Live performance....You break a string on ur Jem, now what?

Guitarlos2 · #1 06-01-2003, 01:53 PM

Ok, I was just curious what various players here would do if they broke a string on a floyd rose guitar (Jems etc) while playing live!! Thats a horrid scenario, because the whole guitar goes out of tune (mostly sharp) and the strings tighten dramatically and you are prone to breaking more!! What do you do if youre in the middle of a song and this happens?? especially if youre the only guitarist in the band......

If none of the choices are listed, explain. I really havent run into that situation yet, and im hoping i dont anytime soon

**cerealk** · #2 06-01-2003, 02:06 PM

<snap!>
Mute my rig

unplug

Pick up the Jem/RG which has the same pickups which match the guitar with the broken string
(I always take a back up or two)

plug

un mute rig

finish song

cusplaya · #3 06-01-2003, 05:23 PM

Although changing guitars is what I do, I think cussing under my breath and wanting to jam the guitar somewhere painful is usually the first thing that crosses my mind.

littlegreenman · #4 06-01-2003, 06:22 PM

depending on what string breaks, I may try to just finish the song, usually I can compensate well enough.

I've found on my Jems or UV's, when the high E breaks, the guitar stays in tune, just goes up a half step, so it's easy to finish the song, it's when the D breaks that I get pissy LOL!!!!

if it's a lost cause, I'll grab another guitar as quick as I can.

Jslegacy · #5 06-01-2003, 06:31 PM

I'd do one of 2 things.... 1 do what vai does stop the song keep drummer and bassist jamming and talk to the crowd for a sec while someone grabs me the back up. or 2 so oh **** and cry like a little girl. I'd want to do number one, but i'd probably do number 2 hahahaha.

Pryde7 · #6 06-01-2003, 07:21 PM

I'd do what JSLegacy would do... shrug to the audience, have the drummer and bass player keep the groove going, then grab my trusty fat strat (Yum). Maybe turn it into a funky, fun little jam as I grab my guitar before going back into the song. You know, have some fun with it.

Not before screaming "%U#*@$&@#*(&(!@#!!@#!@#!!!!!!!!(" super loud, though. Wait, not too loud. I wouldn't want to kill my voice.

K

guitarkatana · #7 06-01-2003, 10:11 PM

This is what backups are for

. I don't have any backups

, so I change the high E and maybe the B before every show.

guitarkatana · #8 06-01-2003, 10:21 PM

Also, I keep a wood block that I use to convert my floyd to fixed. I keep it close to me when I perform so if I break a string I can slide the block in and remove two of my floyd springs. This way I can at least keep playing chords. I have to get a little more creative for leads.

Guitarlos2 · #9 06-01-2003, 11:33 PM

its cool to hear some of the responses here and get some opinions. For some reason, I constantly break A strings on my DBK and i wouldnt doubt that it could happen live at some point. Id probably have to grab my fender as a back up......but problem is thats typically tuned down half a step! Id have to change up a bit, and it may be an issue

Jeff · #10 06-02-2003, 01:30 AM

If it was during a solo or something, I would just rip on the G string, and go to hell and back with the whammy bar. They'll never know your guitar went out of tune

nuno · #11 06-03-2003, 08:50 AM

i'd pee my pants out!

ScottB · #12 06-08-2003, 06:47 PM

I'd pee my pants while grabbing my RG!

I've broken many strings during band rehearsals and gone out of tune a couple times on stage, but never broken a string on stage. * trying to find a piece of wood to knock on *

rfb · #13 06-09-2003, 08:45 AM

Pretty much what CerealK said: mute, wait 'til I've finished singing if I am singing, put my FP down and pick my DY up, continue. I've got a good band, they'll vamp til I'm ready

.

- rfb

**jim777** · #14 06-17-2003, 04:41 PM

I haven't played out in about 3 years now, but I almost never went without a backup; either a PRS CE24 or a Nuno N4. When I broke a string mid song I'd just try to laugh it off and grab another ASAP.

Once though, I broke a string and took the guitar from our rhythm guitarist/singer in the middle of the song! He had a half stack and an RG770, and I had a Fernandes Strat copy and a Roland Jazz Chorus. It was one of those nights where the whole crowd was friends of ours, and all of the bar going locals had gone somewhere else. It was a Peavey tube half stack, and sounded so great with that RG.
Man, I miss being out there. Even when there's just your girls and the bartender in the audience, you just can't beat it.

jim

big al · #15 06-17-2003, 05:52 PM

I always had an extra transmitter for my wireless, so my guitar changes would only take a few seconds. Also, I would give the sound guy a nasty look while pointing toward my ear (so the audience would think it was a p.a. problem).