What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?

Subject: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:07 AM

Well, I don't have much interesting stuff in my banjo case. An extra set of strings, a bracket wrench, a set of Fuller 3.0mm -1.4mm screw drivers, a capo and a few picks.
I think I'll throw in an Oh Henry candy bar in case I get real hungry and a very small roll of duct tape. That always comes in handy.
Maybe I'll even toss in a picture of Pete Seeger for inspiration.

But I was wondering, what kind of stuff you guys keep in your case?

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:52 AM

Fiddle case: very old, very soft old hanky, which has been in there for at least 30 years, just right for wiping off excess rosin; rosin, almost as old; mute; and, shoulder rest. Anything else and it would get crowded!

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:56 AM

picks, capo, fast fret (to clean strings) scotch tape, tuning fork,wire cutters, list of song titles and a few tapes for sale.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:59 AM

Nothing much exciting:

Spare strings, string winder, tuner, plectrums, capo, and sometimes, a blow up teletubbie ball (merchandise from British under 5's TV programme) signed by 'Liza Carthy and Kate Rusby. - It brings me luck!

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:18 AM

My recently departed bass case had a "thank you" sign taped to the inside of the lid, for acknowledging tips, and spare strings, big old thumbpick for when I didn't play with my fingers, various allen keys and other guitar tools, strap, spare nine volt battery, eq peddle, cheat sheets...

My mandolin case is lined with an old union t-shirt.

Other cases have the usual strap, picks, strings, tools, music, post-it notes, rags, capos and the like, nothing particularly fanciful.

Years ago I worked with a banjo/etc player who always carried condoms, smokes, rye, and snacks among other things more lifestyle than music oriented in his cases.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: MandolinPaul
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:25 AM

In my mandolin case: Strings, picks, fingerpicks, tuner, and my lucky slide. No, I don't use the slide on my mandolin (a gut-wrenching sound), and I don't own any other instruments to slide on, anymore. It just always used to be in my guitar case, and got transferred over when I traded the guitar in for the mandolin.

Paul.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:57 AM

I have a violin case, slightly modified, to keep my Tommy gun in.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:29 AM

I usually keep the bits in my banjo case rather than my guitars case but I usaully have: Spare picks, spare strings, wire cutters, small screwdriver, key to tension banjo head, tuner and capo's. It sometimes also has Fast Fret but for some reason, I have a terrible habbit of loosing the stuff.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:41 AM

just a few co---ms and a rubber chicken. (I have a thing for latex.)

Art

P.S.---An afterthought: There's a guitar there too.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:42 AM

advil -banjo can give you quite a headache, socks -you can stuff in the back of your banjo to mute the sound or wear them if your feet get cold,a phone number on a slip of paper from someone about something I can't remember, maybe a capo if I remember, and empty string envelopes.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 10:42 AM

I have nothing unusual, just the kinda' stuff that's already been mentioned, but uh...............

I am willing to bet that Ed is the ONLY person in the world who carries a Teletubbie ball!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: bill\sables
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:02 AM

Way Back in the 60s a singer used to come to my club with a guitar case which he never opened. Time and again he would turn up with the case and lean on it while he sang his songs but never opening the case. He once said that he carried his spare clothing in the case and did not own a guitar but being a sixties folk singer he was expected to carry a Guitar case. This singer is now a member of Mudcat so I suggest that BURL now owns up and tells us what he realy did carry in his case. Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:17 AM

Spaw,

Was just lying in the bath, and thinking about this - I'm pretty certain that I'm the only person in the world with a teletubbie ball signed by both Eliza Carthy and Kate Rusby.

May not sound much, but I'm proud of it :-)

Ed

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:27 AM

Autoharp tools, a plastic chopstick and metal iced tea spoon for hammering it (yes really, arpeggiated chordally, with chord bars in use), an Itty Bitty Book Light because I use a music stand and cheat sheets, and a leftover laminated nametag from one of the kids at the vacation Bible school I played at as a guess when I first had the nerve to play for someone besides family, it's a green butterfly pinned to see when I open the case.

Oh yes, and tiny-finger size picks so little ones who come up to see what I am playing can strum for themselves.

Carmex (lip balm), a comb and hair-restraint tools, and if I had any sense I would add a collapsible camper's cup for water...

And usually a tiny pocket-size tunebook in case I'm stuck for something to play when I get surprised by a request to play, you know, when I'm just out and about and happen to have the autoharp in tow. Plus whatever sheet music we played last outing, and haven't put away yet.

Hey, no wonder the damn thing is so heavy! And thanks for asking, Neo, cuz I just realized there's room for a couple of small New Testaments and prayer books (and no I am NOT a tract-hander or one to bash people with Bibles!! I play in settings where these would make basic common sense!).

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:44 AM

The usual stuff--strings, rosin, pencil,paper, business cards,sheet music, 2 Irish pennies and 3 case rats. I am a sucker for cute little case rats.One is rabbit fur with a squeaker, 1 is a black/white fake fur finger puppet, and 1 is a cat toy--when you pull the tail, it goes around in circles.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:48 AM

Good idea Jon, I am going to add a pair of wire cutters.
And no they are not for tuning my banjo!
Oh, I thought of something else, what about a nail clipper and nail file in case one breaks?

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:52 AM

How many folks have those darned "keys"? Nobody I know ever locks their cases anyway. I can just see a thief, having stolen your instrument saying to himself, "Doggone it the thing's LOCKED! Guess I better take it back."

I bought a 1912 Mando-cello from a lady a number of years ago (mudcatter Davey now owns it), who told me that her Grandfather who was killed in WW1 owned it. When I opened up the small compartment (several months after purchasing it) I found a newspaper article from 1915, from the Guelph Paper announcing his death. Eerie and touching.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Scotsbard ala Laptop
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 12:34 PM

Ummm ... lemme think ...

The guitar (maybe not to obvious after reading above, thought I should clarify), shoulder strap, two string sets, tuner, pitchfork (I forget to shut off the tuner with astounding frequency), pointed pliers/wirecutter, small screwdriver, nail file, assorted picks, three pages of DADGAD chords (just in case I ever get back around to trying to learn them), and an old bumper sticker that reads "I survived the Fire Ants at Wally World" ...

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 12:40 PM

Ya know, some of you must have a lot bigger cases than I do............Especially you Praise!!! What the hell kind of Autoharp case do you have anyway?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:16 PM

since I've started playing a few instuments, I've taken my instrument case "stash" and put it into a micrphone zip bag - this 'guitar paraphenalia' kit includes flat picks, thumb picks, capos, needle nose/wire cutters, a pen and business cards. Then I can throw the bag into whatever instrument case I will be using on that day.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:18 PM

Regulation hardshell Oscar Schmidt, but the padding is a bit compressed leaving lots of lovely little nooks and crannies.

BTW, Spaw, try hammering, it's a hoot! Only seems to work amped tho. Hammer, amp, AND reverb--- whee-hahhh!

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,moonchild
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:26 PM

My first pick, with the broken tip; plastic fingerpicks for two fingers because I could never get the hang of using fingerpicks and would end up throwing them on the floor; a caricature drawn on a napkin, of me singing at a coffeehouse in Washington, DC, called The Agape, circa 1974; a tuning fork; a pitch pipe; a red metal kazoo, circle 1966; sheet music for "Phaedra," circle 1967; handwritten words and chords for "Love Me Like A Man," circa 1974; new picks; digital tuner; teensy, tiny chord book from Allan C.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:28 PM

Praise, the last time anything was that compressed, it released nuclear energy!!! And yeah, I have tried the hammering bit, but never thru an amp...especially with reverb!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:38 PM

I forgot, other occasional items are harmonicas and a pen and paper. Re the space, on my bajo case, there is a fair amount of room under the neck as well as the storage compartment and I keep the tuner (nicely padded to protect the neck) there.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:42 PM

Spaw, I believe we have finally met. Try the amp, this needs the understring pickup, don't think it'll work with a mic. Mine's the Crate acoustic with vocal channel, the cheaper model with fewer bells and whistles. Oughtta hear the blues stride on that baby, pick sweeping from bass up to whiny treble!!!

What did you use for a hammer? I need to know.

Remember to turn the autoharp upside down too.

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:45 PM

Say Moon, have you considered opening your case as an antique shop at your gigs......you know, pick up a few extra bucks................You honest to Christ have your first pick????

This thread is simply amazing. I have a denim ditty bag, kinda' of a large ditty bag, that holds assorted crappola for everything from guitar to Hammered Dulcimer. I keep only essentials in any case, in "case" I lose my ditty bag..........gawd forbid!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:51 PM

Forgot the bumper sticker that says: FIDDLE--VIOLIN WITH AN ATTITUDE!

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 01:54 PM

Now this would be funny-- photos of our open cases and spilled ditty/gigbags in the bbc pages!

A mix-match game, whose bunch of crap goes with which face! Course, Spaw, yours would be a cinch if Cleigh nests in that bag. Does he have his own wee case or house or burrow or whatever??? (Oh dear, here I go before the flame-- does he have a tiny little hospital gown for his visits to the proctologist?)

If we end up looking like our dogs, I think our cases end up looking like our houses.

~Susan~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:00 PM

Cleigh has his own special case of sorts.........and although he doesn't have a hospital gown, he does have a lovely bubble-wrap cape that WyoWoman made him! Very stylish........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:32 PM

In my guitar case, my strap is in the main area with the instrument. In the little cubbyhole is a set of strings, small box of picks, soft rag, capo, tuner, little booklet with a list of song titles, nail clipper, and a small plastic bottle of hand sanitizer, the alcohol gel type. That last item is great for degreasing one's fingers when away from a sink and soap.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: MK
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:35 PM

Hmmmm......let's see:
- assorted finger picks
- assorted thumbpicks
-&chromatic tuner
- capo
- spare set of strings
- peg-winder
- a joint
-  a package of Clorets - a condom
- a copy of the Kama Sutra
- a 5'' X 7'' 35 year old photo of Rick Fielding illustrating Kama Sutra positions (because knowing your positions is fundamental to everything...)

I guess that about covers it.  8-)

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:41 PM

Uh, Michael, could you kindly explain the " " that appears in your post above? I've seen it in other posts as well, and it has me baffled.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Steve Latimer
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:47 PM

Spare picks, a few incomplete sets of strings, a capo, model railway tacks and a copy of "The Banjo Case Chord Book", which I find very helpful.

I am wise enough to know that a banjo player carrying condoms is the height of optimism.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Gary T
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 02:53 PM

Well, that one fooled me! In my question above, inside the quotation marks were the symbols &, n, b, s, all together as they appear in Michael's post. They disappeared from mine, which I presume Michael thought would happen with his. What gives?

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:35 PM

gary....I'm completely baffled as I can't find the nbs thingy with or without quotation marks in Michael's post, although your first post shows only two " marks.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:44 PM

almost ALL Michael's posts have &npsp's in them..I think it's some sort of HTML code gone wrongs

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 03:52 PM

WHERE ARE THEY?????? The only ampersand I see is before chromatic tuner and I don't see the letters at all!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Jimmy James
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:13 PM

well...my case isn't nearly as packed as some of yours but I go on the road alot and carry the bare neccessities...namely my guitar, then a couple of pictures of my girl. I also have a napkin signed by ole bobby dylan...other than that just my old flask for if a show is getting rough and about 20-something pics and safety cigarettes.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: MK
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:22 PM

The (ampersand n b s p) is to create a space....and yeah I screwed it up)....the '' ....refers to 5 inch by 7 inch...with the double quotations referring to inches, and where a single quote would refer to feet....

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:31 PM

Guitar case- wrench,slide, Paul Simon song book,med and light picks,strap, Beatles song book, 5 or 6 songs by me with lyrics n tabs.

Harmonica case- a dozen or so harps in various states of function and disfunction,Radioshack guitar tuner,song lists from gigs going back ten years or so,more songs by me,tambourine, bicycle gloves(for playing conga),shaker egg

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,moonchild
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:48 PM

Yes, 'spaw ... I honest to g-d have my first pick and I still prefer to use "it" instead of the new ones. New picks just don't have that "ring." And I forgot to mention my guitar strap, which my father bought in Mexico to go along with the guitar. I guess you could call me "eccentric," although I just like to say that I like old things with memories ... moon

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 04:53 PM

Kinda' like my genitals huh?

Geez, I'm sorry, I just couldn't let that one go past.....but at least I used me instead of Bill D.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,moonchild
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:00 PM

'spaw ... are you trying to tell me that at YOUR age, your genitals still have a memory or that what your genitals used to do is a memory? moon

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:02 PM

ok, you asked for it..*BG*....here on this page is my old 'harp case,(need to repair handle, so am using 'shaped' case with less room for now) and my ditty bag, ($3 at a yard sale) which will take all the stuff that used to live in the case, plus all those recorders, whistles, along with notebooks, AC adaptor for Korg, and lunch. Yes, I DO sometimes use a cart to carry it all...and yes, I DO have a big van to carry the cart. Those who saw me packing after the Getaway understand.

(Pics in Photoloft should both be in same album, but had a server error halfway thru uploading, and couldn't figure out how to re-edit, so they are in reverse order...*sigh*)

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:05 PM

PS...I think Netscape 'reads' HTML different than IE...I saw all Michaels  's

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:14 PM

...and business cards, and a soundhole pickup, blank cassette (I hope it's not awful), some phone # on a napkin (I hope that's good)...

A gigbag turned up promo posters from I don't know when and certainly don't remember playin the gigs, and a package of fish hooks and swivles (the fishin' musician lives!)...

This is a cool thread, thanks.

Peace Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,John of the Hill
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:20 PM

Noticed Sorcha listed a couple of Irish pennies among case detritus. I just checked my case and came up with one Irish penny, one Canadian penny, and a Canadian nickel. I wish there were some romantic story attached to them, but I have no recollection of where they came from. As far as that goes, I have no recollection of any romantic stories. John

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: SDShad
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:20 PM

Spare strings (Martin or Adamas), lots of picks, jaw harp, fingernail clipper, mini faux Leatherman-tool for clipping strings, capo, New Skin liquid bandage for those times when I've not played in weeks and don't have much for calluses (a mando player I know recommends Super Glue, but y'know, I don't think so), electronic tuner, string winder, those big metal clips for clipping music on a stand, used to have a C-harp until I loaned it, more or less permanently, to a friend, and a small hand towel for wiping down the guitar and such (always know where your Towel is).

Nothing too out of the ordinary, I guess.

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:22 PM

One of mine a leprchaun gave me at a Festival long ago, and the other Kate found on the floor at school.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:37 PM

Case keys someone wanted to know? Yes-- great emergency picks.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 05:42 PM

In addition to a guitar, an A440 tuning fork, two sets SIT Royal Bronze medium strings, rag, Shubb capo, Hamilton capo, cut off neck of wine bottle (Cabernet), old Sucretts box containing picks, Side Winder, wire cutters, small screwdriver, small notebook, ball point pen, guitar strap, jam session poloroid snapshot taken by friend 15 years ago, and a combination bottle opener and church key. Oddly, there is presently no corkscrew.

It once contained a carefully chosen collection of genuine tortise shell picks back when you could still buy those. One time while playing a big country show at Chicago's Aragon Ballroom, I went backstage after our set to discover they had been purloined. They were expensive for guitar picks but the real loss was the time it took searching music stores for even one that had the charistics I liked. That was over twenty-five years ago, I'm almost used to the plastic Fender picks now.

- Mark

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: catspaw49
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 06:48 PM

If you took this weird collection of crappola and put it in a pile and took bids on it, it wouldn't fetch a buck two ninety-eight!!! I just found an embarassing assortment of junk in my ditty bag that I guess I just look past.........Though I'm sure I put it in there for some glorious reason, I just now threw it out. Garbage pick up is not til Monday, feel free to drop by!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Mbo
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 06:49 PM

What do I have in mine you ask?
In my steel-string case: nothing!
In my classical guitar case: 2 packs of classical guitar strings, tuning fork, and a guitar de-humidifier.
In my violin case: extra strings, a tiny screwdriver, the tag that originally came with it, 2 blocks of rosin (one good, one bad) and one of those little bags of silica particles to reduce moisture--it's been in there since I got the violin in '94.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 07:10 PM

I think I am going to add a Swiss Army Knife to mine. They always come in handy.
How about an extra battery for my electronic tuner?


And you will NOT find a diaphragm in mine That's for sure!
Carrying stuff like that sounds to me like looking for trouble.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,The Martian
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 08:23 PM

I've a ten-year old photo of myself singing at the Sail Loft Folk Club, Basildon, in my flute case. Thank God I don't play guitar; I'd probably have collected an albumfull of the damn things in a guitar case by now...

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 09:01 PM

Bonnie, if you are thinking of knives, cutters and screwdrivers, the Leatherman that SShad mentioned might me worth looking at as it would probably replace all of them for you.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Apr 00 - 11:12 PM

Oh yeah, the cheap knockoff-leatherman, that's in there too, usually!

And leftover church bulletins for the week(s) past.

And kitty litter!!! Tracked in when the nice soft warm plush case is left open and.... scat!! Baaaaddd kitty!!! (No they don't DO IT in there, they just sleep in it!) And cat hair then.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: sophocleese
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 12:56 AM

Geez what do I have in my guitar case? Two capos, electric tuner, string winder, guitar strap, ankle bells, sopranino, soprano and alto recorders and the guitar that is too small for the case so I modified it. The most startling thing about my guitar case and my husband's banjo and fiddle cases is that I painted the outside of them. Thy are bright and certainly stand out in a crowd. Far more than my playing ever could.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: alison
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 02:40 AM

guitar case ... very dull... just guitar spare strings etc

but in my tool box!!:-
one silver flute
one wooden flute
one wooden fife
13 tin whistles (various brands and keys)
7 bodhran beaters
a star screw diver
3 harmonicas
siren whistle
music stand
flute stand
assorted shakey fruit banana, apple, lemon and egg
cabassa
cough sweets
hankies
water
ventolin
sunscreen
mossie repellent

case is lined with one of my daughters doll's pram quilts

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: BlueJay
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 03:07 AM

Strap, tuner, forks, and various unidentifieable new and old strings. Picks, including a broken one reputed to be Taj Majal's. Pickups, cords, but no amplifier. Cleaning cloths, peg winders, and someone else's truss rod wrench. Strap, scrap paper and various reciepts. Several capos, including a "Third Hand" that I've never learned to use. Actually, I often redistribute all this stuff between my six and twelve string cases. I removed the photographs a while back, to preserve for posterity. My autoharp case still contains an old Radio Shack mike, which I used to use for tuning. I don't need it anymore, but it's still there, just in case. I'm afraid that if I open it up, the battery may have leaked. I have an old Barcus Berry, which shorts out, but is still usable as a tuning aid for my cheapo mandolin.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Ma-K
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 08:56 AM

I use a bag for my LD. Everything else goes into and old purse my daughter made. Full of good stuff. Strings,notebook,small tape recorder,hand cleaner packs from KFC,sunblock,picks made of cutup charge cards. Names of people who say they want to learn to play the LD but never get back to me

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 07:08 PM

One musical experience I'll long remember happened in May, 1997, when I sang with my friend Bob Kirkpatrick and the Sacramento Labor Chorus on the steps of the California State Capitol. There were eight of us in all, and we sang our hearts out. Bob got sick a few months later, and died in December, 1997. About a year later, I happened to borrow his guitar from his widow. I opened up the case, and there was all the music we used for that rally. It sure was a nice surprise to open a guitar case and find all those nice memories.
Seems to me a guitar case is a perfect place for storing memories.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Marion
Date: 26 Oct 00 - 11:46 PM

Besides the obvious fiddle, bow, and rosin, I carry:

- a garbage bag so if I get caught out in pouring rain I can cover the fiddle up.

- a quarter which was thrown into my case while playing outdoors

- airplane tickets; the fiddle was my carry-on last flight and I haven't gotten around to taken those out yet

- a silencer which I never use

- a handkerchief I took from my father's closet when we were cleaning it out after his death

- three used strings

- two pictures of women fiddlers that a friend ripped out of a magazine because they reminded her of me.

I would recommend the garbage bag, it sets my mind at ease. Though I suppose my case is fairly water-resistant I wouldn't be comfortable letting it get totally soaked through.

Marion

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: ddw
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 12:55 AM

I just started mentally sorting through my cases and I'm amazed at the sheer volume of crap in there.

In my Guild case I have spare finger and thumb picks in a miniature Crown Royal bag, a Shubb capo, a very old Bufferin bottle, (great slide), a metal slide, a sparkplug socket (very different sounds) a cleaning rag, two sets of strings, my Autoharp tuning hammers (two), and at least half a dozen Marine Band harmonicas.

In the Cort case I carry the requisite Crown Royal bag of extra picks, a small plastic box of flatpicks (in case somebody wants to use them — I can't), another Shubb capo, two sets of strings, a strap, a digital tuner, an analog tuner, a Fishman preamp, spare batteries, assorted cords, small wirecutters, a speed winder, old set lists, current to-learn song sheets and a string-wipe cloth.

What goes into the gigbag or Autoharp cases is pretty ad hoc because I don't carry them on a regular basis.

Now some of you might think that's a real load, but since I started getting back in to music regularly, I haven't needed to go to the gym half as much. 8-)

Little Neo — some would say NOT carrying a diaphram is looking for trouble.

david

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 02:31 AM

Oy, what I was able to get into the small gun case my plucked psaltery travels in! I think I listed it all in the CA Bound thread.

Next project, a large shouder bag to tote the folding aluminum walker I use for a traveling autoharp stand, plus the board for its top, and the little aluminum music stand that likes to blow away at the worship services in the park.

I tried to get an overhead projector for singalongs into that autoharp case but it just would NOT go, so we are back to songsheets. Sorry, Spaw.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 05:14 AM

Bodhran case....

coat, a few whistles, headache tablets (now behave u lot)

beer mat with some numbers on, another beer mat with a song on it, shaky egg thing, can of pepsi, apple, camera, purse, sometimes a change of clothes, and a coat, lipstick, music, sometimes a half bottle of vodka (not all the time you understand) My name and address for when I have the vodka in the case... a low whistle

a note book, tape recorder...

Oh yeah almost forgot....

My bodhran!

I'm a legend in my town....

ha haa

Ella

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 07:25 AM

Well Bonnie:
In the old Uillean pipe case, 1. set of Seth Gallgher Uilleann pipes, one ivory headed Meyer flute c. 1880's or so, one small cassette tape recorder (sony) a handfull of Murry Mints (great mints available in Ireland and England, not here) an program from John F. Kennidy Jr's memorial at NYU (played the pipes at it... I'm an NYU law alum), assorted US and English coins about ten pounds or so, one dear skin popping strap, a photograph of Rudy Guilliani shaking hands with Adolph Hitler and both giving the thumbs up, a red neck cloth, a hand ful of tin whistles, D bflat, e sharp, c, one cathar cross - silver from Languedoc and attatched to the pipe cover... that about it..
Cheers,
larry

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: RichM
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 08:06 AM

One set of strings
One assorted bunch of strings, mostly ofthe size that I tend to break the most
Electronic Tuner (Intellitouch-the most practical!)
string winder
tuning fork
A Copenhagen Chewing Tobacco tin, that I use to carry my picks- assorted flat picks, my favorite thumbpick, (in the rare case I want to use one); a plastic gizmo to pry out bridge pins
needlenose pliers swiss army knife (in my pocket) LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI+Equalizer
Guitar cord
2 patch cords
extra 9v batteries
folding music stand Pen and sharpie
Small disposable flashlite(because all pa systems in dark clubs seem to be black)
a bunch of rubber bands
Personal songbook binder
Bluegrass Songbook

sometimes, a bottle of water Some of this is in a flat zip pouch, the rest is in a 12x12 soft satchel that also attaches to the side of my zippered soft guitar case.

Not in my case,but almost indispensable now: cell phone
(i'm gonna be late--or, where are ya,we have a gig in half an hour?--or, help i'm lost how do I get there?--)

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Mikey joe
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:05 AM

strings plecs capos tuner lighter knife spare pegs tobacco rolling papers

Sin a bhfuil

Mj

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,guinnesschik
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:10 AM

I'm glad to know I'm not the only person carrying around a lot of extra stuff.

In my fiddle case, which is pretty new and has a lot of pockets:

1 fiddle 2 bows soft cloth rosin extra strings guitar picks 1/4" cable batteries electronic tuners business cards (I usually use it as a purse when I'm gigging, so:) extra ciggies lipstick gum spare change

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:12 AM

All the above plus Altoids

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Gervase
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:29 AM

Inobu, is that a red-neck cloth or simply a neck cloth that's red? You're not drifting to the right are you? ;-)
In my box box (which these days gets opened as often as Pandora's) I've found a Greene King beermat, some ripped up cigarette paper folders, a whistle in D and half of an old set of song sheets I thought I'd lost.
I'm glad this thread came up - at least I've found the song sheets. Now I've got to get back to playing the box...
The case also used to contain a disposable nappy (diaper) - stuck under the grille of the Hohner two-row it made a rudimentary mute and cut out some of the shrillness of the Hohner's reeds.
Dunno what happened the the nappy though...an odd thing to lose.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Kim C
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:43 AM

Whiskey Cat's fiddle case: two cakes of rosin, cleaning towel, shoulder rest, fiddle and two bows.

Whiskey Cat's guitar case: guitar, strap, kapo.

Whiskey Cat Man's guitar case: guitar, two straps, towel, kapo, string cleaning thingy.

Cheap guitar gig bag that both Cats share: Guitar, strap, kapo, tuner, strings, song list. (It has a zippy pocket that holds all that stuff.)

Here's something that always has me fuzzled, though. I carry my fiddle into the buidling where I work on days when I have lessons in the evening 'cause I don't want to leave my instrument in the car all day. And it never fails that SOMEONE will ask me one or more of the following: 1)What's that? 2) Do you play? 3)Is there a gun in there?

What's up with that?

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:49 AM

Chicago Mob Alive in Whiskey Cat, film at 11!

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:02 AM

Most "practical" items change from gig to gig. The only permanent things are my guitar strap and a picture of a girl I once cared about an awful lot (maybe I still do). It's one of those school pictures from about the third grade - white blouse, jumper, impertinent smile. . .She didn't like having her picture taken and it was the only one she would give me. It's in a tacky little brass-plated frame.

On the outside are two bumper stickers: a Bahai "One World" sticker and an "Alien" sticker that I got in Denver many moons ago.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:26 AM

Besides a fiddle, bow, shoulder rest and rosin, I have:
An electronic tuner
A little snake thingie with a sponge in it that you stuff in the sound hole to humidify the fiddle in winter.
A bunch of strings. Some are actually fiddle strings.
Sometimes there's sheet music in there, so in slow moments I can try to learn tunes.
Spare car and house keys. (If I'm locked out. I'm likely to have the fiddle with me.)
A Gary Larsen cartoon with a guy sitting in an orchestra with a violin, looking at his music stand and saying, "Gee...look at all the little black dots."
A nose flute.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Grab
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:41 AM

KimC, I took my guitar to Greece with me once. On the way out, they did ask what it was, and made me get it out of the case and had a look at it (it was only a soft case, so it's not like there was anywhere to stash stuff!) and it went in the hold after all that. On the way back, the Greeks just didn't care, it went on with me, and I could have had a dozen grenades in there for all they knew.

So the moral of the story is that if you want to hijack a plane, start in Greece. ;-)

Grab.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 11:11 AM

**Two sets of strings (a complete set, for my next change, and a set of mismatched "spares" for when I break a string while playing).
**Sample-size bottle of baby powder (for sweaty hands)
**An old capo in case I lose or break my one-hander
**NAIL CLIPPERS!
**Electronic tuner (actually this is currently on the bookshelf in my bedroom)
**Pitch-pipe for when electronic tuner's batteries die
**Small hand towel (usually)
**Lyric sheets left over from playing for VBS this summer

Interesting thread!

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 11:17 AM

Besides the routine stuff: being a bit of a klutz, I try to pad my instrument as best I can to keep it from rattling around in there; a medium sized towel is spread over the top to protect strings, bridge etc. from impact with the case top - not to mention the fact that I sweat a lot! Another rag might be stuffed in between the back of the body, and I fold the strap alongside the neck. There is usually room in there for a whistle or fife, as well, tucked into an old sock. If a couple of sheets of music are needed, I slide them between the strings and the deck. Accessories include a postcard-sized piece of sandpaper; it takes the fingnails down to a nice soft nub without leaving sharp burrs and snags that clippers are apt to, and wraps around the fingertip for proper contour. Another thing that comes in handy is a pair of surgical clamps; most helpful in holding and threading string ends, and with steels, I wind a couple of inches around the nose leaving a "spring" pigtail instead of sharp & potentially hazzardous wire ends. Praise: better be careful with that "gun" case; VERY politically incorrect, you know!

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 12:01 PM

Oh yes!

**Pair of needlenose pliers
**Stringwinder.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Lonesome Gillette
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 12:26 PM

I don't have a case for my guitar, I just carry it around. It's fallen down a staircase and fallen to the floor during a convience store robbery but it's still never been to the repair shop (ah, plywood!). I keep my stash in my pocket.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: InOBU
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 07:03 PM

Hi Gervase:
You bring up an interesting point, Red neck used to mean a RED! Like ME! because the comunist miner unions used to wear red neck cloths, then as the unions became anti red, well red neck became the term it now is... So yes, it is a RED neck cloth for a red diaper baby.
Larry

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: kendall
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 07:42 PM

Among other things, an antique Hamilton capo, and an old Hank Snow song book

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 12:12 AM

Bodhrán case.

Albert Alphonso 14" Bodhrán
folding footstool
assorted tippers
tuning allen wrench
several sets of bones carved from different woods
egg shakers
usually cough drops or hard candy
a handful of stickers that say "Free Hugs" to hand out
AKG mic and 20' cord (if I'm playing somewhere it's needed)
a pouch that ties around my waist for holding tippers and tuner handy


Well, that's the basic kit, other items as needed: sweater, CDs or tapes, soda or bottled water, ....

Rich

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 12:57 AM

Rich, send hugs, stat.

Jeri, Jeri, Jeri. You liar. You do NOT have a spare car in that case. My autoharp case doesn't even have a car in it. Very bad girl. You think we're that dumb? *G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Pixie
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 08:22 AM

Other than capo, tuner (don't be dissin' me for that) and picks that I can't use, I carry liner notes with lyrics for all my favorite cds. It never hurts....that way if I ask a picker if they know a tune, and they say, yeh, but don't remember the words, I can remedy that problem. Maybe create others, but at least that one's fixed!

Glad to hear condoms are still being carried.....is there a shelf life on them?

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: John Hardly
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 08:28 AM

All the usual stuff mentioned above--extra strings (always an opened set to replace the broken single) winders, plier/cutters, capos, harmonicas, more sheets of lyrics with mudcat headers than is prudent to cram under my guitar,and...

...a shoelace remnant from the Converse All-Stars in which I first dunked a basketball. Kind of a reminder of those joys life gives us, and to keep the music FUN. ...that and I seem to be a collector of pursuits at which I can be mediocre! :>)

John

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,Terry Allan Hall (a guest?...I'm honored!)
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 09:45 AM

Let's see...3 sets of strings, a capo, 5 harmonicas (A C D E G), harmonica neck rack (wrapped in a bandana), plasic box of picks, small chromatic tuner, a few bridge pins, small notebook and ball-point pen, 35mm canister of "herb", strap...that's all.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 02:42 PM

Musical stuff. Capo, harmonica holder, leather bag with various small accessories like a nail clipper and so on, songsheets, posters, strings, guitar and strap. Sometimes a tuner as well.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,joe
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 02:50 PM

i've got prittimuch what G.Terry has except the "herb", (long thyme ago..), but add to that loose lyrics of songs to learn, a church key, & condoms (ya never know). Also, harmonica cases are color coded. Lee Oscar offers them in minor keys. Carefull though, they're cross-keyed, Am is Dm, Em is really Am &c. this leaves precious little room for picks which, if not in my 'pick-pocket' with the odd 2000 quarter or mini beach-worn seashell, I can always borrow or find layin' around.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: GUEST,joe
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 03:24 PM

oh, Ella, is it half empty or half full?

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: black walnut
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 09:30 PM

I'll tell you about my pick case.

On my purple pick case (given to me by R. from San Francisco) is pinned a dulcimer pin (from my friend J., which he bought for me at the Tottenham Bluegrass Festival). Inside the pick case is a pewter angel (from my dulcimer sister, J.), and a German violin postage stamp (this stamp is mine; my dulcimer sister, J., has a matching 'friendship' stamp), 2 wonderful new dulcimer picks i got from Larkin Bryant Cohen, a white light pick for playing DADGAD (from the first J., see above, who forgot to get it back from me one time at a song circle), and several rather ordinary guitar and dulcimer picks.

I hope to never lose this pick case.

~black walnut

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Troll
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 01:05 AM

Set of strings
String winder
Diagonal cutters
Shubb capo
Some old set lists
Guitar and strap
The picks stay in my pocket. You never know when you'll need one.
My clock was just updated due to the end of daylight savings time.Ahhhh the wonders of the computer.Happy End-of-daylight-savings-time everyone!

troll

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: john c
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 01:09 AM

After a quick check - 1 Korg chromatic tuner, 1 winder (orange), 3 plastic thumbpicks, 1 Dunlop thumbpick, 5 Fender medium picks, 1 Kinky Friedman lucky pick, 1 Rick Vito pick, nailclippers, 1 Schubb capo, 1 Dunlop capo, nailfile, 1 Boss delay footpedal, 1 reserve battery for same, 1 battery tester, 1 cable, 1 key for guitarcase (unused), 1 set Martin strings minus the G (used it yesterday), 2 anonymous B strings, 1 E, 1 dustcloth, songlyrics, computer printout of my horoscope for last thursday (a good day) - And a brand new Larrivee L-05. The most beautiful guitar in the world!!
All the best,
J.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: black walnut
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 08:03 PM

correction. the light white pick for playing DADGAD was from my friend T, rather than from my friend J.

thank you, T, for pointing that out. if you let me keep it (now that you know where it is), i'll remember always that it was from you....

~'nut

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: Ely
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 09:04 PM

Guitool (you know, those plastic things you use to pull the pins when you change strings, and wind new strings on), extra packet of strings, pen, miscellaneous sheets of lyrics and chords, massive early-1970's D-shaped torture capo. Sometimes a handheld tape player and/or an electronic tuner. There are probably some extra picks and stuff down at the bottom of the pocket but I don't usually get that far.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: black walnut
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 08:29 AM

T. is letting me keep it! my very best DADGAD pick! thank you T! (Neo, you know who i mean....that's the only reason i'm bothering to go on about this...!)

~'nut

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: L R Mole
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 11:06 AM

New set of strings which I'm sure I'll never use all of ; Hohner Marine Band because it's some sort of concert or universal A to tune to; tuning fork for the same reason (and I'm still impressed that holding the non-forked end to the bridge makes the whold box vibrate) and an airsickness bag with a gross picture on it and the statement,"THIS VOMIT BAG PLUS THE PRICE OF ADMISSION ALLOWS YOU IN TO SEE MARK OF THE DEVIL".Someone was passing these out where I was, once. I don't think the theatre it advertised even exists any more.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: LR Mole
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 12:23 PM

(And, on reflection...condoms? Bit I thought bodhrans WERE...oh, never mind...)

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 04:12 PM


11 months to reflect, LR?

One of our local disk jockeys likes the line

"He who laughs last - thinks the slowest."

jus- kidding

John

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: 53
Date: 18 Oct 01 - 09:55 PM

guitar, strap, cloth, capo,strings, a pink plastic bunny, old picks, music, old catologs, other various goodies,to numerous to name.

Subject: RE: BS: What Stash Is Kept In Your Guitar Case?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 19 Oct 01 - 03:01 AM


A newer thread on this subject is at BS: inside your guitar case

As all but the last couple of posts here are about a year old, it would probably be appropriate to post new comments to the new thread, and allow this one to die peacefully?

Be advised that the new thread contains a link back to here, so please come up with some new impressively clever contents.

John