gear too good for a gig?

[stonepiano]

Alright. Does anyone here have gear that could be used in a live setting but is too valuable for a gig? Better yet, does anyone not believe in this and use a pricey vintage axe/amp without worrying?

I've never really bought into this "too good to gig" gear but, in a brief search for a Top Hat Club Royale, I'm beginning to think I'd never use it out.

looking forward to some thoughts.

miles

[philboyd studge]

For the most part no, everything's meant to be used. There are a few guitars that rarely go out however.

[Track Rat]

While I have played gigs with my Martin D-41, it did make me nervous when bar fights broke out. I ended up buying a Yamaha acoustic/electric for gigging and left Marty at home. I just love it when very drunk people come up to me on breaks and ask "kin I play your guitar?" What the hell, it's only $4000.

[Aaron Cheney]

Yeah, I get a little scared with certain gear too. Especially small stuff that seems to disappear, like expensive pedals.

Aaron
http://www.voodoovibe.com

[mikeh]

Over the years I've always tried to maintain an attitude that any gear I buy is working/gigging gear. What good is owning a Porche if you can't take it for a drive.

I do get a laugh when I see guys show up at gigs with an $3,000 guitar in a soft gig bag.

[6gun]

i use the good stuff all the time, but i have guitars that can take a ding and it won't faze me. i'm more aware of THIEVES. my gear doesn't leave my sight at a gig (unless in a locked van for a short time), and i don't leave it at my rehearsal spaces.

[philboyd studge]

"kin I play your guitar?"

Sure, if I can play with your girlfriend.

[6gun]

'deal'

[64Firebird]

I wouldn't take my Firebird to most gigs anymore.

[foo]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes yes!!!

The whole point of having really cool guitars and amps is that they sound great - and to play them.
Otherwise you may as well put them in a glass case and hang them on a wall.

I routinely take out my players:

Red 1962 ES 345 that God made for himself, but somehow I ended up with it.
1964 Stratocaster - refretted with Gibson frets before I got it, plays like a dream and sounds really . . . snarky!

and sometimes take out the other cool stuff, like:

1960 Telecaster
1961 LP Special
1956 Goldtop
1963 Epiphone Crestwood Custom
1961 Sunburst ES 345

And the best part is that most people have no clue what they are so it's cool (and if they do have a clue, they usually think they're reissues, anyway)
And the one's who do know are usually very into it, so no problem.

I have a friend who has a real 1959 Sunburst Les Paul. It looks so clean that people think it's a re-issue. It's hilarious - they're cooing over my Telecaster, and offhand with his 'burst 'Oh, nice guitar'. Yeah, right.

If I'm going to a blues jam, I will sometimes take out the Goldtop and my mint '66 Blackface Vibrolux Reverb. I absolutely love the sound.

Take it out and play it - after you've walked into the first cymbal you won't worry about it any more - and in the meanwhile, you will have a killer guitar/amp to play.

Of course, the rules are a little different - it's in the case, out of the case, back in the case and in my hands until it's locked in the trunk.
But once in a while I'll let a guy use the amps. Had a kid use the Vibrolux one time - he told me it sounded great and asked what it was a re-issue of.
The quizzical look on his face when I said "It's not a re-issue" was priceless.

foo

[Buffalo Bob]

1960 Telecaster
1961 LP Special
1956 Goldtop
1963 Epiphone Crestwood Custom
1961 Sunburst ES 345



I don't see what you're worried about, Foo. All of your guitars are old.

I've never worried about using good gear. I've never had any. Foo, if I had your arsenal, I'd never leave the house.

[64Firebird]

I'll still take my 64 Fender Bassman amp to a gig. It's a little too heavy to walk out the door on it's own. But, I once saw a kid rip off one of Johnny Winter's laser guitars. He just grabbed it and ran out the back door followed by three really big goons. They caught him and got back the guitar, but I don't have any goons to watch my gear!

One of my fav players, Chris Duarte, had his 63 Strat ripped off years ago and he still hasn't gotten back. SRV had a whole van full of gear disappear just hours before a gig. He got lucky and the NYC cops found it.

If it can happen to them, it can happen to ME!

[foo]

Yeah Bob, you're right. They are old.



No really, you are right. Another ding here or there isn't going to make any difference to them at all.

In fact, I guess it may even increase the mojo factor.

I definitely believe that you have to play them. Otherwise, sell them to somebody who will appreciate them and play them.

They're no damn use in a glass case.



Hey, and 'bird, to use a quote from someplace else re: the grab and run:

' . . . from my cold dead hands . . .'



foo

[philboyd studge]

If I'm not playing something good I don't feel good about what I'm playing. About five years ago I played a fine dining situation that required an nylon acoustic/electric set up. Couldn't use the Chet Atkins solid body nylon so I got a Yamaha for $500 or so. I felt like crap the whole time. Four hours a night in a tux looking at cheap Ping tuners. Yuck. With all the Gibsons, Martins, and Guilds sitting at home with their steel strings. Drove me nuts and I sold it.

[juststartingout]

Wow, I thought I had gone overboard with my guitar collection before reading this thread.....


I guesss i need to do some catching up

[Badger]

I wouldnt gig with my hammond....For one, its too damn heavy, but if it got dropped or somthing, I couldnt afford to fix it.

[Toki987]

My 1960 Moserite bass
my Fender Dual Showman
are only conversation pieces, not be played outside the home. I use a Fender bassman occasionaly. I bought a GK so i could tuck it under my arm and go do gigs.

[ecs113]

Originally posted by philboyd studge
"kin I play your guitar?"

Sure, if I can play with your girlfriend.

i'm remembering that one....

[bongolation]

I have three tiers in my own personal gear:

1: Top-quality gear I will gig with.

2: Gear I will play, but is too valuable to risk in gigging.

3: Gear that is too valuable to play, period.

I want to get a new level of gear - stuff that plays nice, but is ratty enough that I don't have to worry about it at all.

[ThunderMaker]

I actually think every piece of gear is meant to be played out but I also think that some gear is treasured more than most. I get worried everytime I'm playing a gig about my Marshall Rig being knocked over or my Guitars getting stepped on or something like that but all I can do is protect it as much as I can by the way for those who want to know about my pride and Joy Marshall it is (2)JCM TSL100 heads, 1960A 4x12 (2)1960B 4x12, a 2x12 cab, a power amp and a power break. My heads are hot-rodded. None of it's for show it all gets cranked. I do have special cases and covers for all my Amp Equipment but I get worried all the time about it

Animal

[bdbdbuck]

You should be concearned about your hearing as well. I have lost a great deal of my hearing and I haven't stood in front of a stack in over 17 years.

[ThunderMaker]

Buck, I wear in ear monitors and I have to have my rig for the venues I play because if not I can't feel the power. My in ear monitor's have 20db noise reduction ear pieces so I'm protected as far as my hearing for now but thank you for your concern

Animal

[bongolation]

Originally posted by ThunderMaker
I actually think every piece of gear is meant to be played out

Anybody who has all-original hi-$$$ vintage gear, say a pre-CBS Stratocaster, is crazy to even play it, much less gig with it.

Why? Because - contrary to a lot of misconception - it's usually not that great as gear in the first place and every ding and micron of fretwear incrementally devalues a good piece. Never mind theft at some sleazy venue! All the stuff you have to do to it to make it worthwhile as working gear devalues it greatly. A true, original vintage axe (not refinished parts crap) is just another collectable. Put it in a safe place and leave it there. New gear is objectively better anyway.

[Lopp]

That's a good point bongolation. Unless the gear has some sonic or playability characteristic that cannot be duplicated, it's better to play out with a <$2k guitar than a >$20k guitar.


BTAIM, I had an ESP Custom that I never played out. Which is not to say I never played it. I loved it, but would only use it in the studio. Playing out, I used an ESP MIII or other guitar which was close enough to the Custom that it wasn't worth using the Custom at gigs.

That being said, I sold the Custom and bought a Gibson LP Studio and a Fender HM Strat with change left over. I gig with both, but still miss the Custom.


Uhh. I should mention the main reason I didn't play out with the Custom: It had a topless pic of Erika Eleniak on it.

[foo]

Originally posted by bongolation
Anybody who has all-original hi-$$$ vintage gear, say a pre-CBS Stratocaster, is crazy to even play it, much less gig with it.

Why? Because - contrary to a lot of misconception - it's usually not that great as gear in the first place and every ding and micron of fretwear incrementally devalues a good piece. Never mind theft at some sleazy venue! All the stuff you have to do to it to make it worthwhile as working gear devalues it greatly. A true, original vintage axe (not refinished parts crap) is just another collectable. Put it in a safe place and leave it there. New gear is objectively better anyway.

. . . and that is your opinion.

I play my pre CBS Strat because it is a great guitar and I haven't found one that sounds or plays as good (although I haven't been looking really hard). I play my '62 ES 345 because it is a great guitar.

Occasionally, I'll try out guitars in a store - usually in response to someone on this site saying you've got to try this guitar, it's better than anything I've ever played. I'll stick with my Strat and 345.

As far as your opinion that 'new gear is objectiveley better anyway' - again that is your opinion.

My opinion is different. And my experience is at least equal to yours.

foo