Gigging acoustics; what do you bring for backup?

[MrDB]

Like most others I bring a gig bag with extra strings, cables, amp cord, batteries and a small tool kit. No extra guitar.

[The Bard Rocks]

I don't take doubles of instruments, other than a 12 string or resonator in addition to the 6 string. No need for batteries, but I bring extra mikes and cables strings, tuners, extension cord, stand lights (hardly ever used)....

[Jim Owen]

Used to carry 2 acoustics back when I was playing more, but now I just make sure I’ve got extra strings, a spare capo, a couple spare thumbpicks. And, of course, a .38 snubnose. The wine bar/coffee house scene is pretty rough.

[lone eskimo]

Hey All!
I haven’t posted in years but I gig a lot and thought I could offer some suggestions.. I have most everything in a gig bag- strings, capos, tuners, straps, batteries, xtra mics, cables, extension cords, tools, clip light, different types of connectors, tape, aspirin 😄 - I also keep an overflow bag of the same in my car- along with xtra mic stands and guitar stands, fan (it’s summer!)..

One thing no one I think has mentioned yet is I keep a Fishman Mini in my car in case I ever have a problem with my PA.. It’s happened in the past and the mini may not cover every situation but it’s certainly better than nothing- especially if my gig is pretty far from home..

Some of it may seem excessive but I host some open mics as well as some songwriter events and sometimes 3 of everything is not enough- especially if someone borrows something (CAPO, TUNER, STRAP, CABLE, BATTERY) then you realize at your next gig that you didn’t get it back!

Mike🎸

[Mooh]

It depends on the gig. Short one-off shows like community appearances, variety shows, etc, I take whatever guitar(s) suit the music. If that requires more than one, then the back-up is pretty much built in to the job. If I only really need one guitar for the show I will add a back-up just in case. Every show requires the kit bag with cords, strings, stands, tools, etc.

[TRW1]

Just a short story about backup cables. I played a charity gig one night and at the end some folks helped tear down and pack up my gear (big mistake!). I just left everything in my trunk since I had a gig the following night. As I was setting up for the next night's gig I searched frantically for a mic cable, only to realize that one of the well-intended helpers had not packed it back in my gig bag. Since I'm not a good enough guitarist to pull off 3 hours of instrumentals, this was quite the problem!

Lesson learned- from then on I packed at least one extra for every type of cable I used. And I double-checked everything to make sure I had these in my little rolling bag before heading out. I'll also second the need for spare batteries and duck tape, you just never know when you'll need to secure cables, etc. I also kept a small box of bandaids, which I needed a few times. And my little Roland CM-30 Cube lived in my trunk as a sort of an 'emergency PA' in case it was ever needed.

[Parlorman]

I usually bring two guitars tuned differently. Exactly how they’re tuned depends on my set lists. I change my strings often so breaks are rare but if I do break a string I just use the other guitar.

If I’m only bringing one guitar, I have an extra set of strings and some wire nippers.

[Pickcity]

I always have a back up guitar, one set of extra strings, wire cutters, one extra cable.

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by lone eskimo

One thing no one I think has mentioned yet is I keep a Fishman Mini in my car in case I ever have a problem with my PA.. It’s happened in the past and the mini may not cover every situation but it’s certainly better than nothing- especially if my gig is pretty far from home..

I've done this with my Fishman Loudbox Mini and it has saved my bacon. Easy to leave in the car if you don't need it.

[Twitch]

In addition to the equipment backups already suggested, I bring an emergency 'repair kit' consisting of basic tools, nylon zip ties, duct tape, and super glue.

Just this past weekend I dropped my glass slide on the concrete floor and it broke (no spare *head slap*!) but the super glue repair got me through the gig.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by jklotz

What do you bring to gigs as backup? Extra strings, cables, batteries, backup guitar?

Hi jkl-etc…

I don't think of it as back-up but survival gear. I have to adapt myself (grafting my rig into someone else's system) a lot. That often takes parts they don't have and cannot provide.

My gear bag…

just over a foot tall…only offered by Taylor for a year or two 'way-back-when'. I wanted a second for a backup and located the company who made them for Taylor and bought another. They since seem to have also gone out of business.

Handiest gear bag ever…
Weighs in at about 25 pounds (loaded), stacks neatly having square corners. Three levels plus a drop in drawer on top level, and access to the mid-level section via the back.

It houses truss rod adjusters in 4 sizes (plus a set of metric and imperial allen wrenches), a single source acoustic preamp, and a dual source spare preamp. XLR and ¼" patch cables, a cloud lifter, and full length (at least 10 feet) guitar cables in both mono and TRS.

It also houses a DTAR Solstice preamp in the bottom section.

A couple sets of strings (two weights), patch cables plus a couple passive DI boxes for connecting gear into the mains. Tuners, tools, loaner preamps for stage use.

Not having broken a string in over 15 years, I only brought a backup guitar to a gig on one occasion when we had 3 acoustic players on stage at a men's convention with over 700 men attending, and I was concerned someone might throw a string. It was there for all of us to use. Used once in 5 different band sessions.

[Gordon Currie]

Like others, I have a bag that contains spare mic cables, guitar cables, tuners, strings, capos, picks, small tools, gaffer tape.

I do not bring a spare guitar or microphone.

Even though I always have spare strings, I haven't EVER broken a string in 45 years of performing.