Blunders You Dare To Admit

[fretone1]

I searched the forum and couldn't find this thread and thought it might be interesting (or make me feel like less of a idiot).

I currently play in a r&b band and we were doing a fairly big gig (for us at least) at a local winery here in Northern Cali. These jobs are kinda chice because they pay VERY WELL and usually bring in electic crowds. You usually have people in the crowd that will book you for other good paying jobs later.

Anyway's our band usually uses our pa but this job had a pro system with soundman. I play through a SWR Black Beauty combo. It has a direct out on the rear that will stay active unless you turn your guitar volume off. Well we never mike my cab so I'm used to just turning the front speaker switch to off. This way my amps in standby without having to fool with my guitar volume.

Well the MC of the event gives the usual thanks to the sponsors and its our turn to go. With a geat introduction 1,2,123 and we go in to the first song after such a great send off and nothin.. I got nothin. The rest of the bands playing on I'm lookin all over my amp! Is it a bad cord? Power switch on? Standby on? Now I'm in panic mode. I got nuthin! The bands almost halfway through the first song. I got the sound guy checin his cords, then I happen to hit my guitar volume knob... yep I'm an idiot!

Anyone else?

[kcole4001]

Done a similar stunt with a volume pedal once, though it was early on at a regular bar gig, so there weren't many people there yet, and it was much easier to spy the problem and correct it (only took about one bar of looking around).

[Muaguana]

I was recording with one of the trios I'm in, and while the guitarist plays in Eb standard, I play my 5 string tuned E standard just so I don't have to detune all the time. Anyway, I forgot to tune at the beginning of the session, so right before we start a new track I ask the guitarist for his A. Obviously not thinking at all, I tune to him, and play a whole take one half step out of tune. And for most of the song I'm playing the low C, so it sounds like complete ****.

[Joe Nerve]

Opened a show tuned a half step down then the other guy (it was a 3 piece). Best part for me is I was getting pissed at him thinking he started the gig without tuning up.

[crapusername]

we do Slither by Velvet revolver, which we do in drop d (we're already tuned to Eb anyway), so my 'E' is sitting at C#.
Next song is Run to the hills (iron maiden) and we jump in. I very quickly realise I still have my 'E' at C# , and end up jumping all over to keep the pitching right, as well as singing BV!
Doh!

[Staccato]

Bought a bass at GC last year-without realizing at the time-it was poorly built on a Monday.

[St Drogo]

I once had no signal after setting up (before the show luckily), and could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong. Turns out i connected all of my (then) four pedals backwards. Plugged into the output and ran the inputs to the next effect and amp. Took my drummer (my drummer!) to point me towards the mistake. Shame ensued on my part, laughing and gratuitous fingerpointing on theirs.

Also, on my second or so show (back when I used to play guitar), I broke a string just before our last song, so the guitarist of the band we were opening for offered me his to finish our set. He neglected to tell me it was tuned half a step lower. Being nervous as hell and inexperienced as a catholic schoolgirl, I noticed something was wrong when playing, but had no idea how to correct it. Just put my gameface on and bluffed my way through it. Ugh, that was bad...

EDIT: Oh Joe Nerve, I see we've had similar experiences.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

Opened a show tuned a half step down then the other guy (it was a 3 piece). Best part for me is I was getting pissed at him thinking he started the gig without tuning up.

that is classic!

[Muaguana]

Originally Posted by St Drogo

Being nervous as hell and inexperienced as a catholic schoolgirl, I noticed something was wrong when playing, but had no idea how to correct it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSEgFCFZU-Q

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[jefwho]

Originally Posted by Muaguana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSEgFCFZU-Q

Sorry, couldn't resist.

That link was exactly what i was hoping it was!

[mwbassace]

i have a fender p & was t-boned by a truck in the trunk. he hit hard enough to crack the hardshell case & break my g string tuning peg. a couple months before this i put a hipshot drop-d tuning peg on the bass. i went 2+ months & played several shows with other basses & my fender w/the busted tuner(never went more than a few cents outta tune, damn good tuning pegs)before my DRUMMER reminds me bout the spare tuning peg due to the hipshot! even had ordered a peg via mail! DUH!!

[St Drogo]

Originally Posted by Muaguana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSEgFCFZU-Q

Sorry, couldn't resist.