Multitool For A Musician?

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Nephron44

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Aug 20, 2015
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Hey everyone!

I'm a hobbyist guitar player and guitar tech. Whenever I travel or play a show, I have to lug around a box of tools to make on the fly string changes or last minute adjustments. I am wondering if there is a Multitool out there to suit my needs that I could just slip in my pocket or guitar case? I would like the most simple and portable Multitool that will get my jobs done.

The tools I use most:

Small Phillips screwdriver (for pickups)
Medium Phillips screwdriver (for strap locks)
Pliers (for pulling strings)
Wire cutters (for trimming strings)

Tools I sometimes use:

Large Phillips screwdriver (back spring adjustments)
Very small Allen wrench (for saddle adjustments, not sure on the size at the moment)

I have a Leatherman Wave, but there is so much on there I don't need. I was thinking the Leatherman Skeletool with a bit kit and extender might do the job, and crack open some cold ones, but I wanted to see what you all think!

Thanks!
 
I just moved this to Multi-tools & Multi-purpose Knives.

To answer the question, I normally carry a Skeletool, which gets a lot of use. Not very expensive. I'd say it's worth picking one up to try it out. It is lightweight and compact.
 
I'm not a multi-tool guy, but being familiar with the biz, check out Emerson's multi-tool. It's overpriced but you might find one reasonably used. It's basic but would be durable and stand up to the road. It's more pocket size and doesn't have all the extraneous appendages. Can't beat the warranty either...and fast service behind it.

Would any of the SAK's do? I carried one a lot.
 
This Wenger SAK has most of it.

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Current production is called Victorinox Evowood S557. Evolution S557 with plastic scales is cheaper. They still have Wenger's slip joint pliers, more useful than regular Victorinox pliers.

Victorinox Hercules is larger and has two Phillips screwdrivers.

HercASH_zps85a8f183.jpg~original


Victorinox Cybertool 34 (current production Cybertool M) has a hex driver.

sacy34_a.jpg


It comes with the following double-ended bits: #2 Phillips and 4mm Flat Head; #8 Torx and 4mm Hex; #10 Torx and #15 Torx; #0 Pozidrive and #1 Pozidrive (can also be used for Phillips 0 & Phillips 1). If you need more, Lee Valley sells a set of nineteen 4mm ball detent bits that work with Cybertool, list of bits and link here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/785190-Imperial-vs-Metric-Hex-Wrenches-on-Cybertool
 
I play blues harmonica and work in three different bands (5-10 paid gigs per month). I keep a Leatherman Squirt in my gear case and it gets used (and loaned out to guitar players) a lot. VERY small and lightweight. I'd recommend it OR the Skeletool/bit kit combo you mentioned.
 
When I gig, I've always got my Leatherman Juice S2 with me. It's a great small tool that fixes 99% of anything I need to do.



Don't need any hex bits because I play this...

 
SFW said:
When I gig, I've always got my Leatherman Juice S2 with me. It's a great small tool that fixes 99% of anything I need to do.

Click to expand...

Agreed. That Juice S2 is a damn good tool, especially considering the handiness/bulk ratio.
 
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I would go with the juice, unless you do a lot of wire cutting, then I'd go for the re-bar (gets you the carbide cutters without the bulk of the 300, its a beast!).

One thought.... any multi-tool is going to be a compromise, and while I know that guitar stuff does not tend to be high torque situations, its way easier to strip screws with an incorrect tool.

maybe look at building a tool roll with compact tools, smaller multi-bit screwdriver, and the like, since you will still be wanting things like tuning motor spinner (I have no idea what its called I'm more a drum tech if anything, its best if I stay off stage)

Don't lock down into one tool, but something like the juice or rebar and a small multi-bit (like the victorinox set) would be a really solid toolset.
 
EChoil said:
I like that Wenger. Is the wood finished at all or is it raw? Varnished?
Click to expand...

No expert, it appears to be lightly sanded and stained and that's all. Plan on finishing mine when the weather moderates (wife is allergic to stinky).

Current production has Victorinox's can opener and awl, both improvements. If you find the Wenger as a closeout, that should be cheaper.
 
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