Handy travel tool for maintenance

[Jolltax]

Hi,

Ideally I need a small tool I can keep while travelling that will enable me to do basic maintenance like truss rod adjustment, tuner nuts, neck removal etc

I see this one on Amazon but I don't trust Amazon reviews, what would people recommend as a 'throw in a travel bag' option?

 

[KiOgon]

Find out what sizes Allen keys you need for your bass/es, are they Metric or Imperial? A couple of screwdrivers that fit what you want, a small adjustable spanner, strings, string cutters, small file, spare battery, spare lead, mini tuner - pretty much covers everything 😎

Far more use than a cheap 'multitool' I reckon.

Edited April 8, 2021 by KiOgon

[nilebodgers]

Just now, KiOgon said:

Find out what sizes Allen keys you need for your bass/es, are they Metric or Imperial? A couple of screwdrivers that fit what you want, a small adjustable spanner, string cutters, small file, spare battery, spare lead, mini tuner - pretty much covers everything 😎

Far more use than a cheap 'multitool' I reckon.

Good advice. Also beware that most (all?) of these multitools are metric allen keys whilst many instruments use imperial sizes - e.g. USA fender basses usually have 3/16" truss rod adjust and 1/16" bridge saddles (and knob grub screws).

(cue personal rant about 1.5mm allen key not being suitable for 1/16" screws - it can round the hex out making it almost impossible to shift - like the knob grub screws on my old mexi bass!)

[Jolltax]

15 minutes ago, KiOgon said:

Find out what sizes Allen keys you need for your bass/es, are they Metric or Imperial? A couple of screwdrivers that fit what you want, a small adjustable spanner, strings, string cutters, small file, spare battery, spare lead, mini tuner - pretty much covers everything 😎

Far more use than a cheap 'multitool' I reckon.

As a newbie this is very useful advice, I am getting the strong impression to go with a small collection of selected proper tools, I was a bit naïve thinking things might have been standardised!

Appreciate the comments

J

[Matt P]

3 hours ago, KiOgon said:

Find out what sizes Allen keys you need for your bass/es, are they Metric or Imperial? A couple of screwdrivers that fit what you want, a small adjustable spanner, strings, string cutters, small file, spare battery, spare lead, mini tuner - pretty much covers everything 😎

Far more use than a cheap 'multitool' I reckon.

definitely this, ,

I have a small zip-up case that i bought in maplins 20 years ago that carried my tools for many years, recently i've been getting a lot of use from a screwdriver set that i got from Lidl that has 4mm hex drive bits, this allows me to carry a fairly large range of bits in a small space, with the addition of a few dedicated hex keys, an adjustable spanner some pliers and cutters, and a string winder i'm pretty much all set for whatever i might need to do.

many years ago i was running the desk for a friends gig and had enough tools in my kit to set up the lead guitarists guitar in the break between the soundcheck and the gig, the kit was about the size and weight of a paperback novel and was often in my bag for this kind of thing.

 

Matt

[Baloney Balderdash]

A sledgehammer I found will fix most things.

 

As the old wise proverb goes:

"If it ain't broke, break it!"

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by Baloney Balderdash

[bloke_zero]

I got the stage hand kit here: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Cruz_Tools.html

You do still need the right size allen key for the truss rod as it needs the right angle to get enough traction, but helps you get to the right set up really quickly without having to guess with the ruler and feeler guage.

[kodiakblair]

@Jolltax

The Cruz multitools @bloke_zero linked to are great, I've found the latest model to be a Godsend.

That's the blue one at £14.

Metric and Imperial hex keys, 5/16th socket that reaches the deepest sunk Peavey TR nut and a few screwdriver sizes.

[LeftyJ]

I also have the CruzTools multitool, but I much prefer using a few good, separate tools. Especially for truss rod adjustments, a perfect fit is very important because you don't want to damage the truss rod nut. I have the CruzTools in my gigbag for small adjustments to the bridge, or quickly fastening a loose screw.

[kodiakblair]

@LeftyJ

The Groovetech is 1 million times better than the official Peavey TR tool 🤣

[LeftyJ]

My Warwicks came with this absolute unit of a wrench 

[Richard R]

On 08/04/2021 at 09:51, nilebodgers said:

.. whilst many instruments use imperial sizes - e.g. USA fender basses usually have 3/16" truss rod adjust and 1/16" bridge saddles (and knob grub screws).

Of course! Hence the only Allen keys that fitted my bass being rusted old ones in the box from my father's garage!