Do you use more than one guitar when gigging?

[snow and steel]

i bring 2 but only switch if there is a string break or other issue.

Same here. I don't do much tuning changes these days.

 

[Most_Triumphant]

Usually two: one main instrument and a secondary for alternate tunings, slide work, and a backup. It usually works that I can changing tunings on the second guitar between sets so its ready for a quick guitar change during the show.

 

[Judge Smails]

4 - 2 Electrics 2 Acoustics. One of each tuned down 1/2 step. Singers preference. It’s pretty annoying

 

[nmontz]

I have been gigging a strat and a tele for the last few years. If there is a real easy load in or for maybe a real important gig I’ll bring 3.

I stick with the Strat as long as I can...I’m pretty much straight in (other than reverb and trem with tweeds) so the blackguard has much more gain if I need to push the amp or fake a gibson tone. Also one of the bands the Frontman doesn’t like to take breaks so we might do 3 1/2 hrs straight. For this last NYE it was like 5 hrs straight. I just get bored during those long sets or the guitar feels a little out of tune or it’s nice to go to a different neck shape.

For ease of load in I wish I could find the guitar I could do it all with. I have broke strings on gigs before it was nice to just switch guitars.

I use one amp but have another one sitting there as with my beater vintage amps you never know when one will go down. Sometimes I have a bigger amp set clean and the little one for breakup...I’ll just swap the cord between them too.

I use the same guitar strap...I just swap the cord switching guitars. I use a big el dorado strap with no strap locks.

 

[mysticaxe]

I play in a 2 guitar band. Generally, I will bring 2 guitars. 90% of the time, I'll stay on one guitar for a whole set. Occasionally, I may swap mid-set, but that is mute at the tuner, swap out guitar, verify tuning, then rock out (total of 20 seconds or so). For some of the smaller/divier shows, the other guitar player and I will share the backup (usually a cheap Epi LP with a neck repair, or an EC1000 type guitar).

 

[twoheadedboy]

I've never brought a backup to a gig, but I did do a few gigs for which I brought both an acoustic and an electric, because I thought it was important for the material.

 

[gkoelling]

Back when I gigged I always had an extra, just in case.

 

[doublescale1]

I always have two guitars so I can go to the backup quickly if a string breaks. On this night I had two PRS - my '06 McCarty w/Hyper Vintage Railhammers pickups and my DGT (this was a Country Club party gig - love the food at those). Other gigs, it might be that one set seems to call for a Strat, set 2 might be the Tele set - it all depends on the gig, but I do not change guitars in mid set - I sort it out to use one guitar for an entire set. That's my MKV:35 in a doorway alcove behind the stage, I always use the Cab Clone in the Boogie to go to FOH, If I don't have the MKV:35 I use a Palmer DPI09 direct box to the PA, no messy mic cords in front of my amp, there's enough spaghetti on stage as it is.

 

[JasonE]

For me, it has depended on the band and what I needed. I have almost always taken at least two guitars. I have played a few gigs where I only took one. In these situations I typically stayed on one guitar for the whole gig unless there was a reason to change, like trem vs hardtail.

I was carrying 5 guitars to each gig for one band I was in. We played a lot of songs with different tunings as well as humbucker and single coil tones. We had a male and female singer in the band. The female lead songs tended to be in a different tuning for some reason.

 

[Nonvintage]

For a 3 set gig I bring 2 guitars. Vintage Strat and Tele. Strat for the first set always. 2 and 3 varies.

 

[bsacamano]

Always, always, always, bring a back up. Just unplug.

 

[musicman1]

I carry 2 gtrs in the event of a string break or electronics failure. Sometimes I’ll change the gtrs from set to set; other times not at all.

 

[Silverback]

2

Main guitar is a floating trem Strat.

Only grab the other (hard-tail) for a drop tuned song, if any.

I can't remember the last time I broke a string. It just quit happening.

 

[GuitarGuy66]

I bring 2, one as a backup that won’t get played unless I break a string.

 

[BaliGod]

At least 3 as we have songs in Drop D, C+ and C and then regular tuning on top of that. Usually 5 as it is such a hassle live to change tunings on my Floyd Rose or floating bridges. I used to gig with just one before this band with all tunings and just take a back u[p guitar or 2 just in case.