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Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo changes his strings
every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change your strings?
Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound check...how do you guys know
where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med sized room, lots of
people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at certain levels...I rarely
see people adjusting their volume once they start playing (or so it seems).
Thanks!
BN
Brian:
I play guitar and bass, and I have different responses for
each instrument...here goes:
guitar: New strings each show, or once a month during
rehersals...whichever comes first. I will change strings
at least 5 days before a gig however, in order to give them
time to "settle in".
bass: new strings once a month while giging or rehearsing.
Interestingly enough,although bass strings do tend to last
longer, I break more bass strings at gigs than guitar
strings. Bass strings usually sound best after about two
weeks for my taste.
Stage Volume is the same for both instruments: set the
knobs appropiately for the size of the room (volume 4-6 on
my 50 watt Bassman, treble at 7 bass at 5)...dial in the
reverb and Blue tube (6-6-6 and 3 Bass- 5 Middle - 6 Treble
respectively) and go from there. Often the house sound
augments whatever stage volume our band is at. For stage
bass, I often utilize a Direct Input (DI) Box...for guitar
a speaker microphone helps get a good house sound.
For smaller gigs, the amp volume alone works well.
I also use an in-line volume pedal before the reverb unit
for "hands-free" volume adjustments (swells, fades, off/on,
tuning etc)
good luck,
DP
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
>
> First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo
> changes his strings
> every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change
> your strings?
>
> Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound
> check...how do you guys know
> where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med
> sized room, lots of
> people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at
> certain levels...I rarely
> see people adjusting their volume once they start playing
> (or so it seems).
>
> Thanks!
>
> BN
>
>
>
>
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I've had the same set of Pyramid Flatwounds on my Jazzmaster for 3
months, and I play alot! I usually end up cleaning the gunk of the
fretboard before I change strings. I have a gig at the end of May
and don't plan to change them before that show. Nickel strings sound
soooooooooooooo good when they get old.
My bassist changes his Pyramids about every 2 years.
I don't use any effects and on my Super Reveb I keep the settings
about the same Bass 3 Treble 7 Mid 5 Reverb goes back and fourth from
10-0.
Bill
--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> Brian:
>
> I play guitar and bass, and I have different responses for
> each instrument...here goes:
>
> guitar: New strings each show, or once a month during
> rehersals...whichever comes first. I will change strings
> at least 5 days before a gig however, in order to give them
> time to "settle in".
>
> bass: new strings once a month while giging or rehearsing.
> Interestingly enough,although bass strings do tend to last
> longer, I break more bass strings at gigs than guitar
> strings. Bass strings usually sound best after about two
> weeks for my taste.
>
> Stage Volume is the same for both instruments: set the
> knobs appropiately for the size of the room (volume 4-6 on
> my 50 watt Bassman, treble at 7 bass at 5)...dial in the
> reverb and Blue tube (6-6-6 and 3 Bass- 5 Middle - 6 Treble
> respectively) and go from there. Often the house sound
> augments whatever stage volume our band is at. For stage
> bass, I often utilize a Direct Input (DI) Box...for guitar
> a speaker microphone helps get a good house sound.
>
> For smaller gigs, the amp volume alone works well.
>
> I also use an in-line volume pedal before the reverb unit
> for "hands-free" volume adjustments (swells, fades, off/on,
> tuning etc)
>
> good luck,
> DP
>
> --- Brian Neal <bneal@i...> wrote:
> > Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
> >
> > First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo
> > changes his strings
> > every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change
> > your strings?
> >
> > Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound
> > check...how do you guys know
> > where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med
> > sized room, lots of
> > people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at
> > certain levels...I rarely
> > see people adjusting their volume once they start playing
> > (or so it seems).
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > BN
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> >
> > .
> > Visit for
> > archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
>
I usually change my strings before each gig (or group of gigs) If we're
not playinga lot, I change them when they feel kind of dead - no more
sustain. We played both saturday and sunday, so I just changed them
only before the saturday gig. And, I also like to change them at least
a day before, if I can, so they 'settle' in. They seem to always stay
in tune if I do that.
As far as volume, that depends on the feel of the gig. On our saturday
gig we were doing the lounge level set, meaning people were
eating/talking while we were playing, so my showman was on 2. Sunday at
the pier, I was up around 4 most of the time, except for when I was
playing lead and I pushed it up around 5.
Rick
Halibuts/Deoras
--- Brian Neal <> wrote:
> Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
>
> First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo changes his
> strings
> every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change your
> strings?
>
> Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound check...how do you
> guys know
> where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med sized room,
> lots of
> people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at certain levels...I
> rarely
> see people adjusting their volume once they start playing (or so it
> seems).
>
> Thanks!
>
> BN
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
Hi BN,
I wondered about that a lot. I do know a few Surf Guitarists that change
strings after every gig. (Even one who uses d'Addario flats)
He says it's the feel of the new not "inbroke" strings and the less
chance to break one. Also the sound doesn't degenerate after a few gigs
because of sting wear.
I did have a conversation once with a few musicians about sound
checking, he said it's a matter of playing a lot. You get to know your
gear and sound really well. You also learn how to crank your volume and
amp regarding the room you play in. The only thing that's really
difficult is outdoors, since the envoirnment constantly changes (wind,
temperature, etc...) even with P.A.
As far as P.A goes, if you have your own sound engineer/or someone who
really knows how to do it (the most overlooked band member) you have a
constant good sound.
From my own experiences, I rarely change volume during a gig, I only
tweak the bass, treb or mid a bit on the amp. Depending on how the drums
sound and he rest the band. But I still have no idea how it really
sounds, so I guess it's a learning curve. So far I learned that using
the same set up/gear for a while helps a lot. (Used to change between
guitars and amps for a while) but this get's only very confusing (IMHO)
-Jerry S.
-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Neal [mailto:]
Sent: dinsdag 4 mei 2004 1:31
To:
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Gigging Musician's Questions
Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo changes his
strings every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change your
strings?
Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound check...how do you guys
know where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med sized room,
lots of people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at certain
levels...I rarely see people adjusting their volume once they start
playing (or so it seems).
Thanks!
BN
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Yahoo! Groups Links
experiences from my former 60's garage band, that played a lot... my
current surf band has only gigged twice:
what someone said: you know your gear and that's usually enough.
soundcheck is for the PA, we used voice (argh) on the monitor and
nothing else. strict rule: "accoustic sound" on stage only. In that
band the routine was: two minute A-blues jam to set the stage volumes
on the amps, based on the accoustic drum sound, then endless (and
usually pointless)PA soundcheck.
We did two gigs with the surf band so far and the routine was: 1
minute Asurfblues (an original appropriatly called "Soundcheck") to
set stage volume... 1 minute Asurfblues with a friend and surfsound
connaiseur in the audience to check if everythings okay there... both
times we got great compliments about the sound, I'll stay away from
PA's if at all possible.
golden rule: stay away from your amp settings. trust somebody in the
audience to make the judgement calls if necessary. After 10 minutes
playing in from of a decent fender backline, you're NOT qualified to
judge from the stage how something sounds in the audience! can't hear
eveyone else in the band? deal with it. (imo)
soundguys: We had our own 'just in case' but most of the time we'd go
with the guy from the club: he knows the pa system, how the room
works and so on.
1 exception: every now and then you'll meet the shit for brains
metalhead that doesn't have a clue what he's doin, is usually heavy
under the influence of some substance, and more likely then not is
suffering from severe hearing loss (not meant ironically). Loose him
asap. (i think the nebulas met a few last tour...)
anyway, my 2cents.
--- In , "Jerry" <jerry.soetewey@b...>
wrote:
> Hi BN,
>
> I wondered about that a lot. I do know a few Surf Guitarists that
change
> strings after every gig. (Even one who uses d'Addario flats)
> He says it's the feel of the new not "inbroke" strings and the less
> chance to break one. Also the sound doesn't degenerate after a few
gigs
> because of sting wear.
>
> I did have a conversation once with a few musicians about sound
> checking, he said it's a matter of playing a lot. You get to know
your
> gear and sound really well. You also learn how to crank your volume
and
> amp regarding the room you play in. The only thing that's really
> difficult is outdoors, since the envoirnment constantly changes
(wind,
> temperature, etc...) even with P.A.
>
> As far as P.A goes, if you have your own sound engineer/or someone
who
> really knows how to do it (the most overlooked band member) you
have a
> constant good sound.
>
> From my own experiences, I rarely change volume during a gig, I only
> tweak the bass, treb or mid a bit on the amp. Depending on how the
drums
> sound and he rest the band. But I still have no idea how it really
> sounds, so I guess it's a learning curve. So far I learned that
using
> the same set up/gear for a while helps a lot. (Used to change
between
> guitars and amps for a while) but this get's only very confusing
(IMHO)
>
> -Jerry S.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Neal [mailto:bneal@i...]
> Sent: dinsdag 4 mei 2004 1:31
> To:
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Gigging Musician's Questions
>
>
> Here's a couple of questions that have been nagging me.
>
> First, following up on Ferenc's observation that Shigeo changes his
> strings every gig. When do you (those who play out a lot) change
your
> strings?
>
> Second, I rarely see bands do any kind of sound check...how do you
guys
> know where to set your volume? Do you just go by feel (med sized
room,
> lots of people == volume at 4)??? Or do you just set it at certain
> levels...I rarely see people adjusting their volume once they start
> playing (or so it seems).
>
> Thanks!
>
> BN
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
messages,
> bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
I used to change strings after 2 to 3 gigs because the D string would
break on my JM. Since I changed to GraphTech saddles I can get 4 to
5 gigs on a set of D'Addario Chrome 11's. I like the way older
flatwounds deaden out and develop a "thunk". If I could get more
life without breakage I would probably go until the intonation
started going off.
We play many gigs where there is no P.A. (announcements are made via
a mike plugged in to channel 2 of our bass player's amp) The volume
of the band is dictated by the level of the drums. So we know what
volume (the amp settings) to play at to get a good mix. When we play
with a sound man, we pretty much play at the same levels, although on
outdoor gigs I like to bring a extra cabinet and open it up a bit.
We like to play with no monitors and have our amps behind us (behind
the drums is important). I learned this from Los Straitjackets.
If there's no sound man, the only way a sound check can be done is by
a band member with a wireless setup or very long cord, or an
assistant with a good ear for the mix - but most folks now days make
the kick drum the loudest thing in the mix which is not my idea of
surf music. If you're playing instrumentals and not miking your
amps, there's little to be accomplished in a "sound check", if the
band members are listening to the overall mix, which admittedly can
be sketchy when you're on the bandstand.
Boulder Bob
www.thebelovedinvaders.com
--- In , Halibut Rick <halibutrick@y...>
wrote:
>
> I usually change my strings before each gig (or group of gigs) If
we're
> not playinga lot, I change them when they feel kind of dead - no
more
> sustain. We played both saturday and sunday, so I just changed them
> only before the saturday gig. And, I also like to change them at
least
> a day before, if I can, so they 'settle' in. They seem to always
stay
> in tune if I do that.
>
> As far as volume, that depends on the feel of the gig. On our
saturday
> gig we were doing the lounge level set, meaning people were
> eating/talking while we were playing, so my showman was on 2.
Sunday at
> the pier, I was up around 4 most of the time, except for when I was
> playing lead and I pushed it up around 5.
>
> Rick
> Halibuts/Deoras
>
when you're talking volume control setting numbers on a Fender amp
with a middle control, the tone control settings have a large effect
on the amp volume. try putting the volume on 3, with the treble, mid
and bass and 3. then leave the volume where it is and put the tone
controls on 7. big difference. if you put the tone controls on zero
the amp will make no sound. this doesn't happen on a Bandmaster, Pro
Reverb etc. - these amps have bass and treble only.
