Gear

[ericcoleman]

mai_ling was talking in her LJ about what she takes with her to play a gig. It totals about 130 lbs. Ouch.

Then I started thinking ... which always goes badly for everyone around me

In theory, to play a show I need one guitar, a cord and a DI box, and maybe, if I am smart, a box of CDs to sell. I have used my PA twice in the last year (maybe three).

Do I stick to this? No ... I don't. Friggin wormquartet shows up with a Discman and he's ready to go. What do I do now ???

I take at least two guitars, for different tunings. Now that there are songs on the new CD that are on the 12 string, I feel that I need to take that occasionally. I'm working with my PODxt so I can control my stage sound better, which means another bag of gear. So, to play a show in an optimum way ...

Three guitars, in cases (well yeah)
Two boxes of CDs, just cause they look good in the boxes.
A bag with the PODxt, the pedal board for it, a small mike stand to put it on.
And, if I need it, my little, although not terribly portable, PA.

What is wrong with me?

Comments

whine, whine...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

let me see...at a typical gig (either convention or muggle-based), I typically take:
1 6-string
1 12-string
1 76 note keyboard
1 Mackie 14x2 mixer
2 guitar stands
1 piano stand
1 music stand
1 bag o' crap (music, strings, business cards)
1 anvil case of mics, cables, tools
1 California Blonde amp
1 accordion

For larger venues, I have another suitcase for cables (mic, speaker, and power), a small 19" rack with effects boxes, another rack with a QSC power amp, a pair of monitors, and a single Bose 802 speaker.

And if I decide to go midi backup, I'll need a second keyboard (as a sound module) and the MC 50 sequencer.

And, of course, some sort of carrier for CDs, though that can be pretty small...

Excuse me--were you complaining about something?

Re: whine, whine...

[ericcoleman]

Maybe I should type slower ...

I need one guitar, a cord and a DI (and sometimes not the latter two) to do a show. That is what is necessary ... what wasn't clear ???

geeze, these filkers ...

Re: whine, whine...

[mofilker.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, but I quote:
********
I take at least two guitars, for different tunings. Now that there are songs on the new CD that are on the 12 string, I feel that I need to take that occasionally. I'm working with my PODxt so I can control my stage sound better, which means another bag of gear. So, to play a show in an optimum way ...

Three guitars, in cases (well yeah)
Two boxes of CDs, just cause they look good in the boxes.
A bag with the PODxt, the pedal board for it, a small mike stand to put it on.
And, if I need it, my little, although not terribly portable, PA.

********
I thought that was clear enough. :)

I could also pare things to the minimum with a single guitar. It's just that I like variety. Besides, when my hand cramps up it's good to have alternative instruments.