D-tox
Okay, recently I came to the conclusion "what were you thinking" when we played a live Gig, Some clown (on her bachelorette) got onto the stage after we played and nearly knocked over my 78 P-Bass.. after that I put it in the hard case in between brakes..
I was thinking if I should rather get n SX or Squier, do some upgrades and use that... but I would seem like such a waste...I just wont be the same..
Who plays his/her pride and joy on every gig? and how do you protect her?
Not all gigs are rough, but you just need that 1 time...
Bob-Dubery
I do. I only have three guitars - 2 acoustics, 1 electric. The electric is a cheapy, and I keep it in a good quality gig bag but I hardly ever touch it. The acoustics are both good quality instruments, a Morgan and a Larrivee, and I like them both a lot. So when I gig, I gig with one of those.
It's hard to keep them under constant protection. I don't lend them to strangers (I do get asked). I will happily lend them to some other folks like Big M (hardly ever posts here) and Stratisfear (who is long gone from this forum, but does all sorts of nice things like take his belt off before playing your guitar). But the first time it's a risk.
I try to keep them in the case when I'm not actually playing (or on a stand if I'm going to be playing soon). I try to make it a rule that when I'm done the guitar goes with me. When I put the guitar in the case, unless I'm resting it whilst I get some other piece of kit, I make sure that the case is firmly shut and placed somewhere flat and fairly secure from tumbles or boots.
Unless you can hire armed guards (sober armed guards) you can't keep them 100% safe. That's the way it is. Shit happens.
Nitebob
:'( ☹ I only own a SX to gig with...
teleplayer
I've always played with the best gear I have. Last year we were doing some shows and I was borrowing a friend's one off Les Paul the was made personally for him from the Gibson factory (his brother was endorsed, so got it organised). So it was that and my US Tele every night for quite some time and at a few venues. I generally left them on stage during breaks (they did look killer together) but shortly after that, they were in their cases and within my reach for the rest of the evening, or locked away.
Psean
D-tox wrote:
Okay, recently I came to the conclusion "what were you thinking" when we played a live Gig, Some clown (on her bachelorette) got onto the stage after we played and nearly knocked over my 78 P-Bass..
Don't you reckon a P-Bass would handle a knock like that? I'm sure if you just generally take care of it like Bob has mentioned it'll be fine for the most part. Anyway, Fenders look better with scars ?
PeteM
I only have 1 electric guitar and that's a '67 Gibson ES330. That's all I use. Love the sound... love the feel. I don't play at rough gigs, but if I did I would put it back in its case during breaks otherwise it sits on the stage on a stand. If it does get broken... oh well. My electro/acoustic is a cheepo Cort nylon. Same thing applies.
D-tox
Sorry, nothing wrong with your SX and did not mean to sound like a gear snob...
?
yea, It was always on the stand on brake time.. but now I'm considdering putting it in the case during that time...
I'm sure the P bass is tough but a drunk girl stumbling over it might mean the end of the neck.... and the Bass' too ?
Lucky the gig for tonight is for the more mature "cool" crowd..
IceCreamMan
thankfully for the population at large i dont gig but if i were too i would play the one i felt most comfortalble playing irrespective of value ....i would tuck it away during breaks though
Cannon
I always play my baby!!! (blonde US Texas strat)
And i play the paint off that sucker every night!
They're tough & they can take it.
Sexiest guitar i ever saw was SRV's No1. How beat up was that!!!
8)
D-tox
true, my 78 P bass is full of marks and scratches, no probs with that, its the broken neck that bothers me...
Maybe its just the poor muso in me complaining hehe
ZarK
I've played all my guitars incl. some rather rare and expensive models on stage... Certainly more stressful than jamming less expensive/more readily available models in public but I'm not crazy about the idea of gigging with lessor gear just because of fear. I always use a Hercules Triple stand (very solid and secure) and always try to position the stand behind me or in the safest area possible. (Furthest from the crowd usually) I also always get the guitars back into their cases at the soonest opportunity, but that's a rule that's applied at home as well... Gig it! (Unless the added stress detracts too much from the pleasure derived.) Just take the best possible precautions... Fenders are rather tough axes anyway! ? ?
DaFiz
Every instrument is a "prized" possession. I have a Chaiwenese copy coz I can't afford the real USA model.
It's special to me and I'll guard it against drunken idiots at the low life venues which I get to play at. ☹
ZarK
DaFiz wrote:
Every instrument is a "prized" possession. I have a Chaiwenese copy coz I can't afford the real USA model.
It's special to me and I'll guard it against drunken idiots at the low life venues which I get to play at. ☹
Absolutely! Cheers to that! ?
Jayhell
I played my Tele (52' reissue) at a gig this weekend because it is my best guitar by far. But after the gig we hung around for a while and at the back of mind I was kept thinking about the safety of my baby. I thought of loading it in the car, but thats even worse, then if someone stelas my car it's bey guitar. The car I can eventually replace, the guitar not. Also on my way out my pedal bag got caught on another guitarist's guitar and almost brought it to the floor. (his own fault for putting it flat on a table with the head sticking out.) Anyway, I think next time I'll take one of the others and try not to stress about it.
studmissile
Lets be honest most venues, are so small with such crap audio (although the management will tell you otherwise) that you really don't have to worry about taking high end stuff with you. You can't polish a turd! And even if you go the extra mile and get that audio
right, the audience isn’t that interested in live music, as long a there's a cover song they know then they'll shut up and sing along so loud and so out of key that your monitors become paper weights. Rock n Roll Baby…
Sometimes I want bash my prized guitars .... over the heads of some assholes in the audience.
“It gets hard out here, I know it don’t look it, I used to have heart but the highway took it” Hayes Carll
Sean
PeteM wrote:
I only have 1 electric guitar and that's a '67 Gibson ES330. That's all I use. Love the sound... love the feel. I don't play at rough gigs, but if I did I would put it back in its case during breaks otherwise it sits on the stage on a stand. If it does get broken... oh well. My electro/acoustic is a cheepo Cort nylon. Same thing applies.
This.
DonRoos
I only have 3, my Cort is the main guitar and I also use my vintage Ibanez '87 540R and '76 12-string. I also use a Hercules tripple stand and position it in a safe place and only bring it on stage for my performance and remove it after. Guitars get cleaned and put to bed in hard cases as soon as possible.
teleplayer
I think a great way to ensure that your guitar doesn't hit the floor is to use a hercules stand. I've had other stands with no neck support, just let my guitars slip sideways and hit the floor. Some of my worst moments. Thank goodness for Fenders being pretty hard wearing, as well as wooden stages. Tiles may not be so kind to a guitar.
racman
I take great care with all my guitars but they are meant to be played so until recently I played my Cornerstone Zion Acoustic in my signature in a live situation 2-3 times every week. I now play mainly electric live and play the K-Line mainly as it just suits me the most. However, all the guitars in my signature have seen "live" use without ill effect.
I am pedantic about care for the guitars but allow most who show some level of passion and skill to play them.
vic
Another risk is that your prized instrument may get stolen....and this happens quite often. That is and was my biggest fear.
Nevertheless I use to gig with a Gibson Les Paul, or SG and a Fender Strat.... I don't gig that often anymore, about 5 times max per year now at special occasions, compared to many times more on average for 30 years.
I was lucky...very lucky...not to have had a guitar or keyboard or microphone damaged or stolen during that time.
However I believe you use your best gear if you're an active muso....afterall that's why you bought in the first place....just take good care
