GuyLaCroix wrote: Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:21 am I now have a garage and shed for projects, lawnmower, tools, etc. I'm chomping at the mafuggin' bit to have some shit to do.

Would like some pointers on a set of guitar tools. Basic maintenance, intonation, string height adjustment. Etc.

Many of you do your own work. With all the experience in your brains and on your workbenches, where would you start?

I'm not planning on starting my own production line, but I want tools that will last, or perhaps survive until I develop a more steady hand.

I'm still pretty much a beginner so take others advice over mine, but:

I get my stuff from Philadelphia Luthier. Free shipping over $50. Whatever they don't have, Stew Mac will.

Basics would be a string height gauge, some feeler gauges for checking the neck relief. A notched straight edge is great for getting the neck striaght initially, but not essential. Fret rocker is handy for finding high frets. A decent soldering iron (the $40 Weller works fine IME). Good lighting! Sandpaper, polish, a general collection of screwdrivers, allen wrenches, and pliers.

And on that note, here's a question: 90% of the time I'm using one of two screwdrivers and maybe 2-3 different allen wrenches. How does my bench always end up looking like a bomb went off, with tools and crap everywhere?

MoreSpaceEcho wrote: Sun Dec 28, 2025 9:31 am And on that note, here's a question: 90% of the time I'm using one of two screwdrivers and maybe 2-3 different allen wrenches. How does my bench always end up looking like a bomb went off, with tools and crap everywhere?

It's the other 10% of the time requiring the other 90% of the crap on the bench and/or, you're like me and don't finish projects before starting new ones.

If you were on the hunt for a 115 bass cab that could reasonably gig what would you look for? Don’t care too much about new v used as long as it can handle dirt. No, I’m not playing bass in anything anytime soon but it’d be nice to have something on hand.

Likely I’d be putting my Quilter Pro Block 200 through it, and probably going through a bass preamp on my board in the case that I don’t like the sound of the Quilter for my bass.

Let’s say, budget is under $4-500.

I did have my eye on Revsound cabinets but new ones of those will probably run into the ~$800 range.

defendyachtrock wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 12:58 pm If you were on the hunt for a 115 bass cab that could reasonably gig what would you look for? Don’t care too much about new v used as long as it can handle dirt. No, I’m not playing bass in anything anytime soon but it’d be nice to have something on hand.

Likely I’d be putting my Quilter Pro Block 200 through it, and probably going through a bass preamp on my board in the case that I don’t like the sound of the Quilter for my bass.

Let’s say, budget is under $4-500.

I did have my eye on Revsound cabinets but new ones of those will probably run into the ~$800 range.

Easy, Mesa Diesel. Especially if you can just park it somewhere.

It’s the best thing going for bass, but I also had a Yamaha reface electric piano plugged into a univibe and an ampeg v2 and the 1x15 last night and it sounded haunting and beautiful. So you can get all sorts of other use out of them if you want.

Here’s one:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/MESA- ... itarcenter

With shipping and taxes it will be a little high but if you have it shipped to the store closest to you you can unbox it and check it out there then just return it if it sucks.

Not sure if it would be worth waiting around to save $150 or so, but you probably could.

I have some ebay gift certificates to use up so I’m going to get a beyer mic at a discount.

What sounds more useful, a pair of M201s or M88? I already have one of each. And a M69.

I feel like I use the 201 more often, but I think a second M88 would be more useful for drums. Stereo 201s sounds pretty cool - I have wanted to try those on overheads - though for the type of sources I would use those on I have sdc and ribbon options as well.

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 5:24 pm I have some ebay gift certificates to use up so I’m going to get a beyer mic at a discount.

What sounds more useful, a pair of M201s or M88? I already have one of each. And a M69.

I feel like I use the 201 more often, but I think a second M88 would be more useful for drums. Stereo 201s sounds pretty cool - I have wanted to try those on overheads - though for the type of sources I would use those on I have sdc and ribbon options as well.

I don't mean to scramble your plan, but neither of these mics scream pair to me. Sure I could easily have one 201 on snare and another on guitar, or one m88 on kick, another on bass amp. But I'd be looking for new flavors. Like maybe a really cool LDC.

If you wanted to stick with beyer maybe an m160? Of those two I’d probably want a spare m88 since they sound good on basically everything.

mdc wrote: Mon Jan 05, 2026 8:33 am If you wanted to stick with beyer maybe an m160? Of those two I’d probably want a spare m88 since they sound good on basically everything.

M160 is probably my favorite guitar amp mic. I'm having mine re-ribboned this week. M88 is definitely handy.

losthighway wrote: Mon Jan 05, 2026 2:09 pm

mdc wrote: Mon Jan 05, 2026 8:33 am If you wanted to stick with beyer maybe an m160? Of those two I’d probably want a spare m88 since they sound good on basically everything.

M160 is probably my favorite guitar amp mic. I'm having mine re-ribboned this week. M88 is definitely handy.

Where are you sending it? I have an M500 (my favorite vocal mic) that needs some TLC.