Semi-survey; who takes what to a gig?

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I thought it might be kind of interesting to see what players take to a gig. I know I've often been the "stage repair shop" in many cases playing with guys who take just a guitar, amp and a cable.

My list is slightly overkill - but believe it or not, every single thing has been used at some point. The list changes, and I'm not listing individual effects pedals as they're not as critical as the generic "types" listed are (meaning the "types" allow you to get away with stuff, while NO pedal doesn't...assuming you use pedals at all. My pedals are very specific, but I'm naming generic types to keep it simple).

Primary guitar
Spare guitar (both usually set up - broken string = instant changeover)
Strings
Two amps (one or both in use depending on venue size)
Spare tubes (power tubes - a pair; others, one each minimum)
fuses and extra fuse cap
long guitar cables (at least two spares)
short effects cables (at least two spares)
2 volume pedals
2 overdrives
2 "swirly" pedals
2 delay/echo pedals
2 reverb/trem footswitches
4-outlet voltage regulator (not a power strip)
Circuit tester
Multimeter
3-outlet, 50', 12-gage extension cord
power strip (for digital items)
PODxt
Effects power supply (One Spot)
Special power supplies if required
direct box (active, buffered)
impedance matcher
"Wart Removers" (these plug into a power strip with a 10" cord and spot to plug in a wall-wart)
2 SM57's or clones
2 mic stands (one tall, one short)
mic cables
mic impedance transformers
batteries
Soldering iron (small butane), solder, solder tools
Tool kit (pliers, cutters, wrenches, strippers, screwdrivers - especially jeweler's types)
spare wire (different gages)
Flashlight
Pocketknife
Pen, paper, sticky notes, business cards
Duct tape
Decibel meter
4'x4' carpet square
lubes, cleaning solvents, etc
drum throne (steel seat)
Rolling toolbox (with almost everything in it - and alternate steel seat!)
Picks, bars, etc. (always w/spares)
coat hanger
propane torch (these last two are specific to Fender cable guitars - not used often, but when you need them, you HAVE to have them!)
Lightweight moccasins (for steel playing - always packed)

Almost every item (except guitars, amps, throne and rug) fit in the rolling toolcase. I could pare it down to absolute essentials, but as I'd stiull take the toolcase ("gig box") I might as well have the rest.

This stuff has saved me...or bandmates...more times than I can count. Anyone else take such an extensive load of stuff? Feel free to ask "why?" questions....
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I keep everything compact as much as possible. PSG, amp, seat and amp stand. Accessories are all in the seat such as strings, extra cords, tuner, picks and anything else that is needed to work on something. I keep a real close check on my equipment and have never had a problem with anything other than a FSK that the speaker was bad in. I fixed that problem with a 1501 BW. I spend a lot time studying set ups and guitars. I check every screw, bellcrank,etc. and so far been lucky.

Jim Walker · From: Headland, AL

I'm currently hauling 2 complete rigs, guitar and steel out to every gig. I have a suitcase with wheels that houses all my extra stuff. In it I keep backup cords, strings, a decent set of tools, duct tape, plastic ties, extra power extention cords and a change of socks and underwear just in case I stay the night somewhere.
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Show Pro D10, Session 400

Dennis Schell · From: Shingletown, Shasta county, Kalifornia

Well, back in the old days.....

white zig zag rolling papers
favorite pipe w/ extra screen or hooka
scales for exposing rip off artists
10 lbs ice for cooling beer/wine in bathroom sink
cork puller
1 carton condoms
video cam (optional)
etc etc... Laughing

Dennis

(who counts himself lucky to have survived those days!)
_________________
"Bucks Owin"

Garry Simpson · From: Oklahoma

This is way over my head. I'm a lead guitar player that is just now starting on steel. Gosh, I played lead in bands for twenty something years...I took a guitar, a set of strings, an amp and a couple of cords. I had to play though a PA a few times when I had amp trouble. I can't imagine doubling up on everything.

Larry Strawn · From: Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.

Wow Jim,,
I'll be typing all night to answer that one. Very Happy

I'll try to condense this down,

Sound system, mains , monitor, power rack
2 main speakers [unless it's out side then 4], 4 monitor floor wedges
Bass gear, guitar, amps, etc.
Tele
Steel, and accessories.
Amps
Pack-a-seat, extra strings, batteries, tuners, etc.
Steel & guitar effects board, with extra stomp box units for back up.
mic stands, [3]
Box of mic's [12 I think in box]
1 suitcase full of speaker cords
1 suitcase full of guitar cords
1 suitcase full of mic cords
[I hate to repair cords on the job, just reach in case and get one, repair bad ones at home]
Tool box, meters, spare parts, wire, duct tape, etc.
Speaker stands
Amp stands
Stands for power rack and sound board
Most important piece of equipment, two wheel dolly!

Ginger can haul it in and get it all set up in about an hour and a half! Rolling Eyes

Larry
_________________
Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

S-10 Pedal Steel
Amp
Pac-Seat, containing:

two 7/8 bars
a bunch of picks
fine tuning wrench
mini wrench kit
volume pedal
5 or 6 guitar cables
peg winder
pliers
a bunch of .11's and .17's
2 full packs of strings

Probably underkill, but with my overall gigging schedule (four different bands), it's about all my brain can handle on a steel gig.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com

Larry Jamieson · From: Walton, NY USA

I try to carry as little as possible:
1 steel guitar SD-10
1 steel amp
1 pack-a-seat which contains:
1 volume pedal
2 sets of cables
1 set extra strings with additional 3rd strings
1 25' extension cord
1 4 way plug in box
3 tone bars
3 sets picks
1 string winder
1 pair needle nose pliers with wire cutter
1 small chromatic tuner

For a while, I also carried a Telecaster, but got tired of the extra weight, so now leave it at home.
Larry J.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I try to carry as little as possible. Back in the days of tube amps and Fender pedal steels, I certainly carried some the stuff that Jim does now, but I found that with modern steels, guitars, and amps, you don't need "back-ups". (I see little sense in using old "vintage", unreliable equipment anymore, since not one person in 1,000 would really notice or care what I'm using.) As to all of Jim's stomp-box duplicates, I can't imagine a player relying on some "accessory electronic dingus" to the point where he couldn't play a gig without it...but then I have to remember that I've come from an era where no guitar player (no good player, anyway), would find any such "accessory" a mandatory item.

"Guitar, amp, cord, pick...yeah, I got everything I need!"

John De Maille · From: On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.

I've broken it down to 4 objects
1- steel
2- pack a seat, with assorted accessories
3- amp
4- small bag with ProFex2 and SGBB

I always carry an extension cord or two in my truck, so, I won't include them
Oh! I forgot! A handtruck to wheel everything in and out.

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi Jim, apart from the steel (case on wheels), and the pakka seat, I have a kinda wheeled airport suitcase that contains the following. 2 volume pedals, 1 Shure SM 58, 1 Shure SM 57, 1 Senheisser mic. Small stand for the SM57 if I need to go to the mixing desk. 2 Boss Rv 3's, 1 Line 6 roto machine. Mains cable and mic leads. Various spare leads. In the pakka seat are tons of strings, cutters, small tool kit, bars and picks, Goodrich Match bro. In the car, Sat nav unit to find the gig, bottle of fruit juice, Sandwiches or fruit, torch, Blanket in case of emergency and clothes bag for stage gear, cell phone......Oh and I forgot, mic stand and Telecaster B-bender. Ah the joys of gigging Smile

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Mark Edwards · From: Weatherford,Texas, USA

In the service they always taught us to pack light and pack it so that you have all the necessities when out in the field. Therefore I take:

Steel
Amp
Profex II
Pack-A-seat
Flashlight
extra strings
tuner
extension cord
plug in strip
volume pedal
amp cords (extra amp cords)
a few tools
pliers/wire cutters
screwdrivers
all in one tool
plug in fan

It takes me about 5 minutes to pack everything into the Jeep and about 4 minutes to unload...I've got it down to a science...

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

I take as little as possible. I play an Emmons and carry the Emmons volume pedal and well as the cables in the case with the steel.

Pac-a-seat contains:

extra strings
tuner
small flashlight
pic/bar bag
small wire cutters
reading glasses for changing a broken string
small headphone amp and lightweight headphones
a couple of steel guitar rags
spare fuse
needle nose pliers
a couple of rubber bands

Amp is a Peavey Session 400 limited.
I carry a 3 space effects rack.

I guess I've been lucky but I've never had anything go wrong, to speak of, on a gig. I've been playing for 33 years and I don't think I've ever had a cable go bad(on a gig). Since the instrument is stationary, there's just not that much stress on cords. I've been using the same 3' cable that goes from the guitar to the volume pedal for about the last 20 years. I've run off and left a few cables here and there over the years. Recently my teenage son is playing guitar in a band so he's borrowed some of my cables and lost them.

Ken

Stuart Legg · Posted 10 Jun 2007 3:32 pm

Bo's gig equipment unloaded to band stand:
1 D-10 SUPER PR0, 1 GRETSCH TENN. ROSE w/stand,
1 6 space rack containing 2 PEAVEY TUBEFEXs and a com/limiter, all with cables attach ready to roll out.
1 piano stool with jell cushion (hates pack seats)
1 small plastic storage tub for two volume pedals, SACRED pickin shoes (HOLEY), extra cables and a bag containing steel playing accessories picks bars etc.
1 VEGAS 400 1 FENDER 65 twin.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Two things I'll add to my list (not items, but details):

1. Almost everything except the guitars is already packed in the gig box. I use other stuff at home (smaller amps, experiment with effects etc).

2. Since I'm primarily my own guitar/amp tech, The things I carry allow me to have a "shop on the road" - and as I mentioned, I'll fix/adjust bandmates equipment as well.

3. Donny mentioned not needing the "vintage" stuff any longer...actually, much of mine iusn't "vintage", nor unreliable. But glass tubes can get broken, and if they're replaced (at least power tubes) need to be rebiased. As far as effects go, that's just a stylistic thing - some players use them, some don't. I would imagine a more traditional player might have some kind of distortion unit and a "swirly" (phase, rotary speaker, or flange) pedal and that's it - if even those; in my case I use the same stuff I used for guitar, often for textural playing (I used to use two pedalboards full of stuff with bypass loops, switchers, etc). So there actually is a method to that madness.

Oddly, I haven't broken a string in 15 years or so, and rarely have anything that needs work. It's usually soeone else in the band who breaks something or I hear "I forgot my (fill in the blank)....."

Items for sure left off -

Tube bias tool
Chromatic tuner(s)
Teflon plumber's tape (best thing ever for loose knobs and switch tips)
Super Glue

I never carry a PA since I'm not the singer, so that stuff I don't worry about.

Favorite gigs of all-time as far as equipment needs: Bluegrass gigs at the Palomino, Ice House, Sweetwater and some other LA area clubs in the 70's/80's - 1/ea guitar case with a Mossman Timber Creek dreadnaught, 1 pack of D'Addario J16 strings, needlenose pliers/cutters, stringwinder, small tuner, capo and tortoiseshell picks (2). Ahhhh, those were the days!

_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

When the gigs over I don't hang around so I carry very little which has worked for 24 years so far.

1 Steel
1 amp
1 pack-a-seat

Paul Wade · From: mundelein,ill

my msa classic ss d-10 1 effects rack 1 pak a seat
i session 400 amp cords and 011 strings and oh yes
my brain Wink

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

well not as much as Jim thats for sure..

here's my stuff

cellphone
Coffee
Sprite zero
Steel (1)
Telecaster (1)
Peavey Steel amp( not a 112)
Fender HR Deville
pak a seat loaded with stuff
Peavey Profex in a custom road rack
small dolly
and my latest adventure being a Mandolin
extra gas can
just kidding about the Gas
charismatic bandstand personality

Drew Howard · From: 48854

Extra volume pedal and cords, sometimes an extra amp.

Jerry H. Moore · From: Newnan, GA, USA

steel guitar
amp
volume pedal
tuner
bag-o-picks
two bars
plenty of cables
plug strip
telecaster
stomp boxes for telecaster
guitar stand for tele
a leather bag with enough stuff
to overhaul a Buick
Duck tape
Tums

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

hey dennis....right on brother....you musta spent some time out here on the west coast!!!
otherwise, for me ..steel, amp, pakaseat with maybe an extra string for every e9 but not necessarily c6...earplugs!

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

1 Carter 8x8, 1 Nashvill 112, pac seat loaded with everything else, the seat is the heavey one.
1.packs of strings
2. bar holder
3. peterson tuner
4. flssh lite
5. wrags
6. pliers,glasses,pick case,pedal hilton,cords,extra tuner,other stuff.
ernie

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I have the usual stuff in my seat (volume pedal, wires, bars, tuner, repair kit). I carry a separate little suitcase with a couple of effects in it (Rotosphere, Auto-wah) and an SM-57. Then the steel and amp, of course.

The big difference is that I'm also hauling the marimba around a lot these days. I carry a bag for the mallets, mikes and wires, and a pair of mike stands with little booms to hang the mikes above the instrument.
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Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

Actually I carry very little. I let someone else do it for me or I won't play.

Needless to say, I don't play much.. Laughing

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