Useful to Have

Hello,
I'm Mieno, the bassist of the Hammond organ instrumental band "BANANA NEEDLE."

I started playing bass at the age of 18, and before I knew it, 26 years had passed...
I'm 44 now, and have spent more than half of my life living with the bass.

I'd like to introduce some recommended items that I've found to be really useful and have made me think, I'm glad I have!

First of all, I'm generally a bit of a lazy person, so I'm not fond of the task of changing strings.

I know it's refreshing to change to new ones, but I just can't seem to get started on it quickly.

What I really dislike is having to turn the tuning pegs to wind the strings — I just can't stand it!

That's when I came across the String Winder.

D'Addario / PWPW1B Bass String Winder

When I was in high school, I was taught that it's called "convenient ," and it really is convenient to have!

It really motivates me!

Give me back the 10 years of hand-winding effort before I got this! (Totally my fault)

Also, cutting bass strings is hard too!

When I bought a pair of 3-pound wire cutters in the UK, the bass strings were so tough that they broke the cutters! Haha

Bassists should definitely invest in a good pair of wire cutters!

Music Nomad / MN226 GRIP Cutter - Premium String Cutter

By the way, there are also tools that combine a string winder and wire cutter in one!

D'Addario / DP0002B

A neck rest is perfect for preventing your instrument from tipping and wobbling when you're changing strings or making adjustments with it placed on a table!

This is also recommended to have!
If it wobbles, there's a chance it could scratch the instrument.

Fender / The Arch Guitar Work Station

Before I got this, I used to place a comic book under the neck! Haha

When changing strings, it's a good idea to wipe down the body, fretboard, and metal parts to remove any tarnish — it makes everything look fresh and clean!

Fender / Premium Plush Microfiber Polishing Cloth

Surprisingly, dust on the body and tarnish on the metal parts can really stand out under stage lighting...

For those who leave their instruments out at home, I recommend investing in a good stand as well.

I’ve been using a Hercules stand since the brand first started becoming popular, and I’ve had it for many years now. It’s never broken, and it’s saved my instrument countless times from tipping over during earthquakes.

Hercules Stands / GS414B Plus Guitar Stand

Also, for those who use their instrument around their desk, I highly recommend a Guitar Rest.

D'Addario PW-GR-01 Guitar Rest

It's really convenient when you just want to set your instrument down for a moment!

I’ve always lived in a rental, so I’ve never used a wall-mounted hanger, but this one is really cute!

Fender / 351 Wall Hanger Maple

I really love my main bass right now, but sometimes I just want a change of pace!
It's a long life, and I think there are times like that.

In times like that, I recommend changing the knobs!

Playtech / Wood Knob Milli/Shell Red (1)

Playtech / Wood Knob Inch/Deep Purple (1)

Playtech wood knobs are so cute!!

QPARTS / Skull I Chrome

Going for a cool look is also a great idea!

Just a note: when purchasing, be sure to check whether it’s in "inch" or "millimeter" size, as there are different standards!

When it comes to home practice, I’m sure there are those who prefer amps and those who prefer headphones. If you’re going for an amp, though, it might be better to get one that’s not too small.

Acoustic / B25C Bass Combo Amp

The larger the speaker's inch size, the better the bass will sound. So, if it's 8 inches or smaller, it might feel a bit lacking in bass.

Of course, it depends on your practice environment, but for smaller amps, PHIL JONES is a reliable choice for solid sound and performance.

PJB（Phil Jones Bass) / NANOBASS X4C Tweed

By the way, Phil Jones’s headphone amp is also excellent!

PJB（Phil Jones Bass) / Bighead Pro V2 Bass Headphone Amp

Personally, I haven’t been using small bass amps in recent years and have been practicing with monitor speakers instead.

Fostex / PM0.3H（W） White

It's also useful for computer music, and since it’s not colored by an amp, it allows me to really hear the true sound of my instrument, which has been incredibly helpful.

By swapping it out, you can also listen to music with great sound quality.

For those who prefer headphones, closed-back models are recommended when you want to really focus on the sound. However, if you listen for long periods, they can make your ears feel quite fatigued.

For home practice, open-back headphones are also a great option.

audio-technica / ATH-AD900X Headphones

By the way, if there’s an impedance (Ω) rating, be sure to pay attention to it!

For more details, please refer to my previous column!

⇒ Can’t Hear It if You Buy Without Knowing? The Ω of Headphones

And with that, I've shared some of my recommended items and handy gear.

These are all basic items, but once you use them, they’re so good that you won’t want to go without them anymore!

A little change can make a huge difference in your setup, so definitely try out a few things!
See you next time!

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