Restringing on stage

Subject: Restringing on stage
From: Scrump
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 09:30 AM

Do any of you have any tips for dealing with a broken string (let's say guitar, that's my main instrument) in mid-set, assuming you don't have a spare instrument to hand?

If I do a floor spot (say 2 or 3 songs) it's not such a problem, as I can usually think of a few songs to do unaccompanied. But for a longer set, it would be a nightmare if it happened near the beginning.

Ideas I've thought of:

1. Restring while telling a joke
2. Restring while singing unaccompanied
3. Just apologise, explain the problem and restring without saying anything much, so you can concentrate on the job and get it done more quickly.

I'm not sure I could do 1 or 2 very well as I feel I'd need to watch what I'm doing - but I guess if it happened often you'd get good at it, like everything else.

I always carry spare strings but not always a spare instrument. The latter would be ideal, but it seems a bit over the top to have to carry two of everything.

This hasn't actually happened to me yet, but sooner or later it will.

Anyone got any good tips?

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: DebC
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 09:57 AM

I heard a recording of Richard Thompson singing a beautiful unaccompanied traditional song while changing a string. It was pretty incredible.

Debra

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:03 AM

It was always a wonderful part of Josh White's act when he would change a string while singing. I was told that he would change strings even if they did not need changing in order to present the performance.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:03 AM

Not being a muso, I didn't realise immediately what was happening.

All I saw was the singer/songwriter finish one of her (modern) songs & reach down scrabbling in her bag, tossing aside little packages WHILE singing a wonderful long, complicated ballad & stringing her guitar!

sandra

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: GUEST,maryrrf
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:12 AM

Jim Malcolm, in a solo performance w/out Old Blind Dogs, broke a string and restrung his guitar while telling jokes and bantering with the audience. I'd have a hard time doing that, but he managed fine. Probably takes a bit of practice.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:25 AM

Tim the guitarist from the late lamented Whitby band Banoffi had a frantic style, and in spite of using the lightest possible picks he'd snap lots of strings every gig. The other two played on while he got out his pliers and envelopes, and usually he was back in before the end of the tune. On one occasion I saw him replace two strings during one tune set and he was still back strummig in time for the end!

I usually pass the guitar to a volunteer from the audience (about half are usually players themselves) and either do one unaccomanied or on another instrument. Risky but better than loosing the momentum or getting into a frazzle (I have enough trouble talking and tuning at the same time)!

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Scrump
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 10:43 AM

Ah yes, of course if you're in a band then you can get the others to carry on while you restring. I was thinking of a solo turn primarily. The answers so far suggest singing unacc or telling jokes is best. My problem is I have even more trouble remembering jokes than lyrics ;-)

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Leadfingers
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:07 AM

Rather than scrabbling for new strings , I tend to leave my strings Uncut and Coiled at the Machine Head - Assuming a break at the bridge , its quicker to pull the string through and re place the Ball End .
Even better , change the set before any of them break !!

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:18 AM

train a roadie?

Sam Bush of The Newgrass revival broke so many strings, he had his wife sit behind him and hold a 2nd instrument....then hand it to him and replace strings for him. I saw her do 3 strings in one set once.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Mr Fox
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:29 AM

From: DebC - PM


I heard a recording of Richard Thompson singing a beautiful unaccompanied traditional song while changing a string. It was pretty incredible.

Debra
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deb, was that the sea-shanty 'Sally Racket'? If he's that good while re-stringing he ougth to break more!

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: JohnB
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:42 AM

I think it was James Keelaghan who I saw break a string in the second or so verse of a song he was doing, carried on a cappella whilst changing the string, retuned the string and got back in playing for the last verse. Something less than a 90 second string change.
He recieved a very large round of applause for that one.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:53 AM

James Keelahan did the same thing at Llantrisant a few weeks ago, the other 2 guys carried on, adjusting their backing to suit. No loss of performance quality at all.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: JennyO
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 11:55 AM

All I saw was the singer/songwriter finish one of her (modern) songs & reach down scrabbling in her bag, tossing aside little packages WHILE singing a wonderful long, complicated ballad & stringing her guitar!

Who was that, Sandra?

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: open mike
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 12:44 PM

It is best to complement your took kit with a side winder or
similar tool designed to quickly turn the peg. I have made a
jig to fit my cordless drill for this...but there are some
smaller battery operated power screw-and-drill drivers which
can be easily adapted to this. You might want one to expedite
your string changes even when non-emergency. here is one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Planet-Waves-Pro-String-WinderCutter?sku=360253

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Sooz
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 12:58 PM

Get someone to do it for you whilst you do an unaccompanied song or play another instrument. It works for Vin Garbutt - there are always plenty of volunteers!

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:01 PM

Saw John Jorgenson a few weeks ago. He broke his top E at the beginning of his "big number" at the end of the second set (can't remember which tune but its played mainly on the E).

Simple solution, he just moved it up 5 frets and transposed!

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:03 PM

Keelaghan does that on purpose...... just to show off.....

:-)

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Wesley S
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:06 PM

Maybe it would be wise to tell jokes { even to an empty room } while you're changing strings at home.

One of the nice things about playing a double course instrument like the mandolin is that your spare string is already on the instrument.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Steve-o
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 01:06 PM

I watched Bob Shane break a G string, continue singing and reach into his pocket for a string and a winder- then change and tune up in time to be playing at the last verse. Utterly amazing- of course, 45 years of practice probably helped. The winder was obviously the key to the whole process going so quickly. If you don't have a group to sing along with, maybe just a little casual banter with the audience would work- string changing shouldn't require such great concentration.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 04:29 PM

There's a London, Ontario based performer named Paul Langille who has an absolutely blindingly fast right-hand technique. It's a rare set that he doesn't break at least one string - he can do a string change in 30 seconds.

Actually he recently started using a brand of strings called "Firewire" that seem to last a lot longer - might be something for you string-breakers to check out.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: BuckMulligan
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 05:29 PM

Steve Goodman famously restrung on the fly without missing a beat. Was rumored to do it on purpose.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 05:37 PM

If you are up to it, telling a long joke or story can cover you while you replace a broken string.

My memory says I saw Paul Prestopino (sp?) break a string while backing the Chad Mitchell Trio on TV. He continued to play back-up AND replace the string before the song was over. It still boggles my mind.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Genie
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 05:54 PM

Yeah, Buck, I've heard of guitarists doing that on purpose too, just so they could show off!

Of course you could do what Michael "Hawkeye" Herman's done, and finish a blues song on 3 strings! I'm sure he's not the only guitarist to do that.

But I gotta admit, when I saw this thread title, my first thought was,
"OK, who's being strung and restrung on stage? And why?"

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: JedMarum
Date: 19 Jun 06 - 06:56 PM

I do have this happen from time-to-time. So I've sorted how toavoid broken strings (I use a nylon pick, avoid using multiple capos, I ofund string that rarely break) - but I always have multuple instruments on-hand; just-in-case.

I have had to talk to the audience through a string change, on occaiosn. It ain;t the end of the world. People are patient, and it doesn;t take too long top change a string ....

BUT in general, it is a pain-in-the-as* when strings break during a set.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:35 AM

If you have the style of playing that breaks strings a lot, I think if you're professional - you should carry two guitars at least.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: GUEST,Eye Lander
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 01:39 PM

No tips what so ever, but I watched James Keelaghan a couple of weeks ago at Llantrisant Folk Club in Wales, he was singing a song when he broke a string and as far as I can remember he continued singing and was back playing guitar before he'd reached the end of the song and I don't rememeber it having 100s of verses!! He used a little windup jobbie to tighten the string.(sorry to be so technical)

Stunning performance all by it's self.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Kaleea
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:35 PM

Even if you change strings before each performance that is no guarantee that one won't break.

Has anybody ever heard Beppe Gambetta tell the story of when he was performing with another guitarist-can't remember for sure who, might have been Dan Crary--& a string broke on Beppe's guitar midtune. He ran to his case backstage, no strings there, so he ran outside the theatre (guitar still strapped on), got into the car, into the box of extra strings, ran back inside pulling the correct string out of the package & tossing the others as he ran, jumped up onto the stage while attempting to begin putting it on his guitar which was still strapped on, got the thing wound, & joined his partner in the tune. They screamed & applauded for Beppe. His partner joked that HE was the one who had carry the tune while Beppe was running around.

Beppe keeps extra strings in his shirt pocket now, which he sometimes has to use during performances. Not a bad idea.

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 02:57 PM

I always have my winder and spare strings with me on stage, and a couple of good long shaggy dog stories/jokes to use during the operation.
Barrett's Privateers also works well.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: open mike
Date: 20 Jun 06 - 04:07 PM

see Dean Markley Turbo Tune
http://www.afm.org/public/musicbiz/guitarstring.php

Subject: RE: Restringing on stage
From: weerover
Date: 21 Jun 06 - 03:04 PM

I once supported Wike Whellans at a gig where he started an instrumental on blues harp and guitar. He broke a string, carried on on the harp without missing a beat, changed the string, re-tuned and finished the tune on both instruments. Again, might have been a "party piece", but still pretty impressive.

wr