Congrats! You have a solid collection of mics and mic stands, a battery of plug-ins, a few pieces of outboard gear for that extra special sauce, a great pair of monitors and stands, and even some stylish acoustic treatments along with a nice large rug for the live room. You are now a studio owner. Not so fast, friend! There will inevitably be those times when things go sideways on a session. Ever notice that most studios have several drum kits, amps, percussion, guitars, and other items around? These are for quickly solving common issues, providing inspiration and, most importantly, keeping the session moving forward and on track. (Look for "Part 2, Human-Related Essentials," in a future issue of Tape Op.)
Drums: A full drum kit or – at minimum – a kick and snare drum that you know always sound great. Have some fresh drum heads of varying sizes, as well as stands for snares and toms on hand. Also, have drumsticks, brushes, mallets, drum keys, snare wires, Moon Gel, tea towels, and gaffer's tape. Many young drummers have bad cymbals, and if I could take all the cymbals away, I just might! But in lieu of that, have a couple of options for crash, ride, and even hi-hats around.
Percussion: Have a large tub with a variety of shakers, tambourines, noisemakers, bells, claves, and frame drums ready. Run the tonal gamut from bright to dark and clanky to shimmery.
Bass: Always have an electric bass that is well set up with good intonation. If you can have two basses, put flatwound strings on one and roundwounds on the other. Not sure where to start? A Fender Precision bass is a good all-around choice. Find one that resonates and vibrates nicely without being plugged in. Given time, you can still find an inexpensive “Made in Mexico” bass that is great. You can always upgrade the pickups for better tone.
Amplifiers: I have a never-ending need for more amps. My inventory includes small, low wattage Vox and Fender amps, a Vox AC30, a 50-watt Marshall JMP combo, and a '60s Ampeg Portaflex bass amp, and they get used all the time. Many clients have crappy sounding amps, so good amps save the day on a regular basis.
Electric Guitars: Most artists bring their favorite guitar, but I still like to have options. A well set up electric guitar with humbuckers plus another with single coil pickups provides more options in the tonal toolbox.
Acoustic Guitars: Not all acoustic guitars are created equal. Some sound great for strumming, others for fingerpicking. Some sound great live but are less great in the studio. Having a couple of options around is smart. Keep one strung up in Nashville tuning for good measure.
Oddball Guitars: Consider baritone guitars, Fender VI-style basses, electric sitar guitars, ukuleles, 3/4-size acoustic guitars, mandolins, dulcimers, autoharps, and anything else with strings that most musicians might not own or bring to sessions.
Guitar Extras: Straps: “Dude, I forgot the strap to my Keytar!” Always have guitar straps ready. Picks: I have a little hardware storage carrier made for nuts, bolts, screws, etc., and several of the sliding drawers are filled with guitar pics of different thicknesses and materials. Felt picks are great for bass and ukulele. Eddie Van Halen once showed me his collection of rocks that he used as picks on occasion, so I have some rocks, too.
Cables & Connectors: In addition to having a bunch of standard mic and guitar cables (of all different lengths), you’ll want to have reducers, couplers, extenders, splitters, turnarounds, RCA to 1/4-inch, TRS to XLR, mini to 1/4-inch headphone adapters, and more. This includes all those random hard drive USB connection types as well.
Extension Cords, Power Strips, IEC Cables, Ground Lifts: Not glamorous, but very useful.
Power Supplies: Wall warts for 9V and 12V pedals are a must, but there is a wide array of power needs out there. I have a huge bin of these, all labeled with voltage and amp rating. Multi-voltage wall warts can be handy as well. You must also have AA, AAA, and 9V batteries on hand for pedals, controllers, and other items. Those flat 3V batteries (2032, 2016, etc.) for headstock tuners are important, too.
Effects Pedals: Looking for inspiration? “Try this one out!” Look for ones most players won't have, plus a few classics.
Synthesizers & Keyboards: This also includes having at least one MIDI/USB keyboard controller. I have two, and they get used all the time. Have room for a piano? Bonus! There are so many great pianos for free or cheap on Craigslist. Hire a tuner to service it regularly.
Music & Instrument Stands: If you are hosting bands, have at least one of those folding rack stands that holds five guitars/basses, plus a couple of sturdy music stands. They’ll get used more than you think.
Small Mixers: For multiple keyboards, extra headphone stations, etc.
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