Do you have gear that is sort of dictated by your band’s style that you would move on otherwise?

Nerine

Slightly more multifaceted, but the title is already an awkward one. 

There’s some gear I own specifically because it (both) does what I need it to do in general and specifically works really well for certain projects I’m in. 

Sometimes it’s annoying though. 

Like, (as a basic example) I really fancy getting a Two-Rock again, but it’d probably mean (reluctantly) selling my SLO (which I really really love and works perfectly for my Lizzy tribute and my 80’s hair rock band) and the Two-Rock, whilst being great, just wouldn’t work as well in those bands and so it’s very difficult to justify it. Although I’d definitely enjoy it at home and I’d maybe try it for the Lizzy stuff. 

Same with some guitars. I’d occasionally jones for a Tyler, but it’d likely mean offing my R8 and then what the hell am I gonna play in Lizzy? A Strat-Style anything isn’t going to look right. 

The projects seem to dictate my gear choices, and whilst that isn’t unusual, for me it can sometimes create a bit of cognitive dissonance when my personal tastes change, even though my musical projects do not. 

Anyone else experience that kind of push pull situation?? 

Like, if I wasn’t in bands, I’d probably own slightly different stuff even though I absolutely love aforementioned R8 and SLO. 

Ultimately we know the answer is just buy more stuff and fuck the consequences, but y’know… 

impmann

Nerine said:

Same with some guitars. I’d occasionally jones for a Tyler, but it’d likely mean offing my R8 and then what the hell am I gonna play in Lizzy? A Strat-Style anything isn’t going to look right. 

 

I know what you mean, but Scott has used a Strat type instrument a few times (I seem to remember him saying his back isn't what it was)...

Doulin

Yes absolutely. I also find it changes my playing style.
But I kinda like that fact. I can always buy the guitar I want just for me at a later date when I havent got a good project on.
I wouldnt make that decision however if it were a project that I wasnt 100% into. Then its a take me is I come or find someone else kind of thing.

fretmeister

I've never cared about the look / shape of a guitar. It's either comfy and sounds right for me or it doesn't.

I suppose I might if I was in a proper tribute band where everything had to be right from the outfits, to hair, to guitars etc, but other than that it's not important to me.

I've never changed my rig for a band, I've just used what I like, and I don't tone chase even for the most famous of songs. I'm playing a cover song, I'm not trying to be the original. So if the original was played on a Fender amp then I'm still going to be using a Marshall.

Other than a tribute situation I want to be able to interpret not just copy.

Winny_Pooh

Not really for current gear, but it means I hang onto old gear like two steel string acoustics, a lap slide & 12 string "just in case" of the unlikely event that I might be in a band again and recording.

timmypix

I mean, that's to be expected, right? Instruments are tools for a job. so that dictates you use the tools that fit the jobs you need them to do. 

It's the stuff I like owning but that doesn't get used for week-to-week music-making that feels like it should be the stuff I ought to consider moving on. Being out of bands for a bit saw me buy far more guitars than I reasonably need. Now I'm getting back into it again and finding I only use two or three of them for those specific projects.

mrkb

I’m hoping someone is going to admit to still owning their school outfit for their AC/DC cover band…..

Loobs

Yes, I definitely have certain guitars that work better for certain projects and were acquired with those projects in mind, but thinking about it, most of what I have is actually pretty versatile. 

ElectricXII

I've got some gear that I don't use in our covers band. For example, I love fuzz pedals, but they don't work well in our two guitar covers band, but I wouldn't say that in general my gear is dictated by the stuff we play.

Lestratcaster

Yes I've got a few guitar setup in drop tunings with higher output pickups that I only use for certain styles. Unfortunately l don't play in the bands associated with this style and only really use it with 1 learner when teaching. I still keep them though and enjoy playing them as I'll always like that genre. They've a good run.

Danny1969

I've never been into gear really other than preferring valve amps over SS. I was in a Thin Lizzy tribute but I used a Fender Twin or a Blackstar HT5, not a Marshall. Despite the fact I had a Marshall. 

I'm in 4 gigging  bands currently and 3 of the are covered with a Tele, pedals and a Hotrod. The other band, the indie eighties band is covered with a Strat, pedals and a Hotrod. 

For me 95% is copying the phrasing, attitude and melodic path of the material. The other 5% is gear but I'm not bothered enough by that to use certain gear. I played in a Rock a billy band for 3 years and they wanted me to get a Gretch, I just used the Telecaster. 

26.2

Danny1969 said:

I've never been into gear really other than preferring valve amps over SS. I was in a Thin Lizzy tribute but I used a Fender Twin or a Blackstar HT5, not a Marshall. Despite the fact I had a Marshall. 

I'm in 4 gigging  bands currently and 3 of the are covered with a Tele, pedals and a Hotrod. The other band, the indie eighties band is covered with a Strat, pedals and a Hotrod. 

For me 95% is copying the phrasing, attitude and melodic path of the material. The other 5% is gear but I'm not bothered enough by that to use certain gear. I played in a Rock a billy band for 3 years and they wanted me to get a Gretch, I just used the Telecaster. 

Teles are GREAT for Rockabilly. 

John_P

I hate Gibson SG’s.    If my ac/dc tribute splits up there will be two for sale the following day…

TTBZ

Kind of the opposite, I sold an LTD eclipse because it felt too metal to be playing in a cover band. Said band then collapsed and I really wish I held onto it as a guitar to keep in drop c!

borntohang

mrkb said:

I’m hoping someone is going to admit to still owning their school outfit for their AC/DC cover band…..

If it counts I do have a box full of spare energy domes and various other costume bits which will be redundant but probably mildly profitable on the secondhand fan market if my Devo thing ever stops. 

ScreamingDave

John_P said:

I hate Gibson SG’s.    If my ac/dc tribute splits up there will be two for sale the following day…

Burn the heretic!!!

ScreamingDave

I have a few pedals on my board that I rarely use atm, like a Boss DD-3, for example, but they stay there because I’m sure I will need it at some point. Some of them don’t get used because, being sole guitarist and vocalist, I just clean forget to kick them in when I’m up to my ears in shit and bullets. 

Having said that, we’re the kind of covers band that does stuff our way, so I use the gear I love to make music. If the original track was played on a Tele, well I figure that’s only because the original guitarist hadn’t seen the light yet regarding SGs! 

Roland

Image isn’t a big part of the bands I’ve played in. However there are two equipment decisions influenced by being in a covers band playing in small venues. 

Tonight is a big social club with raised stage, but the floor space is little more than we will get in a small pub. To avoid clouting our singer across the face I use headless guitars. It’s not the only reason. Low weight helps too, but the six inches saved makes a big difference. 

The other decision is to use acoustic guitar simulation. There are several songs in our set which benefit from an acoustic guitar sound, but there’s no way I’m carrying a fragile instrument into a rowdy pub, or EQing out the inevitable feedback. Thankfully the AxeFX gives me an excellent acoustic simulation, whilst allowing me to switch back to electric with one step. 

digitalkettle

mrkb said:

I’m hoping someone is going to admit to still owning their school outfit for their AC/DC cover band…..

If my 'DC band ever splits up, I look forward to reclaiming the garage space when I shift the cannons, giant inflatable 'Rosie', and the 1200kg bronze bell.

Nerine

digitalkettle said:

mrkb said:

I’m hoping someone is going to admit to still owning their school outfit for their AC/DC cover band…..

If my 'DC band ever splits up, I look forward to reclaiming the garage space when I shift the cannons, giant inflatable 'Rosie', and the 1200kg bronze bell.

@digitalkettle which trib are you in, man? It’s likely I’ve seen you! 

digitalkettle

Nerine said:

digitalkettle said:

mrkb said:

I’m hoping someone is going to admit to still owning their school outfit for their AC/DC cover band…..

If my 'DC band ever splits up, I look forward to reclaiming the garage space when I shift the cannons, giant inflatable 'Rosie', and the 1200kg bronze bell.

@digitalkettle which trib are you in, man? It’s likely I’ve seen you! 

It’s the one with the cannons, etc, etc

 No, not really…we’re a ‘spit & sawdust’ tribute to the Bon era…Lincolnshire-based…called ‘Gone Shootin’