Switching guitars on stage.

[gregory70]

So, how many of you switch guitars during a gig (not between sets). I have a hell of a time doing it. I can't switch AT ALL between guitars of different scale lengths. Everything goes to hell when I try. Is it just me?

[mannish]

I do it every gig but I switch from a Gibson acoustic to a National or from a Fender Strat to a Greco strat. Since I play slide on the National & Greco it's not really much of an issue - I could see where changing between scale would mess with you

[germs]

i find that if you stick to a handfull (2 or 3) primary live guitars, you can adjust to them more quickly.

fwiw, i go between a 25.5, 24.75, and a 25 scale all night.

[clothwiring]

I use 3 Fenders live 95% of the time so I don't really have an issue.

[WahmBoomAh]

my problem is not the playing ... it`s the switching .. Singer wants the next tune count off on the spot ,,, roadie hands me the guitar ... all good USUALLY ...but sometimes it takes a second and gotta rush like a dog ....Singer says ... I should look more relaxed and charismatic ... damnnnnn .
sorry for the rant

[MudPies]

I do but the other guitar is high action and tuned to open G for slide.

[Peteyvee]

Switching scale lengths in the middle of a set drives me nuts too. I try to stick to one scale length for an entire set. Coincidentally, it almost always seems to be 24.75"...:dude

[ShavenYak]

I switch between my partsocaster and my Peavey HP and the different scale lengths don't bother me. But I use each guitar for specific songs and never play those songs on the "wrong" guitar, so maybe that helps.

WahmBoomAh is right, the actual switching is far worse than the playing. I want to get one of those cables with the circuit breaker in the end, anyone tried them?

[dmb70]

We play different songs in various tunings so I switch between at least 4 guitars per gig.
LP, SG, 335, Explorer, Tele, LP Jr, Firebird, Strat, depends what I bring with me. I mainly play Gibson style guitars within a given set though.

[SteveO]

I want to get one of those cables with the circuit breaker in the end, anyone tried them?

I have a Planet Waves cable with the circuit breaker plug, it works well for unplugging a guitar without blowing a speaker through the grill cloth!

[MudPies]

Does your tuner not kill the signal when on?

[soulmap]

I used to switch between pedal steel, open G electric, baritone and standard tuned electric with one band, in one set - the various tunings messed with my head and load in/out sucked.
I even played bass in that band for a little while, tho' then I just switched dobro to bass - easiest load in ever since I DI'd both of them (yeah, I'm not a good bass player).

I believe in playing the right sound/instrument for the song and not letting that dictate set order - that can be a logistical challenge.
I remember watching the multi-instrumentalist with Dwight Yoakam; he'd be getting ready for the next song befor the current song was done - keep the show flow going.

[ShavenYak]

Does your tuner not kill the signal when on?

I'm using the tuner in my RP90, which requires me to press both footswitches simultaneously and hold them down. Oh, and the unit has to not be in bypass. It's a bit annoying.

Of course, I should probably just get a decent standalone tuner anyway due to that annoyance. Then, yeah, maybe the circuit breaker cable wouldn't be necessary.

[todd richman]

When I was toruing with a band about 5 years ago-regional touring on the east coast between NY and Maryland, I would carry 2 guitars-1 in standard tuning and the other in drop D. Both were Les Pauls so there was no difference in feel.

[Julia343]

Line 6 is coming out with Variax II and they've been listening to you guys in the modeling forum about this. :hide

[mannish]

What's a 'roadie' :-)

roadie hands me the guitar

[Bigsby]

Do you practice your switches during rehearsals, or even when running through your set on your own? I find that the more I simulate the logistical aspects of performing during practice, the easier they become. You can figure out shortcuts like letting the rest of the band finish final chords, where to slip in early pickup switches or FX changes, etc.

[mojoslide]

I hate switching guitars live. I'm just one of those players that'd rather stick with one instrument all night. But right now all my guitars are PRS so I don't need to worry so much about scale length differences, feel, etc.

[Peteyvee]

Line 6 is coming out with Variax II and they've been listening to you guys in the modeling forum about this. :hide

:eek: I'd rather play for free...:roll

[bkd_guitarist]

I switch between guitars with different scale lengths all the time, have done so for years, and it never occurred to me to think about it. Absolute non-issue.

What is the problem? Ease of bending? Not trolling, I really am curious about this.

[explorer76]

I switch between songs for guitars tuned differently. Both are Gibson guitars. One is an Explorer and the other an LP. Even though they are the same scale length and both have relatively the same neck profile, they are drastically different in feel (ie: the way they wear) and especially in the controls. The switch placement alone can cause some fumbles if you're not used to it.

For my old band, I switched back and forth between an Explorer and a Jackson DK1. Those two guitars are VASTLY different. On all accounts. But I never really had much trouble adjusting to the differences. I guess I just never thought about it much until this thread.

I will say that I can certainly feel the difference between 24.75 and 25.5 scale length and can understand why people would be troubled by it.

[strat6866]

What's a 'roadie' :-)


That's that beer that you take with you when you leave the house. :beer

[BIGGERSTAFF]

I've never had issues with changing guitars of varying scale lengths, so long as the string spacing was similar. That'll screw me up far more than the scale differences.

[Peteyvee]

I switch between guitars with different scale lengths all the time, have done so for years, and it never occurred to me to think about it. Absolute non-issue.

What is the problem? Ease of bending? Not trolling, I really am curious about this.

Not for me. It's that I generally don't look at my fingers while I play and I tend to hit a few clinkers until I get used to a longer scale length, which is usually a minute or two...

[Bluzeboy]

I switch between nationals, Martins, 335 and a Tele.. it doesn't really bother me but, I've done it a LONNNNNNG time. :-)
We generally have the "don't wait on me I'll meet you at the Verse" thing going so I do have a few seconds to relax about it.

[harryjmic]

I use one guitar a night and have not busted a string either, this over many many gigs. Perhaps I'm just lucky...

[markie]

I switch scale lengths all the time, but I also do it at practice!

[nekothecat]

i switch guitars all the time. don't care about scale length as much as string gauge and neck profile - that takes a bit to get used to, but i feel it's worth swapping if the song merits a more rocking, or more twangy, or more blues-y feel.

these cables are all i use:

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Mogami-2524-Guitar-Bass-Cable-w-Neutrik-Silent-/180442599406?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a03378fee

they're perfect. no remembering to step on tuners/volume pedals to swap guitars. i can swap in a few seconds

in general i find that i can buy cables like this for just about as cheap as i can make 'em myself, so it's totally worth it.

i've had one of the silent switches go bad over mebbe 5 years of heavy, heavy abuse. i always keep spares anyways, so it's no big deal.

[RockDC]

my problem is not the playing ... it`s the switching .. Singer wants the next tune count off on the spot ,,, roadie hands me the guitar ... all good USUALLY ...but sometimes it takes a second and gotta rush like a dog ....Singer says ... I should look more relaxed and charismatic ... damnnnnn .
sorry for the rant

The singer is the one that should be handling most of the charisma... guitar should have some too but you need to work as a team. He's gotta stall by saying something inspiring, insightful, or just awesome to draw the attention away from the stage workings and into the connection of the band. That's how stage banter came to be... that and a lot of beer.:beer

[B_of_H]

I practice playing both and practice the switch a few times before gigs.

If I only play one primarily for a while then the transition is more difficult. If I'm playing both daily then it feels fine to me.

As far as timing goes sometimes I bow out of a song ending a little early to make up some time. We've got a 5 piece so it doesn't matter all that much.

[boldaslove1977]

i switch somewhat often... between various/strats/teles/gibsons. i typically bring 2 guitars with singles... and one gibson with buckers.

the scale change doesn't really bother me. what i notice more than the scale... is the position of the pickup switch and volume/tone knobs. if i go from a strat... to a LP or V... to a tele... i gotta look down at least the first time or two i need to make a change on a new guitar.

but... sometimes i use the same guitar all night.. and after the first song or 2... i don't have to look down anymore...

[mad dog]

As warm boom says, switching is the hardest part. I do it all the time, typically playing part of each set in open tuning. Working with another band now where I'll be doing some baritone as well. It's more juggling than playing.

MD

[zekmoe]

We base the sets on what guitars I can play sort of. First set, Explorer for the majority, then switch to the EDS1275 for Thank You (LZ), Maggie May and Stairway. It's a big hit both sonically and visually for us. Then open the second set with open G songs- JMAscis Jazzmaster, Dancing Days, Stones, Pink Houses etc..4 or 5 in a row, then switch back to the Explorer for the rest of the night. Works and minimal wiggling around.

[sfletch]

Only if I break a string or am hating my main guitar for some odd reason. I have a #1 guitar that I pretty much just stick with.

[chervokas]

I routinely switch between a Fender scale Strat Tele hybrid custom tuned in open G and an SG clone in standard tuning. The Stratotele has .011s, the SG .010s...never really had a problem w/ a playing adjustment at all, but it is a pain in the butt. Just tonight at rehearsal I was dreaming about a double neck twin six string with one neck tuned in open g and one in standard so I could switch to standard tuning for solo parts.

[Cado]

SG & Strat, no problem here.

[RockDC]

Les Paul and PRS no issues here... except volume increase

[BlueGuy]

No problem switching between a Les Paul and Strat during sets.

[The Golden Boy]

Never had much of any problem switching between instruments- getting used to one quickly...

[dohootowl]

:eek: I'd rather play for free...:roll

John McFee of the Doobies plays one. I play the Variax acoustic--it is an indispensable tool for a cover band. Yeah, it ain't the prettiest guitar, but it works.

[cram]

Strat/LP usually -

step on tuner to break signal.
pull plug in guitar.
do my "flip strap over head" move which lands the guitar soundly in the stand.
do my "flip strap over head" move backwards which lands the new guitar on my shoulders
plug in.
kick tuner.

If I need a break - I blurt whatever comes to mind into the mic which usually goes over ok. Sometimes I tune while the crowd yells back or the woohoos start.

For the quickness concern, I try to balance the songs proper place for the crowd also with my guitar switching spots. That doesn't always work, so here we are with the steps I outlined.

[Teleplayer]

Used to switch amongst 2 or 3 guitars per gig. I knew exactly when to switch them and how long it took. No big deal. It was never an issue.

[RRfireblade]

I don't know, I do it pretty often. Depends on the set but it's usually to a guitar that 'fits' that song so it never really feels like much a change. I guess it's just something you get used to when you do it often enough.

[poolshark]

The only time I switch is when something goes awry with the guitar I'm playing. I'm not particularly fragile when it comes to tone, scale length, neck profile, etc. If it's a working guitar, I'll play it.

[DocLovett]

I switch frequently due to the use of several tunings, Open G, Open A, Open E etc...Les Pauls, Teles, Strats...I've adapted to where I barely notice.

[aeolian]

I used to but it became a hassle. I would try and warn the leader/singer (who made up the set lists) that between song X and Y I would need a few seconds to switch guitars. But half the time he would forget and rush the start because he was feeling the audience or whatever.

I liked having the beef of my 335 on some songs instead of the thinner Strat most funk songs required. But it was too much grief. Just found a good Strat, put a 59 in the bridge and rewired a Superswitch for neck/bridge in the middle position. Yes I know there are all kinds of pull pot and other options for getting a neck/bridge combo on a Strat but it's faster and intuitive to have it on the middle switch position.

This was a Strat Ultra, and once I replaced the block with a Callaham one and the saddles (even tried GraphTech saddles) with the Callaham vintage style, along with deburing the bridge plate, I stopped breaking strings. I still carried a broken string guitar as I liked the trem set up floating and losing a string blows it all out of whack. After being forced to use the 335 for a couple of songs that really needed the Strat when a string broke, the spare got switched to either a Tele or an Esprit.

We did do some gigs where I used a Yamaha nylon string for some Latin songs, but I made really sure they knew I had to change things.

As it is, you still prepare in your mind the whole changeover. I have both an in-line tuner and a volume pedal. So it was a matter of stepping on the mute while pulling the guitar over my head, pulling the plug as I went to set it down, keeping hold of the plug with my right hand while I grabbed the new axe with my left, sticking my right arm under the strap, flipping the thing over my head while feeling for the jack at the same time and if there was any time left, checking the tuning. With practice, you should be able to do it in 5 seconds. But even that can be too long sometimes. :)

[Schafrocks]

I switch between guitars with different scale lengths all the time, have done so for years, and it never occurred to me to think about it. Absolute non-issue.

What is the problem? Ease of bending? Not trolling, I really am curious about this.

I'm with you on this. Never bothered me. I never even thought of it until this thread.

Schaf

[ronmail65]

An additional guitar or 2 are only there as backup (not for different tunings, tones, etc...). So I only switch if there's a string break or I somehow become hopelessly out of tune and don't want to mess with it. Different scale length's, neck radius, etc... never really bothers me when I swap guitars.

What bothers me is that I hate to slow down the momentum of a show for a guitar swap. I detest big empty spaces between songs at a gig.

[nater9]

Strat/LP usually -

step on tuner to break signal.
pull plug in guitar.
do my "flip strap over head" move which lands the guitar soundly in the stand.
do my "flip strap over head" move backwards which lands the new guitar on my shoulders
plug in.
kick tuner.

If I need a break - I blurt whatever comes to mind into the mic which usually goes over ok. Sometimes I tune while the crowd yells back or the woohoos start.

For the quickness concern, I try to balance the songs proper place for the crowd also with my guitar switching spots. That doesn't always work, so here we are with the steps I outlined.

Yep, this is how I do it. Playing in a cover band with anything from blues to classic rock, country, modern high gain stuff, pop stuff, etc. I use about 3 or 4 guitars, a tele, LP, PRS, and sometimes another LP or Strat. We do stuff in standard tuning, 1/2 step down tuning, open G, double Drop D, drop D. So, I'm still tuning during sets sometimes, so the singer needs to fill. I sometimes think of just using my PRS and a half step down guitar, but what fun would that be. When the song calls for that Tele twang, or Strat single coil, or humbucker crunch, I need the right guitar.....