ground can also help to save the night (on that note, so can a handful of 2-prong AC adapters).

Always keep a good chromatic tuner in your kit. String winders are inexpensive and really help speed up string changes. Duct tape (or gaffer's tape), helpful for just about everything from safely taping down cables to temporarily repairing a torn speaker cone, should also be part of every guitarist's emergency kit.

Some extra items could include super glue, soldering iron, heat shrink tubing, solder, wire strippers and various gauges of copper wire for fixing bad connections. An old tackle box or toolbox makes a great place to store and carry these items. An old briefcase may be used with smaller boxes and tins inside to keep these items organized.