The function band guitarist's rig!

[CommonCourtesy]

So I'm thinking of joining a function/covers band to bring in extra cash. I like to think I have a good arsenal of guitars to set me up, I have a Strat, a Tele, a Les Paul and an electro acoustic. Amp wise I'm not very versatile with a 6505+ head but maybe the crunch channel would handle most rock tunes. Sold my old JCM2000 which would've been more suited but I didn't need it back then and needed cash. Maybe I should consider a combo amp cos most venues I am likely to play in won't hack a 4 x 12 blasted into the ears of the punters!

Pedal-wise I could do with some additions, I only have 3 overdrives, a chorus, delay and a wah.

So am I missing anything guitar/amp/pedals wise? I know how to play a lot of tunes from the old 60's-90's era and the modern contemporary stuff.

[witeter]

If i was in your position i would look into the Blackstar ID series of amps-tons of tones, portable, inexpensive and reliable.

[blue]

yes, some kind of modelling/multi fx unit seems like the way to go, either along with your amp, or through the PA.  It's not exactly rock'n'roll, but it's the right tool for the job.

[38thBeatle]

I play in such a band a lot of the time and have done on an off for many years. I have a 30w combo (though mine is modified to run at half power) and for effects I use a distortion, chorus (rarely) , clean(ish) boost for solos and an echo and I get away with that. I occasionally use an eq pedal as either a boost or cut too (one or two venues are very small and a cut can be quite handy)Though curiously I have been thinking along similar lines to Blue and looking at modelling multi f/x but without much enthusiasm My rig is simple and basic and reliable. Guitar wise, the Tele is the most used and I have a choice of Strat & Gibson 339 if I so wished...but the Tele is he weapon of choice.

My conclusion is that it doesn't necessarily have to be that you get the exact tone of the original track. In fact the more f/x you use, in my experience, the less you cut across.

I think that you'll get sick of lugging a 4 x 12 about too so I think your thought of looking at a combo is a good one. I can't recommend any particular amp. I use a Laney VC30 , one of the old make in UK ones and it has been a reliable amp and it has a great tone too. The other guitarist in the band used a Marshall something or other until he replaced it with a Fender Blues Junior recently. The latter is very nice indeed and so far has been plenty loud enough. If I ever need a bit of extra oomph, I stick a mic in front of the amp and put it through the PA- very rare though.

[AndyR]

I was thinking along the same lines as 38th. I'd go for a Tele (because it can cover strat and les paul jobs, as long as I don't need trem) and, for the rig I'd want to try to survive with a small valve amp (I'm quite happy with single channel amp set so it's "almost clean" when the guitar is on 5 or 6) with minimum effects - some sort of boost, maybe a wah (if the material wanted it) and probably some sort of delay. I found that the other stuff like chorus and the like just get in the way.

I suppose what I'm saying is my approach would be "minimalist" - least amount of gear means least amount to go wrong (break-downs, or just "naff sound" on the night) or to worry about.

I'd be tempted by modelling multi-fx too - cos that's what I use for recording... But live, I'd want to keep it simple. And I suspect that a nice multi-effect thingy, or a modelling amp with loads of flavours on board would end up not feeling simple. I haven't really done a function band gig, but when I was playing live and got involved with jams, I was always amazed how my "stock sound" from a single channel valve amp would work for any style of music. My belief is it's down to what you play rather than relying on dialling in tones or having the "right" effect. For me it's only stuff like delay or wah that would be noticable if they were missing from a part that got famous with them on.

[Telerocker]

The last months I take a H&K Statesman 50 EL34 head/2x12 cab on stage, which I bought for 400 euro. It suits my coverband, as we do a lot of clean funky stuff like Daft Punk, Bruno Mars, Jessie James etc. The drivechannel is very nice (and has Marshall-vibe, just a tad creamier) and with boost on I can get a superb solotones. The amp also has a solovolume, ideal for me. I nearly play it without pedals. I use not much effects, sometimes a bit of delay, or either chorus, phaser, trem and wah.
I also have a Orange Rockerverb 50 head/cab that does nearly everything too. The H&K sounds better on lower volume.
The others amps I have (like a Redplate) are less easy to dial in for more sounds per footswitch, so I use them for specific gigs, like the bluesrock/classic rock-project I run besides my coverband.

[Dave Sloven]

Yeah if you don't need a very loud amp my Peavey Classic 30 would do the trick.

I swapped the speaker out for an Eminence Wizard but to be honest I never gave the stock speaker time to break in.

If you can find the old head + 2x12 cab version that would be even better.  It has an effects loop but no standby switch.  Apparently the Classic 50 doesn't have a standby either. Not sure what's up with that.

Sounds very different from your 6505+

I still find it to be quite weighty - just slightly heavier than my 6534+ head.

Peavey demo

gain channel

[gwEm]

on the other hand, a multifx/modelling solution could be thought of as simple.

you just have a rack with just two things in : a modeller like an Axe Fx or a Digitech GSP, and a power amp. You can do it in two rack units. That then goes directly into a cab, or in case of breakdown from the modeller in to the house PA. a small midi pedal board selects between your favourite 5-10 prepared patches.

its actually not more gear to bring than 5 pedals, plus an amp head+cab or combo. and its easier to switch fx combinations.

obviously though, it doesn't have the elegant pedal+value amp flow that we all love as guitarists.

[CommonCourtesy]

I do like the idea of a modelling amp, even with my originals band an Axe FX/Kemper Profiler looks very tempting, I love the portability, reliability and consistency of the tone night after night, its something that appeals the more and more I see some of the bands I listen to use live!

I like the simple approach though, I would have thought the Strat would have got the most action, with the Les Paul coming out for the odd drop d tune or heavier numbers, e.g Darkness or Oasis.

I've played through a Peavey combo, it was a long time ago I can't remember the tone but from what I do recall it wasn't anything to shout about, but this was ages ago and my ears weren't accustomed to guitar amp tones!

[Dave Sloven]

I've played through a Peavey combo, it was a long time ago I can't remember the tone but from what I do recall it wasn't anything to shout about, but this was ages ago and my ears weren't accustomed to guitar amp tones!

Well, it's not the greatest 30W tube combo money can buy, but they are reasonably priced and dependable, and you have to remember that your audience is not going to be discerning musicians, but rather for the most part drunk women who will probably be more interested in throwing their leg over you or the vocalist rather than the tone of your amp ...

Also there are a lot of Peavey combos ... unless it was a tweed one it would have sounded pretty different

[CommonCourtesy]

I would've thought a Marshall 50 watt combo would be the most versatile, or even a 30 watt amp.

I like the way no one has said "yeah you need at least 5 more guitars, a couple of more strats, les pauls and a humbucker equipped tele" haha.

[AndyR]

I like the way no one has said "yeah you need at least 5 more guitars, a couple of more strats, les pauls and a humbucker equipped tele" haha.

haha! Nah - you need minimal kit, as versatile as possible, obviously, but minimal. Two guitars (to cover for broken strings) and something that makes a noise you like, and loud enough

[Alex]

Marshall DSL combos are relatively versatile and can be bought cheap.

However, if you really want the Swiss Army Knife, the Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister range is something you should look at. It is my understanding they have lots of versatility, power soaks and a direct out.

[CommonCourtesy]

Yeah I've played through many Marshall DSL's, and they do the job let's say!

I'll always take at least 2 guitars for a spare, and also tuning changes, its nice to have an extra guitar that will sound good on a particular song.

Never really looked at Hughes and Kettner, not alot of people have them on the live gig circuit for some reason. Not where I play anyway.

[Dave Sloven]

I retract my suggestion of a Peavey Classic 30.

I don't think it has enough clean headroom for gigging.