Crazy Guitar Superstitions

usedtobe

On the rare occasions that I had a really good game (football) I would try to do everything the same, next time I played. Never worked though, as the great games were invariably followed by a total 'mare! No other superstitions, at all.

Phil_aka_Pip

Gassage said:

I have a thing about straps and each of my guitars has a strap it 'owns' and if I put that strap on another guitar it's bad luck

And, playing live I always play on left hand side (stage right from audience)

Each of my guitars has its own strap and plastic spring-loaded pick holder.

I believe your preferred playing position is known officially "stage-left", the reference being from the performer's point of view. I also prefer stage-left. I always wear black (could be vest, T-shirt, polo shirt, jumper whatever) but it's always black.

I've carried an ECC83 that went microphonic, in the right pocket of my sheepskin jacket for so long that it's almost become a talisman that I can't do without.  

Paul_C

I'm not aware of any superstitions whatsoever, there are occasionally ways of doing things I might prefer, but nothing that I have to do because it is or isn't lucky. 

Voxman

randomhandclaps said:

I don't believe is superstitious clap-trap.  I believe that as long as I am good then God will take care of everything.

LOL - Of course it's not whether you believe in God...it's whether God believes in you!  >:D<

Fuzzdog

In one of my old bands, the keyboardist had a little lamp thing (essentially a bare 240v bulb on a cable) which he used to illuminate his sheet music.  The bulb blew once, and the only thing he had to replace it with was a red bulb - utterly useless for reading by, but we had the best gig we ever had.  Ever since that, we'd have that red bulb plugged in somewhere on stage as some sort of good luck charm.

One night, we forgot to pack the bulb with the gear - we had the worst gig ever.  My amp died, the keyboards died, the drummer broke his snare, and we played like complete crap.

I remember that at one gig after that, one of us drove about 10 miles home purely to fetch the bulb after we forgot it again, as we dreaded performing without it.  Spookily, after we called it a day, we all got together for one final gig, and right at the end as we were playing our final chord, the red bulb blew, never to illuminate again. :-O

Flink_Poyd

I'm not consciously superstitious apart from the things like fingers crossed, touch wood etc which is more of a learned habit that superstition. I've walked under ladders, stepped on cracks and whatever it is about black cats bringing bad luck, just a load of nonsense to me and in the same league as horoscopes. Now if you believe in it that's a different kettle of monkeys.

Phil_aka_Pip

I never walk under a black cat

scrumhalf

When I used to play football the order of putting kit on was in part governed by how cold the dressing room was. I preferred to put my shirt on first but if the room was freezing cold then I wouldn't get my coat off for ages.

I used to jam occasionally with a drummer who always put an open guide book to Afghanistan in front of his kit.

Nerine

Actually, I do always pretty much have the drummer to my right.

Phil_aka_Pip

Nerine said:

Actually, I do always pretty much have the drummer to my right.

I think snare & hat in the right ear isn't quite as bad as ride in the left

HAL9000

For me it's always shirt first, then jacket, and finally guitar. Never the other way around.

richardhomer

Not so much a superstition - more a pet-hate; other people playing my guitars. Absolutely cannot bear it in any way, shape or form.

Obviously it's okay for me to play other people's guitars, as I'm very careful with them....

Also I'm with @Gassage - each has its own strap.

Sassafras

HAL9000 said:

For me it's always shirt first, then jacket, and finally guitar. Never the other way around.

What about your trousers?

mike_l

Sassafras said:

HAL9000 said:

For me it's always shirt first, then jacket, and finally guitar. Never the other way around.

What about your trousers?

Don't be silly, no one could see the elephant trunk thong if he wore trousers.

HAL9000

Sassafras;520987" said:

HAL9000 said:

For me it's always shirt first, then jacket, and finally guitar. Never the other way around.





What about your trousers?

Bugger! Knew I'd forgotten something.

Niallmo

I have to get the right strap for the guitar. It bugs me if it doesn't look right. My 335 looks ace with the pink hippy strap but it's all kinds of wrong on the black strat.

Sassafras

richardhomer said:

Not so much a superstition - more a pet-hate; other people playing my guitars. Absolutely cannot bear it in any way, shape or form.

Obviously it's okay for me to play other people's guitars, as I'm very careful with them....

Also I'm with @Gassage - each has its own strap.

I don't mind other people playing my guitars as long as they play them well and not so loud that they wake the dead.

mike_l

I'm quite fussy about who plays my guitars.

I can name 3 who've played them all, and that includes me. @photek has also played them all.

BigJon did borrow my Strat for a jam so he could do some authentic SRV-style blues.

hubobulous

No superstitions for me, just habits.

Each guitar has its own strap and I always have a plectrum on me when dressed. I've weaned myself off needing one when swimming and taking a shower!!

I always stand stage right, but that's history too. I wouldn't lose confidence etc by standing elsewhere.

mandosteve

I always carry a selection of plectrums in the right hand back pocket of my jeans.  My fiancee even got me a little pouch for them all... Also I always have one set of spare strings of the correct gauge/type in the hard case of every instrument I own.

This is like counselling.  I feel great.