kcearl
I see deaf people
some good tips here
Step I: Clean the Guitar
Nasty, sticky guitars kill performances and strings. Clean your beauty up before the big show.
1. Take off existing strings.
2. Use glass cleaner and a lint free cloth to clean the entire guitar, including the fretboard and back of the neck. This will break down and remove all traces of pre-existing oils and dirt left behind by your previous playing. Be sure to spray the glass cleaner directly on the cloth and not onto the guitar itself to avoid damaging the instrument.
3. Once the guitar is clean and dry, use furniture polish to polish the guitar. Spraying the wax directly on another lint free cloth, coat one side at a time in the wax and allow it to dry for about 30 seconds. Be sure to avoid getting wax on any plastic items such as pick guards or knobs.
4. Wipe off the wax with another lint free cloth and buff until all traces of wax are gone. Continue this process over the entire guitar, paying special detail to the places your body usually comes in contact with the guitar. Doing this, you should be left with a glistening, string less instrument.
Step II: Setting up the Guitar
Gigs are stressful enough. Your guitar battling your fingers through the whole show is a fight you don't need. Make it cooperate.
1. String the guitar. If you don't know how or aren't entirely sure, check out Change Strings on an Electric Guitar
2. Play the guitar for a little while. Do you like how it plays? Being comfortable with your guitar during a gig is the best way to ensure a positive performance. If you have some problems with the way your instrument is playing, set it up yourself by following the method on this helpful page: Set Up a Guitar. When you feel good about the way your guitar plays, you are ready to gig proof your instrument.
Step III: Gig Proofing
Most live disasters happen when you are ill prepared for the rigors of a gig. Here are some tips gleaned from experience:
* Have plenty of picks. No one likes to be the guitarist searching the murky stage for his or her dropped pick while the rest of the band is thrashing on. To avoid this, you should have at least three picks on the ready when you begin a song. There are many devices you can buy to store picks on your guitar.
* Bring a Back Up Guitar. Even though you just changed the strings on your main guitar, try to bring an extra guitar as a back up. Make sure it is in tune and ready to go at a moments notice. The benefits to having a back up ready are countless. Break a string? Grab the back up. Your main guitar going out of tune with one song left? Grab the back up. Using an alternate tuning during the set? Grab the back up tuned to the desired pitch. Electronics in the body of your main guitar kick the bucket? Grab the back up. You get the idea...
* Secure Your Patch Cord. An unsecured patch cord is the number 1 way to damage the output of your guitar and your chances of having a good show. Do yourself a favor and secure it.
1. Take the tip of the patch cord in your right hand and pull it through the space between the strap and your guitar from behind and plug it into the guitar.
2. What you should have now is the patch cord running from behind firmly seated between the butt of the guitar and your strap and then plugged into your guitars output. Leave a small amount of patch cord hanging to prevent pressure on the guitars output.
3. If you are a little puzzled, go and check out pictures of professionals playing their guitar using patch cords. They all use this method.
* Secure Your Strap. Having to play the remainder of a song holding up your axe because your strap popped off is unacceptable. Strap locks are easy to install using the supplied directions and are relatively cheap. If you are on a budget, though, you can still bolt that strap down.
1. Using a screwdriver, remove the strap buttons on from the guitar. Bring the screws with you to your next destination.
2. Go to a hardware store and buy two thin metal washers that are at least 3/4" in diameter but no larger than 1 1/4". Make sure the whole in the center of the washer is just large enough to allow your screw to pass easily through.
3. With your washers ready, hold the screw and re-insert it back through the strap button.
4. Put the washer on the screw directly on top of the strap button.
5. Now put the end of your strap on the screw directly on top of the washer.
6. Screw this assembly back into your guitar. The strap is now permanently attached and will not come off.
Tips
* Don't depend on any of your other band members having extra supplies if you get caught short. Bring extra everything. That way when your other band members fall short, you are the one to save the day. Here is a basic list of extra items to gear up with:
o 2 spare patch cords
o 2 or 3 spare picks
o 1 or 2 spare 9 volt batteries for any pedals that may die mid set
o 1 extra Guitar lead.
Warnings
* Never be caught without a good chromatic tuner in your guitar bag.
* If you have any questions about adjusting your guitar, go ask a certified luthier or guitar technician for advice.
Any more?
Step I: Clean the Guitar
Nasty, sticky guitars kill performances and strings. Clean your beauty up before the big show.
1. Take off existing strings.
2. Use glass cleaner and a lint free cloth to clean the entire guitar, including the fretboard and back of the neck. This will break down and remove all traces of pre-existing oils and dirt left behind by your previous playing. Be sure to spray the glass cleaner directly on the cloth and not onto the guitar itself to avoid damaging the instrument.
3. Once the guitar is clean and dry, use furniture polish to polish the guitar. Spraying the wax directly on another lint free cloth, coat one side at a time in the wax and allow it to dry for about 30 seconds. Be sure to avoid getting wax on any plastic items such as pick guards or knobs.
4. Wipe off the wax with another lint free cloth and buff until all traces of wax are gone. Continue this process over the entire guitar, paying special detail to the places your body usually comes in contact with the guitar. Doing this, you should be left with a glistening, string less instrument.
Step II: Setting up the Guitar
Gigs are stressful enough. Your guitar battling your fingers through the whole show is a fight you don't need. Make it cooperate.
1. String the guitar. If you don't know how or aren't entirely sure, check out Change Strings on an Electric Guitar
2. Play the guitar for a little while. Do you like how it plays? Being comfortable with your guitar during a gig is the best way to ensure a positive performance. If you have some problems with the way your instrument is playing, set it up yourself by following the method on this helpful page: Set Up a Guitar. When you feel good about the way your guitar plays, you are ready to gig proof your instrument.
Step III: Gig Proofing
Most live disasters happen when you are ill prepared for the rigors of a gig. Here are some tips gleaned from experience:
* Have plenty of picks. No one likes to be the guitarist searching the murky stage for his or her dropped pick while the rest of the band is thrashing on. To avoid this, you should have at least three picks on the ready when you begin a song. There are many devices you can buy to store picks on your guitar.
* Bring a Back Up Guitar. Even though you just changed the strings on your main guitar, try to bring an extra guitar as a back up. Make sure it is in tune and ready to go at a moments notice. The benefits to having a back up ready are countless. Break a string? Grab the back up. Your main guitar going out of tune with one song left? Grab the back up. Using an alternate tuning during the set? Grab the back up tuned to the desired pitch. Electronics in the body of your main guitar kick the bucket? Grab the back up. You get the idea...
* Secure Your Patch Cord. An unsecured patch cord is the number 1 way to damage the output of your guitar and your chances of having a good show. Do yourself a favor and secure it.
1. Take the tip of the patch cord in your right hand and pull it through the space between the strap and your guitar from behind and plug it into the guitar.
2. What you should have now is the patch cord running from behind firmly seated between the butt of the guitar and your strap and then plugged into your guitars output. Leave a small amount of patch cord hanging to prevent pressure on the guitars output.
3. If you are a little puzzled, go and check out pictures of professionals playing their guitar using patch cords. They all use this method.
* Secure Your Strap. Having to play the remainder of a song holding up your axe because your strap popped off is unacceptable. Strap locks are easy to install using the supplied directions and are relatively cheap. If you are on a budget, though, you can still bolt that strap down.
1. Using a screwdriver, remove the strap buttons on from the guitar. Bring the screws with you to your next destination.
2. Go to a hardware store and buy two thin metal washers that are at least 3/4" in diameter but no larger than 1 1/4". Make sure the whole in the center of the washer is just large enough to allow your screw to pass easily through.
3. With your washers ready, hold the screw and re-insert it back through the strap button.
4. Put the washer on the screw directly on top of the strap button.
5. Now put the end of your strap on the screw directly on top of the washer.
6. Screw this assembly back into your guitar. The strap is now permanently attached and will not come off.
Tips
* Don't depend on any of your other band members having extra supplies if you get caught short. Bring extra everything. That way when your other band members fall short, you are the one to save the day. Here is a basic list of extra items to gear up with:
o 2 spare patch cords
o 2 or 3 spare picks
o 1 or 2 spare 9 volt batteries for any pedals that may die mid set
o 1 extra Guitar lead.
Warnings
* Never be caught without a good chromatic tuner in your guitar bag.
* If you have any questions about adjusting your guitar, go ask a certified luthier or guitar technician for advice.
Any more?
