The Guitarist's Survival Guide: A Well-Stocked Gig Bag

Once again, no sponsors here. I am just talking about the gear I use, simply because it works for me.

The Guitar Case That Changed My Life (Gator G-PG Acoustic Gigbag):

Let's kick things off with the unsung hero of my gigging life: the Gator G-PG Acoustic Gigbag. Now, here's a confession: this wasn't my idea. Years ago, my friends, bless their souls, gifted me this bag, despite my stubborn insistence that I preferred hauling my acoustic around in a clunky, back-breaking hard case. "It's more professional!" I declared, like some kind of musical medieval knight.

Oh, how wrong I was. Turns out, I was a naive fool, a guitar-carrying Luddite trapped in the past. This gigbag? It's a revelation. Sturdy? Check. Reliable? Double check. But the real magic? The weight distribution. Your back will thank you. And it’s got pockets for all your knick-knacks.

The Indispensable Vocal Companion (AKA The SM58):

First up, the SM58. The industry standard. The microphone has seen more sticky bar floors and questionable vocal performances than any other piece of gear. It's like the cockroach of the audio world: indestructible and always there when you need it. Never, ever leave home without one. You never know when you'll need to belt out a drunken karaoke version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" or, you know, actually do your job. Some bars might have a house mic, but why take the risk? Friends don’t let friends leave the house without an SM58.

On the Go Audio Recorder (Zoom H1n):

Next, the Zoom H1n. This little guy is my sonic Swiss Army knife. Need to record a quick demo in a hotel room? Check. Want to capture the ambient sounds of a dive bar for an intro to a song? Check. It's the perfect "on-the-go" recorder because you never know when you’ll need to record something in stereo out there in the real world.

Strings:

Strings. Oh, strings. As guitarists, we owe them a debt. Wouldn’t be getting much plucking done without them. The strings I use are the strings I use now. I love them, but I didn’t always, and I could change in the future, but I can report these are all great products.

• Acoustic: D'Addario XSAPB1253:

These are my preferred coated strings. I switched from Elixir to these because they offer a punchy sound, a pleasantly slick feel, and impressive longevity.

• D'Addario ECG25 Chromes Flat Wound Electric Guitar Strings for my hollowbody:

These strings provide a smooth feel, ideal for jazz and soul playing. The feel of flat wounds really does make a large difference. I encourage you to try them if you haven’t.

• D'Addario EXL115W: For my Telecaster with a Bigsby:

I use 11-gauge strings for my Telecaster with a Bigsby, and these D'Addarios deliver the sound and feel I need.

Pick Talk:

Picks. They're like socks in the laundry; they vanish into thin air. I spent years coming to these choices. If you're in the market, try them for yourself.

• Dunlop Tortex Jazz 3: My electric go-to. Small, precise, and perfect for hybrid picking. When I am playing electric, a larger pick now feels bulky and like a waste of movement for me.

• PickBoy Carbon Nylon 1mm: I love this pick for acoustic playing. The carbon nylon material it’s made from wears down with a lot of fast playing, but it seems to add some high frequencies to the attack of the note. The decal on the front I could take or leave, but the plectrum is great.
• Dunlop M Thumb Pick: For when I'm feeling that acoustic fingerstyle vibe. Tommy Emmanuel assures us our thumb size goes up and down every day, so if you’re into this style of pick, it behoves you to have size options.

• Ariel Posen Rock Slide: Because sometimes, you need to slide into the depths of bluesy goodness. I love to play slide. Any will do – as long as it fits.

My In-Ear Monitors

In-ear monitors. I am no expert on these, however, having played in a band that toured Europe, I began to use these regularly, and their advantages were clear. What I am recommending to you is the most affordable option for in-ears.

• Receiver: The Behringer Powerplay P2: is a very budget-friendly entry to the world of in-ears. It is a wired receiver, you can plug an XLR right into it, and provided you’re not moving around the stage too much, it will see you fine. The jury’s out on whether it will stand the test of time, but for that price, it is expected. I will write a full piece on in-ear options in the future, but for now, it’s enough to get you started.

• The in-ears I am using are Shure SE215 Pro CL, affordable options that absolutely get the job done, and done well.

The Guitar's Stand (Hercules GS200B):

The Hercules GS200B. It is a guitar stand that folds up small. This may seem like an unsexy purchase, but hoo boy. I cannot recommend this enough. Sturdy, reliable, and it folds up nicely. Don’t be the person who leans their guitar against a wall only to have it slip and crack. I’ve seen it happen!

The Random Assortment of "Just In Case" Items:

And then, there's the bottomless pit of random items:

• A roll of gaffer tape (because everything breaks at gigs and marking your cables with some identifiable tape is working smarter, not harder) 
• A pro-winder (for making restrings so much easier).
• A spare cable (because cables are the enemy).
• A packet of mints (because rock stars need fresh breath).
• A crumpled setlist (because I can never remember what song comes next).
• An emergency tortilla (recently picked up this habit from a friend. Highly recommended).
• A small bottle of hot sauce, for when the gig is boring and needs some spice.

So, there you have it. My gig bag: a chaotic yet essential collection of tools and trinkets that help me survive the wild world of live music. It's a bit like a musical Mary Poppins' bag but with more picks and less magic.