essential kit you need

[joe blow]

never play a gig without these tools
1 a small torch-some places are so dark you can't fix anything on your guitar
2 spare power lead for your amp
3 guitar leads
4 a tuner-how many times does your guitar go out of tune

[BlaZinChoPs]

Just what is a guitar lead? Also, wouldn't a flashlight and a soldering iron be more prudent?

Chaiyz

[BlaZinChoPs]

Oh, and just an observation, but if you can't tune up without a tuner, should you be gigging in the first place?

Chaiyz

[zappatude]

BlaZin that shot about tuning hurts me. I sure don't have perfect pitch.

[StoneDragon]

Having seen a lot of amateur acts standing onstage tuning their guitars between songs... I second having a tuner as essential. Onstage isn't a place to be tuning... it's a place to be playing and entertaining.

[joe blow]

From experience some gigs have extremes of temperature and believe me you cannot keep a guitar in tune when cold and warmth warp the neck.In this case a tuner is essential.

[BlaZinChoPs]

Ok, that sounds right. My bag. Tuners are always a good idea I guess.
So, what are leads anyway. Cable leads?

Chaiyz

[StoneDragon]

Lead = an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device... in other words your guitar cable or the power cord for your amp.

[12floz]

ahhh chord..... those fancy words are nothing but confusing!

[BILURSAG]

Duct tape.

[bugman]

This is probably obvious...but lots of extra picks.

[DoubleO]

This is probably obvious...but lots of extra picks.
Oh yeah! I was once just sitting around and was chewing on a pick (don't ask why... I just like to hold a pick on my mouth when I'm bored) and all of a sudden I SWALLOED THE PICK! Totally swallowed it! It showed up a few hours later out the other end, but I don't chew on picks any longer.

[bubinga]

please don't tell me you used the pick again.......

[Pendito]

Now there is cool bizz idea ... Let's get Frank Zappa to swallow a couple hundred picks. If he can do things to guitars on stage, why not? Anyway we sell them as "Zappa recycled picks" at 10,000% of their normal price... Who needs to make music with ideas like this?

[lostboy]

Hi, I'm new to these boards and just read this thread, I just wanted to add that Mr. Zappa is no longer with us so using him to increase the resale value of your picks is a little out of the question.

[BrettV]

potholders to get that HOOOOTT burnt out tube outta there so you can throw in some quick fix ones ... oh yeah .. and extra tubes .. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

A good cable tester can be a life saver, as well ..

-tk

[Vinnie]

DUCT TAPE, DUCT TAPE, DUCT TAPE. You can use the tape for when your guitar gets out of tune during a song for the third time, you get ******, and slam it against the stage. Alas, duct tape cab put it back together...http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

--Vinnie--

[Power_13]

Wouldn't it be easier to tune the guitars up, leave them on the stage for a few minutes, retune them then leave them for ten minte or so before the gig starts? That way, any effects the difference in temperature has on the guitar's tuning stability will be done while there's still time to easily adjust it, rather than halfway through the first song.

Maybe I'm just stating the obvious http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif I'll be quiet now.

[marcosoto]

Have to say, you really need to have some songs, now that really is essential.

Nothing more embarrassing than getting on stage and forgetting to pack your songs, same goes for chords, or at least the right chords. Not just any old chords, you need them to match up with the songs.

You think I'm joking? You try gigging without them!

[Shibby]

ummm nobody mentioned extra strings yet...bum dee bum dee booo


http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/hammerhead.gif

[Jagstang666]

How about a peg winder?? If you break a string I'm pretty sure you wanna get it on there as fast as possible. OR a backup guitar, knowing a new string will go out of tune real easy.

[dmt]

an amp.

[Thea]

yourself, and leave your stage fright home.
i thought the duct tape was for taping the audience to their seats so they wouldnt leave, and tape their mouths shut so they couldnt say you sucked http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif

[mojojojo]

I wouldn't even think about showing up for a gig without extra strings and a backup guitar or two. Imagine breaking an E string and having to change it onstage between songs.... So much easier to just grab another guitar...

[Jagstang666]

Yeah, definetly.

[hardstarter]

anyone think of extra guitar in case something goes horribly bad w/ your guitar?

[hardstarter]

maybe an extra guitar in case something horribly bad goes wrong with your main guitar?

[hardstarter]

extra guitar? in case something really bad happens.

[hardstarter]

o crap i didnt see second page though my reply wasnt working, sorry for mega tripple post. http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/hammerhead.gif

[MikeP]

I always have a spare guitar, spare strings, a torch (flashlight to you in the US), peg winder, spare cables, spare batteries or power leads for pedals and a tuner. Those people who think tuning up before hand and then adjusting have obviously never played under hot lights or outdoors or with new strings. Tuning by ear is a bad idea as not only does it it annoy the audience but as the night goes on your ears get tired and it gets more and more difficult to tune to other instruments.

[The Canary]

Not necessarily. If you've been playing guitar for so long the pitch of each string is second nature to you, go for it. What Ive seen a lot, is you have 2/3 guitars, and 1 guitar is used for a couple of songs, then you pass it to your personal technician, and pick up another guitar, while the technician tunes the other one, etc etc.

[bluesknowledge]

The canary is right find a guitar tech it is much easier to play with a tech tuning your guitars. Also they can fix your guitars and tune them while your playing with another guitar. problems solved.

[Shibby]

yeah, but having a guitar tech is just one more person u gotta split the $$ with.

[Walt Flannagan's dog]

Yeah, apparently the original poster is Enlgish. Torch=flashlight, lead=cable, etc.

Anyway, if you've got $20 and gig regularly, I'd suggest one of these.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/332b/

Very small, very bright and has a replacable battery.

I keep mine on my keychain and it's saved my butt on quite a few occasions.

It's especially good for those times when something comes unplugged from inside a rack during transit and you've got to get in there and hook it back up.

[SKEETER]

BlaZinChoPs , I have excellent hearing, and can set the intonation on a guitar by ear, but no ear is as close as tuners are, bands sound 120% better if everyone is tuned to the same tuner...........

[MonsterZero]

How about a couple of extra 9V batteries for the pedals? A power strip, picks, diagonal pliers, electrical tape, allen wrenches...

[MonsterZero]

And, just out of curiosity, if someone were to go out of tune in the middle of a song, it happens to everyone at one point, are they supposed to stop the song, go off stage, tune, return to the stage, and finish the song? There is nothing wrong with tuning onstage if need be. I wouldn't recommend doing the initial tuning onstage, but any glitches during a performance are acceptable.

[Shibby]

don't forget your G string!

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/tongue.gif

[axmurderer]

check out this gadget:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/sid=040507124156205144224156936277/g=home/search/detail/base_id/112456

I ordered one and just got it. Not bad for 20 bucks i guess

[Jagstang666]

Yeah that would be a pretty good idea.

[Etingi]

I guess it's not essential, but before my first gig I'm going to go buy some cheapo First Act guitar, use it for the last song, then destroy it or set it on fire Hendrix style.

[ModestCargo]

Oh, and just an observation, but if you can't tune up without a tuner, should you be gigging in the first place?

Chaiyz
That's rediculous. You want to be in tune not only with yourself but with the rest of the band. The easiest way to achieve this is with an electronic tuner.

BlaZin that shot about tuning hurts me. I sure don't have perfect pitch.
That is also rediculous. You don't need perfect pitch to tune your gutiar off a string that's already in tune, or tune a string to another instrument such as a bass or keyboards. Play the 5th fret on your E, then an open A. If they are out, you will hear that sound wave "waa waa" thing. The faster it is, the more out you are.

[SG_74]

...a bloody good soundman lol

[gtrhrcane]

I have a tool box that neatly keeps and holds all and anything I might need. There's a spot for everything in there, picks, slide, capo, strings, pedals, cords, tools, etc. It was only $15 and I urge you to get one. It helps keep things organized, and when you jam or gig, just bring it with you.

[supercobra]

Oh, and just an observation, but if you can't tune up without a tuner, should you be gigging in the first place?

Chaiyz

BS. Regardless of your command of pitch, a tuner is essential if you want to make quick adjustments to correct pitch without subjecting your audience to the sound of tuning.

I have a pretty good ear, but I use a tuner, about every third song or so.

[supercobra]

BTW, I strongly recommend the Boss MU2 tuner. I use it as the master power supply for my pedal board.

[Plstrcast]

Torch = Flashlight, I know, those English have a language all their own..

[crowbarr]

I know, those English have a language all their own..

yes which we invented and you destroyed :p

another piece of kit always needed is water, seriously! all you guys know how hot stages are and if ya don't have water for a whole set then your gonna suffer or look mighty stupid when you ask someone to bring a drink :rolleye:

[Chelsthom]

Are groupies opional, or a must?????????????????????

[Pick_Master]

what do you really need on a multi tool for guitaring?