Solo gigging with an electric guitar

[mikealpine]

I've seen it done very nicely with a 335-style guitar, as well as a Tele. I've got a couple of electrics with Piezo pickups, and can split the signal to two amps, one more of an acoustic nature, if you like. I saw another guy use a whole backing track setup rigged through an iPad, and had a wireless connection on a Strat. He had that running through a Bose PA, and he was awesome. There's a lot you can do with one electric for a gig, if you have the right gear along with you, from simple to complex.

[jwp2]

I just did a 1 hour show using my Tele and Twin Reverb. I stayed primarily on the neck pickup and also sang through the twin! I found that using input #2 for both guitar and vocals really smooths out the sound.

[Joie2800]

Hearing Bill Kirchen perform The Times they are a Changin' just him with his telecaster at the Fur Peace Ranch last August was one of the most incredibly electrifying experiences of my long life.

[Davis Webb]

Seasick Steve uses home made electrics with his stomp foot box and or drummers. It works with slide. I still am hesitant to bring mine again for a solo gig with vocals. I need that bass hit off the acoustic.

[hotwired]

Originally Posted by jricc

I use a hybrid Yamaha AEX500, blended piezo and mini humbucker, thru a Zoom G3 effects unit. Clean Fender amp modeling sound straight to pa. Think Creedence Down on the Corner sound. Is it acoustic? No, but it's a good, usable sound that goes good with vocal. Its taken me a long time and a lot of knob dialing to get there, but it goes over well, and I've gotten some nice comments about the sound. After 1 six hour gig and 3 four hour gigs in the last 4 days, the electric strings are a lot easier on the hands too.

I think I've saved a link to that guitar. I used to be a lead guitarist and now am flirting with being a solo (dude with acoustic) but I end up completely skipping the solo sections of some songs because as you all know, often the rhythm drops right out when you go to the solo. I try to make up some double stop stuff, partial ascending and descending stuff with open string pedal points, stuff like that, but I can't really "grind in" like with my Tele. I especially would like access to the higher frequencies only possible with the cutaway ... could this Yamaha be the answer? Decent enough acoustic with the flexibility and easy action to hit the solos?

[perttime]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04IQXfQEkC8

[roylor4]

I do it regularly, but only for short, 1 hour gigs. I take & play 2 guitars, one in open G for Blues slide and one in E standard. I have no problem pulling it off for a short duration like this.

In a duo situation with my wife on bass and vocals we usually do 1.5 hours of a 3 hour gig electric - the rest acoustic.

I don't feel it would work solo for 2-3 hours - at least not for me, not yet I ain't no Eric Gales, that's for sure.

I think crowds enjoy hearing both in different sets and the change in sound and dynamics it creates. My .02

[rockabilly69]

I've been playing the first set of my three hours solo gigs with this Gretsch 6120T '55 VS plugged into the same pedal board as my acoustic (Tapestry Bloomery Vol, Wazacraft Tuner, Grace Alix, Keeley Delay Workstation)...



I think people really like it.

[Steel and wood]

I've seen it done a multitude of times by various artists and it works beautifully. (Clean sound at suitable volumes).

[The Kid!]

I'm obsessed with this version. It's brilliant. It's a beautiful heartfelt tribute to Prince, but there's also so much of David shining through as well. So much soul.

It's public, so I don't think you need to have Facebook to view it.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10153462469555286

[Steel and wood]

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

I've been playing the first set of my three hours solo gigs with this Gretsch 6120T '55 VS plugged into the same pedal board as my acoustic (Tapestry Bloomery Vol, Wazacraft Tuner, Grace Alix, Keeley Delay Workstation)...



I think people really like it.

Again, as someone who thinks he no longer has GAS, could you please stop posting pictures of this particular guitar.

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by The Kid!

I'm obsessed with this version. It's brilliant. It's a beautiful heartfelt tribute to Prince, but there's also so much of David shining through as well. So much soul.

It's public, so I don't think you need to have Facebook to view it.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10153462469555286

Yep, that's awesome sauce right there!

[guitararmy]

I wish I was talented enough to do that!
Tuck Andress and his wife Patti came to mind when I thought about solo guitar and voice...

[jricc]

Originally Posted by hotwired

I think I've saved a link to that guitar. I used to be a lead guitarist and now am flirting with being a solo (dude with acoustic) but I end up completely skipping the solo sections of some songs because as you all know, often the rhythm drops right out when you go to the solo. I try to make up some double stop stuff, partial ascending and descending stuff with open string pedal points, stuff like that, but I can't really "grind in" like with my Tele. I especially would like access to the higher frequencies only possible with the cutaway ... could this Yamaha be the answer? Decent enough acoustic with the flexibility and easy action to hit the solos?

The Yamaha AEX500 has an old, quacky piezo with 3 band eq. It has a volume control and a blend control. By blending with the mini humbucker neck pickup you can warm it up. I use a looper for a rhythm track and for solos I push the onboard mid control for a boost.
The action is set like a flat top acoustic at the saddle, and it has a bolt on neck.

Cool hybrid guitar, same kind of idea as a Taylor T5.

[rockabilly69]

Originally Posted by Steel and wood

Again, as someone who thinks he no longer has GAS, could you please stop posting pictures of this particular guitar.

I do what I can to feed the beast!