Gig Survival Kit

Shaun Swanson · Post by **Shaun Swanson** » 16 Oct 2009 10:03 am

Hello,

I’m new to the forum and kind of new to PSG. But, I’ve already been invited to join a band. Besides my guitar, volume pedal and amp, what equipment do I need to have to gig with? I’ve got extra strings, ear plugs, finger picks, and cables on my list but I’m sure I’m missing some things. Thanks!

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 16 Oct 2009 10:38 am

we've gone over this if you check the archives, but heck, here we go again. it's good info for those not yet acclimated to the battlefield.

a bar or two, of course. maybe an extra volume pedal, but at least an extra string for pot pedals.
wire cutters and needlenose are handy. what makes me most comfortable is to have a good selection of small tools like allen wrenches , phillips and regular small screwdrivers and a mini crescent.
extra picks..

sounds like lots of junk but really doesn't take up too much room in a pakaseat. the more backup you have it seems, the less you will need any of it. i've carried this stuff for 30 years or more and very seldom need most of it. small wire cutters and string winder are the main thing for a quick string replacement.

Jim Eaton · Post by **Jim Eaton** » 16 Oct 2009 11:01 am

A flashlight with good batteries!!!!
JE:-)>

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 16 Oct 2009 11:05 am

In your pack seat I find it's handy to have a cable tester, spare tuning wrench, small flash light, and some asprin.

Geo

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 16 Oct 2009 11:09 am

If you dont have a pac-a-seat get one. I also carry extra cables and strings in addition to everything else already mentioned. I also have allergy pills in mine as sleeping in moldy vans and on peoples floors wreaks havoc on my sinuses.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 16 Oct 2009 11:54 am

Extra picks and bar..

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 16 Oct 2009 11:54 am

Hemostats

JW

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 16 Oct 2009 12:08 pm

Chris mentioned a volume pedal,you NEVER know when they will go out,no matter how new or expensive they are. Only had this happen to me one time in the middle of the first set,that extra pedal saved my butt that night.I don't have room in my seat for it[the seat is packed full] We have several plastic tubs we store mikes,pa cables etc,I just keep an extra pedal in one of those. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 16 Oct 2009 12:19 pm

Ditto what Charles said! Extra volume pedal!

Michael Strauss · Post by **Michael Strauss** » 16 Oct 2009 2:28 pm

Extra batteries for everything. Duct tape.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 16 Oct 2009 3:16 pm

Ditto to everything so far. As a tube amp guy, I always carry a couple of 12AX7s and 6L6s. And,,, I have a pretty complete tool kit in the trunk of my car. Two VPs fur shure!

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 16 Oct 2009 4:16 pm

I also carry a heavy duty 25' extension cord with an adapter that plugs into the outlet end and gives you five places to plug in. One for my amp, one for my Hilton pedal, three for what ever... You never know how far from an outlet you will be set up. I have a heavy towel that I wrap my Hilton pedal in so it doesn't bang around in the pack-a-seat...

Shane Glover · Post by **Shane Glover** » 16 Oct 2009 5:05 pm

Don't forget your tuner and for me my tuning chart !!!

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 16 Oct 2009 6:31 pm

If you need ear plugs somebody is playing too loud!!!

You can perform without a volume pedal pretty easily. Been there, done that. No one, probably not even the people in the band, will notice the difference...

Some people here said take a spare bar, but anybody who loses a bar is not smart enough to play pedal steel and should stay home. After all, they don't break when you drop them, do they?

If your amp melts down, you can always play through the PA. It won't sound the same, but just crank the gain and you'll get through the night.

All you really need to take is spare strings, an extra guitar cord, and your pedal tuning wrench. I always take an electronic tuner because I don't like the audience to hear me tuning...

Somebody said allen wrenches, but are you really going to be fixing your steel on stage? I've never had a knee lever fall off during a gig, myself, and I've seen some pretty strange things go wrong in the last 45 years...

The only other things I take are some good food and a bottle of good wine, because most bars and nightclubs have lousy food and lousy wine. The good food is for sobering up with before you drive home...

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 16 Oct 2009 6:33 pm

I just added ear plugs and Alka-Seltzer Plus to my kit.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 16 Oct 2009 7:16 pm

Something to protect yourself when you loading out late after the gig in dark parking lots etc. You think I am kidding, but I am not. I bet if the truth were known on this forum there are lot's of guys packing more than guitars when out gigging.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 16 Oct 2009 7:49 pm

Bill,Right you are.

Joe Naylor · Post by **Joe Naylor** » 16 Oct 2009 7:53 pm

Stu what about a built in light in the steelseat????

Like a refrigerator --just thinkin' (on the forum rather than OUT LOUD)

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 17 Oct 2009 5:30 am

[quote="Barry Hyman"]

Some people here said take a spare bar, but anybody who loses a bar is not smart enough to play pedal steel and should stay home. After all, they don't break when you drop them, do they?
quote]
I have had a bar go missing during the break. I assure you I am both smart enough and skilled enough play. You should think before handing out insults now and then.
Hook

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 17 Oct 2009 5:37 am

extra cellphone (one you can rely on.....

)

Nathan Golub · Post by **Nathan Golub** » 17 Oct 2009 6:46 am

Larry Jamieson wrote:I also carry a heavy duty 25' extension cord with an adapter that plugs into the outlet end and gives you five places to plug in. One for my amp, one for my Hilton pedal, three for what ever... You never know how far from an outlet you will be set up.

That's an important one. I bought a few 8' black extension cords with three outlets on them, each one stays in the back of each of my amps. Even if I forget to bring a longer extension cord these come in handy.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 17 Oct 2009 8:13 am

yeah barry..and you're wrong about the red wine too...you should take whiskey!

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 17 Oct 2009 10:52 am

Sorry, Hook. I still say it is hard to lose a bar, but it didn't occur to me that one might get stolen. Did some girl put it in her pants to take home? There are not a lot of thieves up in this neck of the woods...

But you've got to admit, actually losing one would be dumb, no?

Right about the extension cord and power strip. I always take those in my survival kit too, but forgot to mention them. And a seat -- I've played many a place that didn't have a decent seat...

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 17 Oct 2009 12:18 pm

I always bring a rag to wipe my hands with between tunes. Cause you gotta wash your hands and then they get sweaty of course. A pack seat will simplify a lot of stuff like remembering everything and sitting at the right hight. -- I'd ditch the earplugs, unless your ears hurt. Playing psg live requires good listening. i.e. when to hang back, play out, tune up. It ain't like playing any other instrument, & the most important thing you've got is your ears. --- Break a KL

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 17 Oct 2009 5:39 pm

Don't forget a 357 Magnum Smith& Wesson revolver. Jody.

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