narciso
Joined: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 322
Spain
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:06 PM
I think I am not wrong if I say that I have been searching the site and I have not found anything about this topic. So I would like to launch it now.
When you are playing live sometimes the worst can happen and one should be ready to solve problems that arise without warning. As it is usually said, 'shit happens'. Sometimes these problems can be solved easily if you have anticipated that they can happen. For example, a broken string in the middle of the gig can be easily solved with a spare guitar.
Many of you usually play live so... could you share advices to be well equipped to deal with these situations. What must be always in the musician's bag? What should be always carried to a live show?
I was thinking about a spare guitar, a tuner, lot of batteries, cables, cords, plectrums, strings, american tape ... what else? What has happened to you in the middle of a gig and what have you done to solve it?
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:09 PM
American tape? What is that?
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EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:15 PM
No idea what American tape is, but I'd add duct tape to the list for sure.
Also, a spare amp. My band had a gig two years ago where my amp fried itself. Smoke coming out the back and everything. If we weren't playing with another band whose guitar player let me use their amp, we'd of been screwed.
Now I bring a solid state fender amp whose model name escapes me at the moment as a spare. It's not big, and it's light. Just one 12" speaker, but loud enough to get the job done if my Dual Showman shits the bed.
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narciso
Joined: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 322
Spain
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:17 PM
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:20 PM
I should add, I don't think there is much point in bringing spare strings. If you have to re-string mid-set you might as well just leave and never show your face again. Spare guitar is the way to go. As for spare picks, does one not keep 5-10 picks in their pocket at all times? I never carried batteries with me, AC adapter for the pedal board.
I am going to add powerstrip to this list, that is the most important thing you can carry.
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killbabykill34
Joined: Apr 03, 2010
Posts: 3201
Jacksonville, AL
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:21 PM
Duct Tape
Power Strips
Extra Strings
An extra amp(not always possible)
Spare guitar
extra tuner
extra cables
Wire cutters
this list could go on and on..
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Mr_Reverb63
Joined: Jul 10, 2007
Posts: 916
San Pablo, CA
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:45 PM
SPARE FUSES that has saved my ass many times!
screw driver
wire cutters
extra patch cables
extra tubes
strings
at least one backup guitar
— -Zanti
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:52 PM
Condoms.. you never know!
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BeachBumScott
Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 352
The Ranch, CO
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Posted on Feb 12 2011 01:54 PM
A spare drummer
I was at a non surf show a couple weeks back and in the middle of the set the drummer figured he would go to the bar and get a beer during the slide guitar solo.
The rest of the band just looked at each other then kept on playing, while he was there some folks started buying him shots.
The band had to keep playing so they did a few more songs without him then one of the guitar players went and drug him back on stage.
The crowd loved it...
— "Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Feb 13 2011 09:35 PM
crumble
Condoms.. you never know!
Oh, to be single again!
I carry a multi FX unit with amp and speaker modeling in case my amp blows. I use 6 and 12 string electics, so I bring one of each and my Dano 6/12 doubleneck. Pretty much covers everything.
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elreydlp
Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 10:21 AM
elreydlp
crumble
Condoms.. you never know!
Oh, to be single again!
I carry a multi FX unit with amp and speaker modeling in case my amp blows. I use 6 and 12 string electics, so I bring one of each and my Dano 6/12 doubleneck. Pretty much covers everything.
I should have mentioned that in spite of all these contingencies, on Saturday night, we were playing a new venue, and right in the middle of "Walk, Don't Run", there was a power outage affecting the entire area. I figured maybe God didn't like The Ventures-look how long it took them to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Since we use a drum machine, we couldn't rely on the old standby-extended drum solo. However, when we threatened to unveil "The Fabulous Woodies Unplugged, A Capella Comedy Hour", power was quickly restored-proof of The Almighty's intervention.
Guess I need to carry an acoustic or add a Pignose to my gig bag.
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matt
Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Posts: 636
Boston, MA
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 10:36 AM
Did I see extension cord on the list? forgot one last time and ended up with my pedal board against the wall.
I'm more of a minimalist. Spare strings & winder, picks, extension cord. I definitely see the point of a spare guitar, but I've only got one. It's good to plan for all events, but I tend to only worry about the most likely stuff.
re: the not changing strings midset thing--not that I'd be capable of this, but i saw a great blues band in Chicago years ago. singer/guitar player broke a string. got a new one out & started changing it during the verse. didn't quite finish by the next break, so kept singing "baby, baby, feel so bad" kind of stuff while he wound it. played one note, saw it was about a step flat, gave one turn & started into the next solo. Clearly a guy with some practice of NOT letting there be dead time onstage!
— Matt Heaton & the Electric Heaters
"Dick Dale meets Dennis Lehane"
http://www.heatonsurf.com
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 11:35 AM
How about this guy, his name's Dick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljAo_JGIaUo&feature=related
Turns out he DID have an extra guitar, he just chose to try replacing the string, while entertaining the crowd, 2 songs or so before the end of the set. A chance to tell his stories I guess, but still, that's stage confidence, man.
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jp
Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 12:29 PM
9 volt batteries
extra cables
picks
duct tape
multi tool w/ bottle opener
allen wrench set
small flashlight
fuses
superglue - for a host of things including diy sutures.
— The Exotics 1994-Current
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25309
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 12:32 PM
jp
multi tool w/ bottle opener
coming from an Exotic, I am not surprised by this at all.
those boys like to drink a lot.
jp
superglue - for a host of things including diy sutures.
gigs can be like war I hear,
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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josheboy
Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2351
Twin Cities, MN
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 01:02 PM
I prefer gaffer tape to duct tape. It's more expensive, but it doesn't leave behind that sticky residue stuff.
50-100 foot extension chord with power strip.
and one thing i learned from the Insect Surfers... always bring go go dancers with you! It really livens up the set!
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narciso
Joined: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 322
Spain
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 05:51 PM
matt
re: the not changing strings midset thing--not that I'd be capable of this, but i saw a great blues band in Chicago years ago. singer/guitar player broke a string. got a new one out & started changing it during the verse. didn't quite finish by the next break, so kept singing "baby, baby, feel so bad" kind of stuff while he wound it. played one note, saw it was about a step flat, gave one turn & started into the next solo. Clearly a guy with some practice of NOT letting there be dead time onstage!
I saw something similar 4 years ago. The blues singer/guitar player broke a string but kept on playing as he could until the turnaround. Then he started telling stories about girls, the blues and so and so while the band was playing and he was changing the string. He tuned and went on playing and singing until the end of the song. All looked really natural. No nervousness, nothing odd, just a drummer and a bass player giving musical cover to a guitarist/singer who was telling pleasant stories while changing a string. Really really professional. And the crowd was delighted. It was so good that I even thought that it was a trick 'a la Paganini'.
— https://lospipelines.es/
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ProfCoyoteScience
Joined: Sep 19, 2010
Posts: 75
somerville, ma
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 11:21 PM
i'm so awful at changing the strings on my jag, especially in high-pressure situations like the middle of a show, that extra strings don't matter. a back up guitar is ideal but not always around. mainly though, i HAVE to have a pedal tuner or i get freaked out. i use to not tune at all during shows and now have done a complete 180 and compulsively tune whenever i have a second of not playing.
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3545
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 11:27 PM
+1 on the superglue... as a bass player i rely on non-split fingertips.
...also a bit of white medical tape often comes in handy.
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RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2252
San Jose, Ca.
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Posted on Feb 15 2011 12:37 AM
When I was gigging, I had been known to keep a soldering iron and solder in my gig bag. One time it saved the gig. When the bass player plugged in his bass it was dead. It had a loose wire that I soldered in about a minute, and the show went on. i was a real hero that night!
— Bob
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