back to gigging-essential kit?

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:50 pm

so it's been a while, but my band is playing it's first gig with me in it next saturday.

in past bands i've ended up taking a fair bit of equipment, but i don't wanna end up taking stuff i don't need/use.

should i take a spare guitar? touch wood i rarely break strings (use 11's) and plan to restring the day before. is it worth the potential risk?

should i take a spare amp? the dual terror hasn't let me down yet, but i haven't gigged it at full power (which i might need, though i only run it at half for practice) i have a mustang II i could stick in the car or maybe just keep amplitube on my iphone.

i'll pack a kit bag of spare strings/tools/pics/capo etc.

thinking of getting a decorators platform to stick my cab on so it's higher up. thought it'd be more stable/better looking than beer crates/chairs.

couple of guitars stands or a 3 guitar rack that we can stick the bass in too?

whats your thoughts people?

toez10 · Post by **toez10** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 2:53 pm

Progrockabuse wrote:so it's been a while, but my band is playing it's first gig with me in it next saturday.

in past bands i've ended up taking a fair bit of equipment, but i don't wanna end up taking stuff i don't need/use.

should i take a spare guitar? touch wood i rarely break strings (use 11's) and plan to restring the day before. is it worth the potential risk?

should i take a spare amp? the dual terror hasn't let me down yet, but i haven't gigged it at full power (which i might need, though i only run it at half for practice) i have a mustang II i could stick in the car or maybe just keep amplitube on my iphone.

i'll pack a kit bag of spare strings/tools/pics/capo etc.

thinking of getting a decorators platform to stick my cab on so it's higher up. thought it'd be more stable/better looking than beer crates/chairs.

couple of guitars stands or a 3 guitar rack that we can stick the bass in too?

whats your thoughts people?

I usually try to bring as little as necessary to get through a gig, but for me most gigs are to 100 people or less, of it might be less consequential for me than it is for you. If you can test everything before the show, and have decent stuff, it's highly unlikely that you'll need a spare amp, but if you've got room in the vehicle for one extra amp that could be used by anyone in the band, it's not a bad idea. Same thing with guitars, if you've got two guitar player, and you don't often break strings, then maybe one spare for both of you to share in case one of you breaks a string is good. If you guys like carrying stuff, you can never bring too much stuff. If you don't like carrying shit, pare it down to the essentials.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:09 pm

I never take spares of anything apart from picks. I used to do the whole two guitars thing and all that, but I just don't bother anymore. It's too much hassle, especially as I use public transport a lot.

For me it is normally just:

Guitar
Cable
(possibly pedals)
Amp

That's about it.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:40 pm

Guitar on one hand, pedalboard on the other, dual terror on shoulder. I allways try to borrow a cab if we're playing with another band, if it's just us I'll bring a 2x12. I never broke a string, but changing one takes like 2 or 3 min. Never had amp trouble, but I thinking of starting to bring spare valves...

I hate to bring stuff I don't need, it's just more stuff that I can forget about, that someone can take, and that takes more space in the cars.

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:49 pm

i used to have doubles of EVERYTHING and some things i had 3. i had two identical pedal cases when i was in sirens and a thieves parade. the only thing i would never double up on is my bass. but i'd always bring an extra guitbox, cables, pedals, and sometimes i would have a spare amp head in the trunk/van. even if you don't ever use it its good to have a spare around just in case.

Jamesstarky · Post by **Jamesstarky** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:21 pm

The most important thing I've ever lost during a gig was a bass player. But I refuse to carry a spare one!

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:40 pm

Both our guitarists bring two guitars; for me, that's mostly because I want both single coil and humbucker, but also fixed bridge (for quick slide tuning) and tremolol. I take an HH head as a spare amp. We take no spare bass, PA gear or drums.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:53 am

I got really lazy in the Punk band to the point i was turning up with just a guitar and a few leads, hoping i could borrow an Amp and living on my wits. Not the right way of doing things. Ideally and always worked for me was this;

Guitar x 1*
Amp x 1
Kit bag (including tuner, cables, spare strings, tools etc)
Guitar Stand
Pedal Board (if you use them)

*I think the spare guitar depends on what guitar you use and how quickly you can change a string. I'd take a spare if i use floyd rose trems for obvious reasons. But if i used the Tele i knew a string break wouldn't send me out of tune and i could have a new string on in a few minutes.
Having said that, if you are in a function band charging Â£800 a gig or whatever it can look unprofessional not to have a spare.

Always found something to elevate my Amp, like a chair, crate or even pub table.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:39 am

I always used to take 2 guitars to gigs but I never break strings and I realised that nobody else realised that they sounded different so started only taking one and i've not had any issues. However I will always have a spare set of strings, 3 cables (1 as a spare), spare patch cables for my pedal board, plenty of plectrums, a pen (to write the set list) and my Han Solo figure - to protect my guitar from The Empire. I'll try and avoid taking an amp but if I do need to i'll take my Bassman and 2 x 12 if driving, if taking public transport i'll take my Crate Powerblock and 1 x 12.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:07 pm

i'll take a spare giutar most times because i break strings frequently, but fucking taking a spare amp. i don't bother with guitar stands either, if it falls over it falls over.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 5:49 pm

I don't take spares... but I play small gigs in a small town, and if something breaks, someone from one of the other bands will likely let you use their gear.

Most I ever take is:
.: Bass (VI)
.: Guitar
.: Mandolin
.: (guitar) Amp
.: (bass) Amp
.: cables
.: pedals

I can usually leave behind the bass amp and mandolin, though. Without taking spares, I'm already hauling too much in and out

As mentioned, if you're playing a larger show, or charging a fair bit for your set, bring spares.

Benmurray85 · Post by **Benmurray85** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 6:45 pm

I'm not in a "corporate" style band but it's not far off. I like to be prepared and I like it to appear as being as pro as possible so I take spares of most stuff.

Pedalboard and a few spare essential pedals
DEFINATELY spare guitars as I ain't quick at changing strings
I keep a tiny terror in the car but I'm thinking of getting some sort of preamp/interface like a pod to have into the pa
PLENTY of leads
And a toolbox on wheels with all sorts of bits n bats.

I suppose there's two schools of thought on it. I drive so it isn't a massive issue but I dare say if I was catching the tubes to give as some on here do I'd be in the other camp

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:26 pm

In my band we often end up getting trains to gigs, and on a few occasions we've had to take virtually ALL our gear (for one gig in Leeds we ended up providing a full drum kit, bass amp and one guitar amp, then borrowing another guitar amp). Because of this, we try to keep our gear as minimal as possible. We don't take any spares apart from cables, strings and plectrums, and try to use as small amps as possible (I'm currently playing through a Tiny Terror and a 1x8 cab). Our drummer also uses a fairly stripped down kit. So the most we've ever taken on the train between the four of us is:

Kick drum
Floor tom
Snare
Snare stand
Drum stool
Ride cymbal
Cymbal stand
Hi-hat
Hi-hat stand
1x12 bass amp
Bass
1x12 guitar combo amp
Two pedal boards
Two guitars

It was an interesting journey.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:28 pm

Freddy V-C wrote:It was an interesting journey.

Pfft lightweight

My friend used to take a double bass on the train every week.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:37 pm

The only spares I take are picks and patch cables/ leads. Most putners couldn't tell the difference between the sound of a humbucker and a single coil if your whole set consisted of you struming an A then swapping guitars and trying to point out the difference. Take a Telecaster your pedals and a good amp...

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:41 pm

Gabriel wrote:
Freddy V-C wrote:It was an interesting journey.
Pfft lightweight

My friend used to take a double bass on the train every week.

I went to school with 3 guys who played rockabilly mainly stray cats stuff and Davy the bass player had a fight to get the double bass on the number 36 bus to Glasgow every weekend... those things take up some room

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:45 pm

johnnyseven wrote:and my Han Solo figure - to protect my guitar from The Empire.

Awesome. I bring Vader to protect my gear from rebel scum. LOL

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:53 pm

HNB wrote:
johnnyseven wrote:and my Han Solo figure - to protect my guitar from The Empire.
Awesome. I bring Vader to protect my gear from rebel scum. LOL

It would be interesting to see what would happen if we played on the same bill.

HNB · Post by **HNB** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:07 pm

johnnyseven wrote:
HNB wrote:
johnnyseven wrote:and my Han Solo figure - to protect my guitar from The Empire.
Awesome. I bring Vader to protect my gear from rebel scum. LOL
It would be interesting to see what would happen if we played on the same bill.

back to gigging-essential kit?

back to gigging-essential kit?

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