What’s in my stick bag
I’ve always been interested in what other players are using on the gig. I love seeing what people choose to keep in their stick bags. In an effort to streamline my set up (and clean out my stick bag), I decided to show you all what’s in my stick bag. I tend to keep things pretty spartan, carrying only the essentials with me. Over the years, I’ve trimmed down what I carry with me to the gig. I used to carry a huge, Stanley tool box to gigs. It was loaded to the gills with all sorts of sticks (some I never even used), tools, spare parts, and even a tambourine! Playing at small venues really forced me to think about how much stage real estate I was occupying. I decided to go with a stick bag set up that I can hang on my floor Tom so it’s up and out of the way, not to mention, it’s nice to have everything within arm’s reach.
Whenever I add something to my setup I always ask myself if it will truly be useful for my style of playing and needs, or am I adding something I don’t actually need.
We live in a time where marketing in the world of music is extremely pervasive. We are always being told to add this new piece of gear or this new instrument. I do my absolute best to only add and carry things I use all the time. Everything else is just an extra trip back and forth to the car during load-in/out.
Without further ado, I’ll show you what’s in my stick bag.
Tackle Instrument Supply CO. Leather Stick Bag. This thing is amazing! It’s stood up to everything I’ve thrown at it and keeps going. This is the type of stick bag that can be passed down for generations! Full-grain, THICK leather makes up the entire construction of this bag.
Vic Firth WB Jazz Brushes. Gotta have a pair of brushes for quieter situations from jazz to folk, the hard handles are perfect when you need a little more oomph or need a decent crash sound.
Vater Monster Brushes. These things are awesome for low volume. They create a very powerful texture similar to straw bundles with a little more attack and a lot more durability.
Vic Firth T1 General Mallets. Perfect on toms and for cymbal swells. I love to use mallets whenever I can.
Vic Firth M2 Yarn Mallets. I use these on the marimba in my teaching studio.
Tackle Instrument Supply CO. Polished brass drum key. Gotta have a good drum key in the bag! This one came with the stick bag.
Vater Fusion drumsticks. These are my absolute favorite sticks that I’ve ever played and I’ve tried a ton of them over the years. I love the weight and balance. These are the most versatile sticks I’ve used. Not to mention, they are super consistent from pair to pair thanks to Vater’s attention to quality and detail.
Business Cards. Cuz I’m old school.
Westone ES50 In-ear monitors. These things sound great… BUT, they are not perfect. Quality control is not the best and there is a slightly exposed wire that shocks me when I touch metal. Needless to say, I’m on the market for a replacement.
1/8” stereo to RCA cable. This is how I connect my phone to the sound system in cases where I’m using a click. ALWAYS BRING YOUR OWN CABLE. It’s rare that the venue will have specialized cables for you to use.
Allen Wrenches. I carry these to make repairs to pedals and other hardware that use allen screws.
Lightning to 1/8” cable. For the iPhone to plug into the sound system.
Miscellaneous hand tool bits to be used with #11 for on the fly repairs.
AAA batteries for my Bheringer PM1 personal IEM amp (not pictured).
Gaff tape. I wrap a bunch of it around a business card and it saves from having to carry a huge roll around with me.
Extra gum. Because who doesn’t like fresh breath?
Eargasm high fidelity ear plugs: Gold Edition. These are great for universal earplugs. With 21db of noise reduction, they’re perfect for super loud concerts or rehearsals. I personally want to replace these with custom molded ones with 9-15db noise reduction. I find that at 21db of noise reduction, I lose a lot of clarity and definition in quieter shows and rehearsals.
Kaweco Sport fountain pen. I love these pens!! It’s improving upon the little things that make everyday tasks like making notes and set lists more enjoyable. I like the way fountain pens write. I journal everyday and fountain pens are my go to.
Well, that’s it! That’s what I carry to get me through the gig. No matter what happens, I’ll most likely be prepared for it without bringing the kitchen sink.
I’m curious what you like to keep in your stick bag. Let me know! Send me a picture (chris@chriscombspercussion.com), tag me on instagram (chriscombspercussion), or tell me in the comments. Happy drumming!
