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Post subject: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions...)
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:36 pm
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So a few months ago I was reunited with a friend of mine who is a singer/songwriter. We used to be in a band together when we were teenagers. Now she's out of college and has lived in Europe for the last year or so. Anyway, now she's back and we've started jamming again. We're both really excited to be playing together again, and at her suggestion I enthusiastically volunteered to play guitar with her this May when she's going back to Ireland and the UK!

Now, I've hardly ever been outside of Texas before, and I've only ever played one gig that I had to take a plane to get to. And for that gig I had both of my parents (aka Roadies) with me plus an entire crew of professional sound/light/management guys to help. This is really going to be a lot different, it's just me and her and we're traveling light. We'll book some gigs in small venues (like pubs/coffee shops) after we get out plane tickets, and we'll be going from place to place busking.

We found her a Fender Passport Mini amp in Austin which is perfect for her since it can handle her vocals and acoustic guitar. I'd like to bring an electric guitar, but I'm wondering if something like a Taylor GS Mini set up like an electric would be good enough (and much lighter). Maybe bringing a Squier Mini would be OK? And would the Fender Passport Mini work well for an electric guitar or are there other options I should look into? I also want to bring my mandolin, since I've been playing mine a lot lately and it's not overly big or heavy.

I guess my question is really this, for backpacking/busking purposes what gear would you bring if you were going?

We're still not exactly sure when or where we're going, but it looks like we'll spend about a week in Ireland going to Dublin, Galway and Cork and then a little less than a week in the UK going to London and Edinburgh.

If you want to hear us, I just posted a new video we made a few days ago on my Facebook page. It's the first time we played that song together in just over three years!
https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:08 pm
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Hi Texas ! An adventure ! Glad to hear you and Cary making music again. Ceri, nikininja, Rhumba, Alansaab, ripitup555, celtic cyclonus are all busker pros across the pond (there are more too, on this Forum), PM Ceri and he should know what the best gear choices would be lol.

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:46 pm
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Wow, talk about experiences of a lifetime. Wishing you both much succes and safe travel.

I guess the biggest obstacle to consider is any gear you buy here in the states will need to be able to work with european voltages and outlets. I've never had to,deal,with such a problem so hopefully someone with experience will chime in.

Best of luck.

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:47 pm
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That's fantastic, Rebecca! There is a big wide world out there to see, be careful, but have fun.

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:18 pm
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Sounds like an adventure. The European voltage is a strong consideration. You might even consider picking up an amp when you get there to save on the hassles of bringing it across the pond. Would certainly save some time and trouble!


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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:24 pm
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Very cool Rebecca !!

As mentioned, be sure you can use whatever you bring with the voltages over there.

And look out for the men... especially the Irish men !! :lol: :lol: :lol:

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:11 pm
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I totally forgot about the voltage issue! I've heard of converters for things like people's cell phones, but is there a converter that could be used with amps? The Fender Passport runs on C batteries, so worst case scenario, could we just buy more C batteries there if needed?

Getting/renting an amp might be a good idea. It would have to be something very small, light weight, and pack a punch for its size like the Fender. We're flying in and out of Dublin (I think), so I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that they have music stores that sell such amps there?

The more I think of it, the more I'm leaning towards bringing a GS Mini. That way even if there are no amps or electricity, I can still be heard no matter where we play. I can just set it up like an electric with some light strings so that I can still shred away to my heart's content! I think that I may be able to borrow a Strat in Scotland, so for that part of the journey I wouldn't need to bring an electric anyway.

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:34 pm
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Some of the Passport products work with 120 or 240v. Batteries are the same, so you can buy C type batteries there. You could consider a battery powered multi pedal if you need some variety of sounds. My Zoom G3X gives me a pretty good acoustic sound with the acoustic sim pedal and the ensemble pedal on the neck pup. Then I can kick them off and use an amp sim for a heavier electric sound, with four AA batteries. Just an option.
We stayed a week in Edinburgh. There was a pretty good music store, I think it was Red Dog Music down by Market Green. Dublin is very lively also. Go through the Guiness tour. Lots of history there. Good luck, you're going to have a great time.

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:10 am
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texasguitarslinger wrote:
Dublin, Galway and Cork and then a little less than a week in the UK going to London and Edinburgh.


Come to Belfast!

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 10:21 am
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After your plans are "firmed up", contact some Brit and/or Irish Forumites and ask to borrow or rent their smaller amps; the idea of buying one "on the cheap" might be difficult--I don't know if UK gear prices are significantly higher, cheaper or the same as US prices...

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Post subject: Re: I'm going on an Ireland/UK Tour! (Lots of gear questions
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:52 am
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Tochai wrote:
texasguitarslinger wrote:
Dublin, Galway and Cork and then a little less than a week in the UK going to London and Edinburgh.


Come to Belfast!


I hope that I can! I wanted to spend a minimum of two weeks (as opposed to the ten days it looks like we're going for) and also visit places in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. But Cari's convinced that we'll start hating each other if we stay too long. :lol: She's probably right, seeing as I'm afraid of crossing the street and she's already been globe-trotting for years now. I'm also hoping that this is just the first of many trips, so if I don't get to go everywhere I want to this time around, then maybe I'll have anyother shot at it next year.

As to hear prices, just from looking through some of my British guitar magazines, it seems like everything is more expensive. When I worked retail at a guitar store I used to get people coming in to stock up on strings before going to Europe because of how much more expensive they were over there. But if I bought an amp, I would probably just carry it around for the ten days or so and then sell it back. Like renting it, if I can't find somewhere to rent it from. I should probably start emailing music stores to see who rents amps and where...

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