Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I only play in church, and you would THINK you couldn't have a safer gig!

We've had mikes, monitors & guitars stolen right out of the Sanctuary.

PRIOR to me owning my CS, I had a "sweet old church lady" wonder into the band area after the service, trip on my cable and my Yamaha fell forward (stand and all) in slow motion, far from my reach. The sickening CRACK sound that followed cost me a neck replacement. What can you say to a sweet old woman who wondered where she shouldn't have been?

I've had more damage from fellow band mates than anyone else!

You just never know. I only play my CS now when I'm POSITIVE I'll have plenty of elbow room...which isn't very often anymore!

For some reason I just don't like my Rics getting "road wear" on them. Each one of mine is special is some way and I hate getting them dinged up. I have taken my Shadow out and my turquoise 4003 (which got really scratched up because I was wearing a belt) but I don't do it anymore. When I gig I use a MM Sterling for bass and a LP and Strat for guitars. Obviously not cheap instruments but not as dear to me as my Rics. Not sure why but that's the way it is.

Many of these stories just go to prove that accidents can happen ANY where at ANY time & in ANY place! Few seem to happen in the rough old dives that you might expect it to happen!

So perhaps we should carry on trying to develop our 'signature' sound, regardless of when or where we play & not to compromise all that we've worked to achieve.

I used your mic as a barrier at your gigs, Tony..... the point that I wouldn't go beyond. Clumsy me with half a dozen jars under my belt is a disaster zone!

Your 'signature sound' is awesome, BTW!

I think the biggest deterrent is for big name touring acts with others handling the gear & providing security for it. For us lesser mortals, we still maintain very close personal contact with our instruments, so it at least feels much safer.

I look at it like this: Most people wouldn't drive a nice 1957 Chevy on a salty road in the dead of winter, so why should anyone be expected to take a valuable guitar to a bar gig where it stands a good chance of getting damaged or stolen?

What sort of valuable gtr are we on about? If we're talking about old fragile gtrs, or ultra rare ones, then that's sensible....but if we're just talking about stock 360's, V series, Gretches, Les Pauls etc etc, then as a muso, surely these are OK to play, despite the fact that they are relatively expensive gtrs. You can't sacrifice your sound.....can you?

Thankyou Howard!

What I meant was, some people in some earlier posts were talking about gigging with vintage guitars, which is something I personally wouldn't recommend. It only takes one idiot to wander where they shouldn't be to bump into your guitar stand and knock your prize to the floor.
As for stock late-model or re-issue Ricks, Gibsons, Fenders and the like, I think its perfectly fine and possibly even recommended that these be taken to gigs. I would think that at least a small part of the reason vintage re-issues exist in the first place is to give the working musician something to gig with without possibly destroying the value of an original if something unfortunate should happen.

"It only takes one idiot to wander where they shouldn't be to bump into your guitar stand and knock your prize to the floor"

Tell that to this person.

i always take my 4002mg birdseye out on gigs.........and i always stand guard over it.............the guy in the above pic.............is the same size as me.........