Too Good To Play?

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:27 am

I have heard from a number of artists that they do not take their Rickenbacker guitars on the road as they are afraid that they will get damaged.

As I am a "player" and not a collector I find this difficult to appreciate. While I certainly don't want any of my instruments to be damaged, what is the point of having the sound you want without being able to pass it on to your audience?

What do you think?

telebob · Post by **telebob** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:00 am

I have a couple of "collectible" guitars and gig them regularly. When someone sees what I'm playing and knows what it is, they get all "dude! you take that out of the house?!" and I'm like, yeah, what should I do, worship it? Put it in a hermetically sealed sealed case and back fill it with nitrogen for my retirement?

I have a 1955 Les Paul Custom that will be back from restoration this week. You know that guitar is going to see some action!

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:57 am

I couldn't play a gig without my 350 or 660/12! Nothing else gets "that" sound. And no guitar I own, collector or not, is nearly as flexible tonally as that 350.

I do take my '69 LP out to gig only rarely, but simply because it is showing an aging, unreliable temper and needs a few cleanings and adjustments that I haven't got around to doing yet. It will be joining the Rics this winter.

They are all meant to be played as well as seen IMO. Sharing the voices of our guitars with fellow music enthusiasts is really what it is all about, no?

Besides, nothing beats the "what kind of guitar is THAT?" comments afterwards!

...Dean

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:05 am

You just have to be mindful of where it is you're playing. Most places are pretty secure, & the rowdy places are where you'd bring an old beater, rather than something really special.

Outdoor gigs when the weather has a possibility of becoming threatening are not where you'd bring a 1966 4005 or a Capri, etc.
It just takes common sense. It's also a possibility that the house could burn down while you're away.
There is no absolute certainty in life but one.
I say enjoy them while you can, because they were built to be played & someday someone else WILL play them.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:22 am

Actually, when I considered the question posed I realised that most the lumps and bumps that my guitars have endured have come as a result of rehearsals.

I don't play out anymore but back when I did, I always took my Rickenbackers on the road.

If I were to play clubs etc today I would be very careful that they were put away in their cases between sets.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:50 am

Lucky was I to see my two main Rics (360V64 and 1997SPC/VB) falling towards the blacktop at an outdoor gig in 2004. I dove like Indiana Jones to save them. Some clod walking through the 'stage' area bumped them -and it was a hit and run!

Still I cannot imagine NOT taking my Rics with me when I play. I would feel a complete charlatan if I were out there trying to coax Ric sounds out of some other instrument while my guitars were at home.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:55 am

What Kevin said. If it's an outdoor, open air fest where people live in tents and guitars are sometimes used as weapons by those who are too drunk and want to fight, then i wouldn't be bringing a guitar that costs more than $50-$75 (or anything i would regret, for that matter). I remember a guy who brought a "concert" Cremona to one of those fests... he took good care of it, but when he just turned his back to it, it disappeared in a blink of an eye & nobody knew how it happened. If it's an in-doors event, then it depends on the place (far from home & lots of drinking in there & i'll have to go back home alone late = i won't be bringing anything pricey or, in general, anything i'd regret parting with).

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:00 am

Very well said Mr. Cole....my thoughts also!

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:04 am

Location is everything.

"Diamond Jim's" in beautiful downtown Capac, where the waitresses are also bouncers, I only bring the good old Peavey Foundation bass and 300 Combo.

It has caught on fire while we were there. The waitresses are darn good firefighters as well.

Come to think of it, I think it has burned down. Have not been there for a long time, ever since they removed the chicken wire.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:10 am

When I got my 4005, I was really excited at the prospect of gigging it all the time. It sounded and played great and fit well with the music.

I gigged it two or three times, and then decided I HAD to get something I didn't care about to bring to gigs.

While setting up, between sets, and while breaking everything down after, I couldn't leave it alone. It was paranoia at it's worst. Even locked away in my car it was on my mind. I was terrified of their being some dude in the audience who knew what it was...and had sticky fingers. I'm usually playing in dive bars in really bad neighborhoods. I just don't trust people.

It's not bumps and bruises i'm worried about, it's theft, plain and simple.

If the Fender Precision i've been using lately got stolen, i'd be bummed that I was out some cash, but that's it. If the 4005, or god forbid my 4003 Dale project bass was stolen, I would be devastated.

I'll sacrifice my sound live to make sure the instruments I care about stay in my posession.

steambyrd · Post by **steambyrd** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:25 am

I agree with John; my 370/12 RM has just gotten too valuable to take to bar gigs with small dance floors, where people routinely bump my mic stand into my mouth (thank God for foam windscreens!), and trip over my guitar stands. I was lucky enough to get a good deal on a used 360/12 that has taken the 370's place live. The 370 will still be played at home and recording, but that is it.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:49 am

It depends on the instrument, of course, and where it sits in your collection.

My band played our record release show last Saturday. It was in a familiar venue in our home town, we knew the staff, we knew the other bands on the bill, etc so we didn't mind leaving our stuff unguarded while we grabbed some food elsewhere for an hour or so. But even then, I thought about our gear sitting all alone every few minutes during dinner.

The weekend before, we were on a mini-tour of the east coast. We didn't take our Ricks with us - in fact, we borrowed instruments for most gigs. This had some to do with the airlines regularly (mis)handling musical instruments, and the brevity of our tour vs. the possibility of lost baggage. But it also had to do with not knowing neighborhoods, clubs, where we were staying, how we were getting around, and so forth. Just wasn't worth the risk. As it turned out, it probably would have been fine. But we didn't know that going in. And obviously, we checked with the other bands in advance, and they said we could use their stuff.

It's a tough call though. I do think it's important to actually play your instrument, and take it with you, because it creates a better relationship with your instrument. But you just have to use your best judgement.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:08 am

Speaking personaly & with no disrespect to any previous post, but if you're a musician, then you use the gtr that gives you the sound you want, regardless of where you are playing & what gtr it is. Your sound is your trademark, something that you can't live without. If you are concerned about your safety at the gig & that of your equipment...then don't take it in the first place!

I couldn't subject my Marshall to anything other than good vibes

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:19 am

Hmm. Interesting point, Tony. While i do not pretend to be a musician, must say that the most important thing to me, or my "trademark", is the songs, the delivery (singing - heh-heh and playing/strumming - heh-heh-heh - style), and the overall atmosphere. In other words, my trademark is what comes out of my throat - both words and screams - and the feeling around, not the gear.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:51 am

I know where you're coming from Sheena, but pro players take great pride in their sound & I'm no exception. You work extremely hard to get a great gtr sound & ANY compromise is just a step backwards! Otherwise, we might all just as well buy Squire Strats & be done with it.....