Tribute band gear question.

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Had an online ‘debate’ with a muso friend regarding tribute bands and the gear they use. Would you be bothered if you saw, say, a Sabbath tribute where the guy playing Tony is using a Strat? So long as the music is right, does it really matter? 
'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • VeganicVeganic Frets: 673
    That's not a tribute band. I wouldn't care because they obviously don't! 

     :p 
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  • I guess most people wouldn't be bothered or notice. 
    At a pub level having all the right gear almost seems like too much effort but at a club/ theatre level I'd pretty much expect it. 

    I make a mental note of what they are playing as I like guitars then pretty much ignore it.

    Oddly enough I think Iommi plays a strat on one of the TOTP performances so arguably authentic. 
    Tipton is a small fishing village in the borough of Sandwell. 
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  • Veganic said:
    That's not a tribute band. I wouldn't care because they obviously don't! 

     :p 
    Don’t care or can’t afford to switch gear every time they land a new gig?
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • munckeemunckee Frets: 12255
    I've seen tribute bands of the jam, the eagles, stones, beatles, stone roses, the smiths I just want to see a decent band play the songs live, I  could not give less of a monkeys whether they look right, dress right act right as long as they sound right.
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  • munckee said:
    I've seen tribute bands of the jam, the eagles, stones, beatles, stone roses, the smiths I just want to see a decent band play the songs live, I  could not give less of a monkeys whether they look right, dress right act right as long as they sound right.
    Exactamundo
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • I guess most people wouldn't be bothered or notice. 
    At a pub level having all the right gear almost seems like too much effort but at a club/ theatre level I'd pretty much expect it. 

    I make a mental note of what they are playing as I like guitars then pretty much ignore it.

    Oddly enough I think Iommi plays a strat on one of the TOTP performances so arguably authentic. 
    Reminds me of the time I went to see the ‘reformed’ Lizzy and Gorham was playing a Strat. No issues with his playing or tone but it was visually very strange. 
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • AlexCAlexC Frets: 2396
    I guess you’d be hard pushed to be in a Queen tribute without a Red Special... but other than that. Although a George Formby act with a Les Paul and a Marshall is all kinds of wrong.
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  • AlexC said:
    I guess you’d be hard pushed to be in a Queen tribute without a Red Special... but other than that. Although a George Formby act with a Les Paul and a Marshall is all kinds of wrong.
    Or all kinds of right!!
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • kinkin Frets: 1015
    edited December 2018
    I went to see Livewire the AC/DC tribute band last Saturday and i was impressed that the two singers even delivered the between song patter with Australian and Geordie accents.

    I would have thought most people wanting to see a tribute would expect a certain amount of looky- likey- ness, im not sure Angus with a Jazzmaster and wearing chinos and brogues would quite cut it.
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  • kin said:
    I went to see Livewire the AC/DC tribute band last Saturday and i was impressed that the two singers even delivered the between song patter with Australian and Geordie accents.

    I would have thought most people wanting to see a tribute would expect a certain amount of looky- likey- ness, im not sure Angus with a Jazzmaster and wearing chinos and brogues would quite cut it.
    I would pay double to see that!!
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • Clearly being a really tight band that plays the songs right is far more important, in that an average band with the right gear is obviously going to be less good than a great tight band with the wrong gear. But if all else is equal I'd venture that I'd rather see appropriate gear as well.

    That doesn't need to be completely slavish, but if you went to "not-AC/DC" and "Angus" was playing anything but an SG it wouldn't feel right. Likewise anyone doing Keef's parts in a Stones tribute might be a little odd if not on a Tele. Doesn't need to be butterscotch with a PAF and 5 strings, but you know what I mean.

    An old mate of mine plays in an Oasis tribute. He started on an ES-335 but bought one of the Union Jack Sheratons when Epiphone did a couple of back, and they do look more the part now than before. And it makes me itch that their bassist plays some swoopy looking japanese thing and not a P or J.
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • VeganicVeganic Frets: 673
    kin said:
    I went to see Livewire the AC/DC tribute band last Saturday and i was impressed that the two singers even delivered the between song patter with Australian and Geordie accents.

    I would have thought most people wanting to see a tribute would expect a certain amount of looky- likey- ness, im not sure Angus with a Jazzmaster and wearing chinos and brogues would quite cut it.
    I would pay double to see that!!
    Back in Brogues?
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  • not_the_djnot_the_dj Frets: 7306
    edited December 2018
    I know guys in a Who tribute who do a "tribute to the music of" so no dressing up and obsessing over the right gear....but also guys in an ACDC tribute who do the whole dress-up/wigs/right kit thing.

    Different levels of band really, from essentially a covers band that only cover one artist, to a full on show pretending to be the real thing.
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  • I know guys in a Who tribute who do a "tribute to the music of" so no dressing up and obsessing over the right gear....but also guys in an ACDC tribute who do the whole dress-up/wigs/right kit thing.

    Different levels of band really, from essentially a covers band that only cover one artist, to a full on show pretending to be the real thing.
    TBH Pete has use so much different gear it wouldn't matter too much anyway - you could play almost any "classic" design and argue it's what he used on something - Rickenbacker, Grestch, Strat, Tele, SG, Les Paul..
    The Assumptions - UAE party band for all your rock & soul desires
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  • I think if it's a tribute band I'd prefer to see the right gear, but not so if it's a covers band. However, if they can get the right sound without using the right gear, I tend to find this more impressive. As others have said, the key thing is the sound as this is what the majority of the audience are most interested in.
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  • John_PJohn_P Frets: 2744
    Some tributes matter more than others and if it’s a band the blokes like then they might not geek out about the exact model but would know enough to expect at least the right shape.   

    I’d expect any that takes their playing seriously to have roughly the right guitar.   LP for lizzy, strat for sure straits or deep purple, sg for AC/DC or Sabbath etc 
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  • TrudeTrude Frets: 914
    Here's my Keef rig:




    Different strokes for different folks, and I've had different guitars over the years (non-Micawber Teles, Casinos, even an SG right back when we started).  The Les Paul BB has been a mainstay for a long time now and I wouldn't be without it.

    It all depends on how closely you want to channel the band you're tributing but for me, strapping on the right guitar is all part of getting into character.  
    Some of the gear, some idea

    Trading feedback here
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  • Trude said:
    Here's my Keef rig:




    Different strokes for different folks, and I've had different guitars over the years (non-Micawber Teles, Casinos, even an SG right back when we started).  The Les Paul BB has been a mainstay for a long time now and I wouldn't be without it.

    It all depends on how closely you want to channel the band you're tributing but for me, strapping on the right guitar is all part of getting into character.  
    Niiiccceee. Can you please send me your address and let me know when you’re not at home?
    'Vot eva happened to the Transylvanian Tvist?'
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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    It really depends on how the band is pitching itself.

    On the one hand I played Keef in a Stones tribute (hence my moniker) and sourced a parts-built Nocaster and a Les Paul Junior- the sound was right, and the look went with my wig and makeup.

    On the other, I wouldn't expect any level of looky-likeyness from a Steely Dan tribute, I would expect the musicians to just use what woks for them.
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  • FunkfingersFunkfingers Frets: 14321
    a Sabbath tribute where the guy playing Tony is using a Strat?
    Early in Iommi's career, he did play Stratocasters. 

    http://www.iommi.com/equipment/fender-stratocasters/
    Be seeing you.
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