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Post subject: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 1:29 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
and related stories




I'll start

GMC 10 ton used when touring western Canada with 4 piece horn section Rock Band

wiped out in the mountains of British Columbia, travelling from Prince George to Prince Rupert
not much damage to PA and instruments considering truck was a write off, had a niece solid steel box.

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:22 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
Back when I used to be a regular gigger I had a covered cargo trailer with a ramp door, carpeted walls, two recessed tracks mounted on the walls for tying off to and a high shelf with netting for small stuff.
That trailer also doubled as a motorcycle hauler.
I lost it along with the house during my 2nd "at bat" in the division of property settlement game, a game I chose to drop out of permanently by making a hard life choice, to live alone.
A hard choice but for me, a sound one.
I consider myself fortunate that I learned the lesson early enough to (just barely) re-establish some level of comfort when I reach retirement age.

Now days, the only gear I regularly carry is enough for myself and myself only.
One amp, one pedal board, a small complement of guitars, a mic c/w stand, some cabling, testers, batteries and other tools for emergency and that's it. It all fits nicely in my little SUV.

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:47 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Now days, the only gear I regularly carry is enough for myself and myself only.
One amp, one pedal board, a small complement of guitars, a mic c/w stand, some cabling, testers, batteries and other tools for emergency and that's it. It all fits nicely in my little SUV.


nice story bro
yeah I hear you about relationships. I've failed miserably in that dept. Just retired this year alone and plan on living by myself till I depart

how did you get that backword lettering done in your location text field?

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:05 am
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Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
I forget exactly.
I'm pretty sure a website was involved.
Google can be an ally at times like that.

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 6:03 pm
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I had a 1994 Acura Vigor over the summer. This car barely has room to breathe, let alone transport a halfstack, guitars, a full drumset, and a recording setup, but It did.

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 6:42 pm
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Location: ʞɹo⅄ ʍǝN
yellowsnakes wrote:
how did you get that backword lettering done in your location text field?
[/quote]
http://www.upsidedowntext.com


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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:19 pm
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Location: Canada
Rolling over or wiping out with a truck or trailer full of gear certainly happens more often than desired or even heard about. I have a cousin who was touring day and night back to back on a gruelling trip through the States with a major band from Canada. He had a truck with his lighting gear and more, and dozing off he managed to survive a roll over that had us worried about his condition. Fortunately, he lived to tell about it.

My story isn’t that interesting, but here it is:

Back in my 20s I played a gig with a trumpet player, guitarist, and pianist. Most of the crowd were older. I was playing drums at the time. I went directly from work, was a little tired in the day, and hadn’t eaten before I got to the gig. Whoo boy! Big mistake.

We were on a riser in a drinking establishment, and I guess I was doing okay because free drinks kept coming every time I looked under my stool. After all that sitting and playing and drinking, we were invited into the office to smooze with the management; but, when I stood up I had to sit down and refuse the generous offer. I know I didn’t over indulge as I was driving blah blah. I should have done a Dave Clark and stood while playing. :lol:
Long story short, times have changed (drinking and driving is a no no), and somehow I luckily made it to my girlfriend’s who had not come to the gig. A honk of the horn on a summer day in front of her chuckling Grandma, parents, and neighbours, I slumped with embarrassment in the driver seat, discreetly called out to her that I couldn’t move, threw a wave for her to come to the car, and then I coaxed her to drive me home. To this day I don’t know how my drums got into the back seat of my 2 door ‘64 Parisienne. Neither did the other guys in the band (or so they say).

I still have those drums today (wish I had the car). As for my understanding girlfriend - I married her. The family forgave me. :D
FSB

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 2:14 am
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
We were on a riser in a drinking establishment, and I guess I was doing okay because free drinks kept coming every time I looked under my stool. After all that sitting and playing and drinking, we were invited into the office to smooze with the management; but, when I stood up I had to sit down and refuse the generous offer. I know I didn’t over indulge as I was driving blah blah. I should have done a Dave Clark and stood while playing. :lol:
Long story short, times have changed (drinking and driving is a no no), and somehow I luckily made it to my girlfriend’s who had not come to the gig. A honk of the horn on a summer day in front of her chuckling Grandma, parents, and neighbours, I slumped with embarrassment in the driver seat, discreetly called out to her that I couldn’t move, threw a wave for her to come to the car, and then I coaxed her to drive me home. To this day I don’t know how my drums got into the back seat of my 2 door ‘64 Parisienne. Neither did the other guys in the band (or so they say).

I still have those drums today (wish I had the car). As for my understanding girlfriend - I married her. The family forgave me. :D
FSB



. . . very cool, and great story. Drinking and driving was quite a bit different back then. Really had some close calls.

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 3:04 am
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yellowsnakes wrote:

. . . very cool, and great story. Drinking and driving was
quite a bit different back then. Really had some close calls.

Thanks, yellowsnakes. Glad you enjoyed it. You’re right things were pretty stoopid back then. There’s still some scragglers, but thankfully we mostly have it right these days.

On that note, it was just reported that Vermont is now the first State to legislate legalized recreational marijuana, but it’s still illegal under federal law.

I wonder how many others will
soon be puzzled how their gear got home from a gig? Might be another reason to stay off the road.:lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 8:55 am
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Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:07 am
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Location: Central WI
I've never lost my equip to the "property settlement" game, or a violent vehicle accident.

At one time in the early 90's I was part of a 4 pc group that played consistently all around the state, so we thought it was a great idea to purchase a school bus for the group. We removed all the seats except for two that were in place just as a "cover" for the heater that we moved from the back up front. There was a partition for gear in the back, the front had two couches, a decent stereo and we had a ton of fun times with that thing.

But 4 miles to the gallon and adding one qt. of oil for every 1/2 tank of gas was not cost effective. By the time the group broke up there were no mirrors left and a variety of "road rash" scars caused from various incidents that usually involved backing into or out of venues. Two deer were hit with literally no vehicle damage.

Lots of drinking was done while in motion, always with the "rule" that the driver didn't drink that day. The designated driver was determined by the highly scientific system of a coin flip.

But overall there were no fires, stranded in the middle of nowhere breakdowns, lawsuits or serious injuries so it's all good. I am so much happier now that the PA gear I own is so much smaller and my basses, amp, PA gear can all fit in my Edge with strategic packing.


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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 9:22 am
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That puts a whole new meaning on busing. :lol: Enjoyed that story, Chris.

FSB

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 11:28 am
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Most of the time I carry my own stuff aboard my Ford sedan. I take a minimum of gear: one (or two) guitar, a small tube amp, pedalboard and an old roadworn and dearly loved Jansport backpack with cables, microphones, Gaffer's tape, silver tape, connection cables, spare strings, spare tee shirt, a pack of tools, and whatever else I think I might need that night.

BUT

as for stories, I tell you mates... Nothing beats the sensation of going to a gig with your band and gear in an old beat-up light blue VW Kombi bus...

Peace and love!


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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 4:31 pm
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Gotta love those VW bus/vans. I and my buddy used to cruise Vancouver in a Karman Ghia; but, I always liked the van.

That was until some unfortunate tourists had a fire with their VW bus in our company’s parking lot. The fire department across the street came to the rescue . . . at least they thought they did. With water flooding the engine, and sparks flying like a fireworks display, the VW was now a write-off. Tough way to find out that magnesium was in the engine and some drive trains. :shock:
It could have been worse with
nobody hurt (except for a close call for a young firefighter).

You might not want your instruments in one like this either because, it has been reported, fire departments will keep their distance or not attend at all. Unlike using foam to extinguish the flames, water and magnesium can be a virtual bomb. Not so cool. :roll: unless you want pyrotechnics for your next gig.



FSB

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Sun May 13, 2018 6:09 pm
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70s & 80s - Plane or converted school bus or both.
90's to 2005 - 16 ft Truck (Converted Penske)
2011 to present - GMC Denali

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Post subject: Re: vehicle used for transporting gear to gigs
Posted: Mon May 14, 2018 11:38 am
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:

. . . at least they thought they did. With water flooding the engine, and sparks flying like a fireworks display, the VW was now a write-off. Tough way to find out that magnesium was in the engine and some drive trains. :shock:

FSB



hmm . . . very interesting

thanks

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