gigging guitar and, when your old guitar becomes too valuable

[st.bede]

So, I have a PRS swamp ash special, I paid $1500 new years ago...it has been my main gigging guitar and because of that it has taken a bit of abuse. I always thought of it as a working guitar. PRS does not make them anymore and even if they did the price would not be in the same range. Also, someone mentioned that, the ones with a hard tail piece are rare. This makes me feel that I should be using another guitar for gigging.

The three that I have thought would make decent replacements are: my Am. stand. tele, my Am. stand. strat and, my Gibson V....

out of all, I really like playing my V. It is relatively cheap and replaceable. I do not mind it getting ding up. Since I do not play metal, I think it would be cool to confuse people a little. The down sides are: the neck is set and a bad fall will have more impact on her then my other choices. Also, it can only cover so much tonal ground....a very nice piece of ground but, still a little limited...

I would choice the tele because it can cover a lot of tonal ground...not too expensive and easily replaceable...pretty darn strong and ready for abuse. The down side is, I gigged with a tele for years and for some reason do not want to go back to that. It just seems like I would be living in the past.

...forget about the strat....

so, should I discontinue gigging with the PRS...

and, should I chose the V or the tele?

(by the way, I am not gigging at the moment so, this is all speculative but, typically, that should change)

also, if you do gig with an expensive guitar..how do you do it...I would be too scared...(I have a number of guitar I love but feel worried about the whole gig situation)

 

[KSG_Standard]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V48_CvbHP8]YouTube - Gary Moore W Albert King - Stormy Monday (Live At Hammersmi[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdbXwD-xnk]YouTube - SRV & Lonnie Mack - Double Whammy[/ame]

 

[st.bede]

KSG, you voted with the most eloquent style....it is about time some one plays a V without a cranked and distorted to the dying edge amp....

 

[KSG_Standard]

I'd love to have a V...especially one like Lonnie Mack's with the Bigsby. I've got a buddy with a faded V and he plays country and blues...it works for him. I think that Cookie is a fan of the V as well.

 

[diceman]

Are you worried about the PRS getting stolen, or damaged? (Or both!?)

I've gigged pretty much every guitar I own - vintage or not. BUT, if I'm worried about security or the crowd, or when I'm on the road, I usually bring something mid grade.

Why not the V AND the Tele? I always bring 2 guitars to a gig...

 

[Mr Insane]

Guitars are made to be played. That doesn't mean I abuse guitars, just that I don't like seeing them just as trophies.

 

[st.bede]

Are you worried about the PRS getting stolen, or damaged? (Or both!?)

I've gigged pretty much every guitar I own - vintage or not. BUT, if I'm worried about security or the crowd, or when I'm on the road, I usually bring something mid grade.

Why not the V AND the Tele? I always bring 2 guitars to a gig...

not so much damaged...it is a tank but, yhea, I guess stolen...it is not really replaceable anymore in any reasonable sense...I also believe it has gone up in vaule....maybe insurance is a good idea...

also, I think what is really happening is I just want a change...I am going to slap on some plant waves self cutting locking tuners and use the V...

now if the V takes a bad fall will it crack the headstock because of the angle?


I only take one guitar because I suffer from problems that are outlined in this thread: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/backstage/91632-scatterbrained-moments.html#post1779205

also, I rarely break strings..why?

 

[diceman]

I rarely break strings either.

And, using straplocks (I use Schallers), I don't think you need to worry too much about dropping it. Just don't leave it on a stand up on stage!

 

[st.bede]

Guitars are made to be played. That doesn't mean I abuse guitars, just that I don't like seeing them just as trophies.

I do play my guitars...I just do not like to see some take falls and that has happened to me way too often....and when it happens on cement or hard wood with some guitars, I panic....jamming or rehearsing with a typical house floor is not as scary..tends to be a bit padded or old wood floors have a little give at least...

 

[st.bede]

I rarely break strings either.

And, using straplocks (I use Schallers), I don't think you need to worry too much about dropping it. Just don't leave it on a stand up on stage!

please read this thread (I am trying to tell you I suffer from an strange phenomana...absentmindeness? ): http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/backstage/91632-scatterbrained-moments.html#post1779205

can you put strap locks onto a V or SG with out them digging into you?

maybe I am over re-acting or, maybe I have been careless due to the fact I have used warhorses for guitar or, maybe I just know myself...

 

[nick1962]

Get the V sorted with a coil-tap system then you can cover most of the bases tonally!

 

[snaredrum]

I'd love to have a V...especially one like Lonnie Mack's with the Bigsby. I've got a buddy with a faded V and he plays country and blues...it works for him. I think that Cookie is a fan of the V as well.

yep - cookie played his V at the bridport bash the other night. BEAUTIFUL sound - clean/slightly grunting T-tops are the way forward...