what gear do you take to gigs?

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:23 am

hey all,

was just starting to get everything ready for saturday, as i'll have no time tomorrow day time. been a while since i've had to get all my live gear together, so i made a list to make sure i've got everything.

Fender Blues Deluxe Amp
Fender Mustang
Fender Stratocaster
Pedalboard (Wah>TS9>DLS>TU2>Amp Switch)
Guitar Cables plus spares
Spare Patch Cables
Digitech Bad Monkey (used in case amp dies, the simulated out makes a decent panic button!)
Shure PG48 Mic plus stand/cable/clip
Warwick guitar rack for holding 5 guitars (me and the other guitarist share this, no way could i take five guitars to a gig without looking like a nob sack)
Amp Stand
Bag With spare strings, picks, capo, cutters, slides, clip on tuner, valves, batteries for Wah/TS9, allen keys and wrench.

Think that's everything. so what do you take to gigs, more or less? things you think i've missed out or you would take? i am i taking too much?

post your lists and see how we all bring the rock to a town near you

Post by **Doog** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:39 am

Pretty much the same- spare leads, gaffatape and a small selection of tools (allen keys, pliers, multi-tip screwdriver).

I used to take spare tubes, but when you're playing with other bands, it's less of a problem. I'd also occasionally take my Laney solidstate head as backup if I was lending my amp to the other bands on the bill.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:52 am

I take:

Guitar
Amp Head
Cabinet
Pedalboard (contains Leads to and from the amp, speaker cable and amp power lead)
Spare Stuff Bag (contains spare Leads, spare Speaker cables, strings, needlenose pliers/wire cutters, screwdriver, extension lead for power)

and that's it. On larger gigs I will take the TT as backup and maybe a backup guitar but generally I just take a stripped down setup these days.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:53 am

normally i have:

2x amps (just because of my setup, not as a spare)
1x guitar in gig bag which also contains strings, cutters, double sided tape (for sticky plectrums!), screwdriver, cables, freebie CDs etc etc
1x guitar in hard case
pedal case
3x set lists(!)

and last but not least-

a small towel for wiping my face down afterwards, cos i'm normally sweating like a maniac if it's a small venue with no air conditioning.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:53 am

Depends on the gig, and has got less over the years as I get lazier, but usually:

Guitar (2 if I am feeling energetic, and guitar stand if more than 1)
Amp head
(Cab if I know I can't borrow someone's)
Pedalboard
Box of leads/extension lead/patch cables/pliers/spare strings
SM58

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:01 pm

Let's see, for me it'd be:

Danelectro U1
2 cables
Ampeg Jet
SM57 w/ cable

The Dano's case has a couple capos, a tuner, and some spare strings as well. It's really just 2 hand-fulls. If I get a backpack for the Dano, all the better

IDK what it's like for the band on any given occasion - I usually get about 20 messages before each show telling me to bring extra mics and extension cords. It's always different, and always something. I think I'm gonna start using 2 amps even, just so I can hear myself.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:17 pm

When I was actually gigging I used to take

Jaguar or an Epi Studio (gigbagged)
Boss OS-2
Boss TU-2
Verbzilla
Powerbank & crap pedal board
Mesa Nomad 55 (if required)
Fast Fret
Plectrums
Leads
SM58's/leads/stands (if required)
Oh and of course: CRAPPY BAND DEMOS!!!

I used to favour borrowing other people's amps as we had a pretty basic punky sound - not too picky really. We tended to play in the same circle of bands as well who'd rock up with a JCM2000 Marshall stack or something else unnecessary for the size gigs we were playing. As they were inconsolable about bringing theirs we thought might as well let them do the lifting.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:10 pm

This was 3 years ago. Haven't gigged in London in 2 years. Feels weird.

Don't fancy lugging the bandmonster and cab around for much longer, so might buy a second s/f deluxe reverb in time for new gigs. Between myself and Stacey we usually take one backup guitar, usually play with other bands so no tubes/backup amps needed, and have never needed to take mics or DI stuff along. Oh yeah the new car is a bit smaller so the above wouldn't fit in it anyway.

Post by **Mike** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:13 pm

Where did the passenger seat go? That's impressive.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:20 pm

The back seat splits in two so you can fold it down leaving a tiny seat for drummy on the right. If I recall this trip (Liverpool and Lancaster gigs) he moaned to be let in the front seat on the way back. We agreed on the condition he didn't fall asleep and had to keep me awake. The bugger fell asleep instantly due to his high salt diet. Fortunately we found Yola (good drummer) shortly afterwards.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:47 pm

For the current band I'm taking the following.

Guitars:
Strat + spare strings + folding guitar stand
De-tuned V (used for 2 detuned songs, then as backup for Strat (?) + spare strings + folding guitar stand that doesn't actually suit

Pedals:
Zoom GFX 707 multi-FX (chorus/backup crunch/on-stage tuner)
Line 6 Crunchtone
Line 6 Chorus or Boss CE-1 (backup chorus, may become primary)
Behringer Rotary Machine for keyboard (note: do not use Mascot PSU for this)
Boss TU-2 (offstage tuner)
2x 9V PSUs, 9V power brick, spare 9V battery.

Amps:
HH VS 2x12 combo (main), Line 6 Flextone Duo stereo combo (using power amp only, for monitor/backup)

Keyboard stuff:
Korg M1, sustain footswitch, keyboard stand

Ancillaries:
3x20' instrument cables (one stereo with mono adapter, for Flextone stereo combo), 10' cable as spare, various pedal patch cables.
4-way mains strip, mains extension lead, 3-way mains socket adapter
Mains leads for amps & keyboard + 1 spare
Plastic box containing earplugs, plectrums.
Plastic wallet with setlists printed BIG on A4

Need to get:
Warwick pedal board like Mike's, proper stand for Flying V, another mains strip, 20' wind-up mains lead.

kim · Post by **kim** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:15 pm

i don't play gigs with HVM so i don't need to bother getting my amp and guitar places but if we would have a drummer and do gigs i guess

-main guitar 69ri mustang
-backup guitar hondo
-amp top and cab (orang rocker and ampeg svt 410) no backups for amps
-pedalboard
-picks
-pack of extra strings
-wire cutter
-tape
-stand
-earplugs
-power domino thing
-about four guitar cables
-speaker cable

i think that's about it really, pedalboard power is on the board as is a tuner

the bands i do play live with at the moment is one where i play drums and another where i only need a mic and my pedalboard and it's just me alone i needn't worry too much about lugging around gear.

the improv band i play drums in doesn't play at venues but we just get together, invite some people and play where we rehearse so we don't have to get our stuff anywhere. we also don't have a name and my bandmembers insist on not getting a bandname lol they're weird.

with MCS i put my pedalboard in a big backpack, and two microphones (one is a backup) and cables and take a stand and some drumsticks, and ocasionally a drumcomputer, i don't care much about it and just see whatever stuff i can use there like some backline amp or someone else's amp (if they know me and don't worry about me damaging the amp lol) or send it through the pa, doesn't matter because it just needs to be loud and ugly sounding. it's freeing no not have to worry about the perfect sound too much.

basically i'm happy i had so much bad luck with previous bands i joined for no real reason and then kicked me out because now i don't wanna join a random band anymore, quinten and ichiko, my bandmates in the improv band went through similar crap with their other bands ditching them so we're all rockband plankton, we're all pissed off and bitter and want to make people deaf lol

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:20 pm

heavium wrote:we're all rockband plankton, we're all pissed off and bitter and want to make people deaf lol

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:22 pm

all packed up and ready to load in to the mighty panda tomorrow night. looks less than i'd imagined.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:40 pm

Epiphone Valve Junior Head
Marshall AVT 412
Jag-stang in gig bag with:
Speaker cable
Three guitar leads
Two speaker leads
two patch leads
Behringer Tuner
Saltbooster
Bag of picks

That looks like a lot more than it really is.

kypdurron · Post by **kypdurron** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:51 pm

- My Mustang or Jazzmaster (JM sounds thicker, so she's the choice when the keyboarder is missing)
- My Twin Reverb or my Blues Junior (depends on how big the stage is and how well paid the gig is)
- 2 long cables and two short ones
- Fuzz, Overdrive, Analog Delay (on the BJ rather a Booster than a OD)
- Strap, digital tuner, tons of plecs, backup strings
- and sometimes a backup guitar (Squier Duo Sonic, or my trashy 70ties Les Paul Copy)

Jacket, Shirt, Tie, Boots ... hairgel

chisa · Post by **chisa** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:52 pm

2 guitars, 1 or 2 amps depending on how lazy i am feeling, pedalboard - which is just a flight case, strap, spare lead, extension cable, spare strings, a few screwdrivers and allen keys, money, phone, etc.

chisa · Post by **chisa** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:57 pm

where you playing BTW?

light rail coyote · Post by **light rail coyote** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:11 pm

Jaguar and one other guitar
Sunn head&6x10 cab
pedalboard-rat, crybaby, shiva, small stone, hyperion, carbon copy, nanoverb, 2 bypass pedals
bag with cables, power adapters, picks and assorted extra stuff.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:11 pm

timhulio wrote:

Tim: where can I get a teardrop case? Do I have to go back in time, or is there some weird UK dealer who still stocks them?