Playing a Telecaster in church

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally Posted by leonard d rock

a little off maybe, but last sunday i was listening to a pastor on a radio and he was quoting a passage "about not serving from the same plate" which he explained what we use in church should not be used outside it and exemplified it by saying you cant be a church soloist on sundays and be singing in bars on weekdays. it made me wonder does it apply to guitars also, like the guitar i use in P&W should not be used in rock gigs? i use the same guitars for all my gigs and can't afford to designate guitars exclusively for P&W. any thoughts?

ldr

I'm pretty sure discussing actual theology/doctrine/dogma ist verboten here.

But let's just say it's a very safe bet I won't be playing in that guy's church any time soon.

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally Posted by HighTower

God is glorified in music (ain't no doubt about that) no matter where you play or sing. I was just trying to get some hints about what it would be like to play in a church band, since I don't have the looks or hot licks anymore. I'm just wanting to meet others who care about true spirit, and even though I have never been much of regular church goer (organized religion has lots to be desired) I am just wanting to make some new friends in my isolated part of the woods.

I have had a wonderful time playing in church bands, though from time to time like anything else there will be the occasional person to be a pain. It is very enjoyable and for me certainly adds a depth to and interest in the service that might not otherwise be there, although of course I can enjoy music being played by others rather than myself, and either way the message is more important to the medium.

If you are considering it, I would encourage you to try it out. Do not worry about your skill level. Except at the really big mega-churches where a band director may have a dozen or so players to choose from, or where hired pros are used, I've found most church bands to be very appreciative of any help they can get. At both my prior and current churches I was more or less the only capable electric lead player they had, and although no one should hold their breaths waiting from me to rip out any EVH, or for that matter Brad Paisley, licks, I've found congregants to be very kind about any contribution I've managed to make. (And as far as "looks" go, if that were even a consideration I'd have never played a lick in church!)

God's blessings!

[jb12string]

Originally Posted by Parma_TeleMon

Congrats, my friend from That State Up North!

I'm on this weekend, too - and it's always casual Sunday at the Vineyard!

Is Parma, OH near Columbus?

[Parma_TeleMon]

Nope, it's about 10 miles south of downtown Cleveland. I think it's still considered the largest suburb in the state. How far are you from Tyrone?

[jb12string]

roughly half way across the state:) I am close to Harrisburg (relatively speaking)

[Parma_TeleMon]

Cool! I grew up in Erie. We drove out your way last summer on the way to Baltimore.

[patl]

Originally Posted by Parma_TeleMon

Congrats, my friend from That State Up North!

I'm on this weekend, too - and it's always casual Sunday at the Vineyard!

True :-)

Hi to Parma_TeleMon from another Vineyard-ite (former church planter, now recovering and just playing a bit with an unaffiliated church plant).

[stagefright]

My wife runs sound for my team and her favorite of my guitars is a black 59 Esquire top loader relic.If I take a Strat or other Tele, SG etc. she'll say...yeah they sound OK but why are you foolin around with those....the Esquire is hands down the best sound.I hate it when she's right ;-)

[PhatBoy]

Would it be the Ruman?

[myk2e]

I'm chiming in late on this thread but I use either my '52ri or a LP copy depending on the other electric player's choice that day. He uses an ash tele or an Epiphone LP custom thru a Vox. The pastor plays in the other band (we alternate bands) and uses a MIA Strat via Line 6. The 2nd guitarist in THAT group uses an SG and Line 6.

I've only gotten comments about my amp. I use a Budda SD18 and wound up covering up the logo plate while filling in at a friend's youth group when he took over.

The pastor at my home church is always telling me to turn it up louder, so I got that going for me

[3Ply]

Originally Posted by Ptrallan01

With the pastor on this one, but then again, i'm the pastor!

No problems with tele's or any other guitar but some people don't like their ministers playing guitar!

I feel you on this one. I too am the pastor, however I was playing guitar many years before I was a pastor. Playing is still one of my favorite outlets for enjoyment and expression. However, some people struggle with the shift from the band to the pulpit... silliness actually. I have found my two Tele's are definitely my favorite for the worship environment.

One has an SD Lil 59' and the other a DiMarzio Chopper... great balance of humbucking and yet still cuts through the mix well.

[sonserve]

Originally Posted by Farfel

Same here.

Same here, 'cept I kinda coerced the worship leader into letting me be the designated bass guy. We were letting the guys trade off. He is young and didn't realize we need a solid rhythm section before anything else even matters. I do love my Precision '62 reissue! The drummer is my best friend so it works out great...

[Rubsoul]

Hi all,
Fairly new to the site. I enjoy this board and have a question...
We (the wife & me) are considering starting a band for our "small" congragation here, but.. there in a small issue. The Pastor's wife is the music director and always "downs" any offers of special music other than her "Canned" music. ;(
(There is even a nice piano & organ but no keyboard player here - It's a crying shame). Pastor also can play guitar, but can't seem to convince trying live music. We would even play acoustic's for awhile before I sneak in my Tele :)
Any ideas??
Bandless in Baltimore
John

I see we have a few "Mainers" posting here. My wife hails from Presque Isle, Maine.

[skinned_knuckle]

My main guitar for worship was a Gibson LP. Then I got my tele and showed up to service with it. The worship leader freaked. Even though I showed up early and had it sounding better than the Gibson through the sound system he still threw down his rattle and pacifier and went crying to his dad (pastor's kids have a way of making the rest of us christians look bad.) I was told that I could use it for the service that day but there would be a "meeting" after church. I left through the side door after the service before the pastor or his kid could see me. I went to my buddy's church the following Sunday and never looked back. My current band doesn't care what I play as long as it's for the worship of god.

[3Ply]

Originally Posted by Rubsoul

Hi all,
Fairly new to the site. I enjoy this board and have a question...
We (the wife & me) are considering starting a band for our "small" congragation here, but.. there in a small issue. The Pastor's wife is the music director and always "downs" any offers of special music other than her "Canned" music. ;(
(There is even a nice piano & organ but no keyboard player here - It's a crying shame). Pastor also can play guitar, but can't seem to convince trying live music. We would even play acoustic's for awhile before I sneak in my Tele :)
Any ideas??
Bandless in Baltimore
John

I see we have a few "Mainers" posting here. My wife hails from Presque Isle, Maine.

I'm not going to white wash this situation... it has to come from the top - down. As a senior pastor I give my team great latitude for developing their style and experimentation. The key is openness and I'm not a micro-manager. I do understand not everyone leads this way, but you have to let people run with what they have in order to learn. It's worth the risk for me. You may have a situation that cannot be navigated until you literally sit down with them for a meeting, share your intentions and then gauge their reaction. Until then, you just won't know. Good luck!

[david_lewis93]

I met my wife in Church,she's the piano player/vocalist,I am a picker (read bluegrass rhythemic lead style)I play either a Gibson sonix 180 (looks a LOT like a tele,,was my Dads,) or a Garrison acustic-electric, got a Squire tele Affinity that is being "tweaked"right now,new Keystones and switch,waiting to take her to worship services,no complaints on guitars or style,country gospel with a bluegrass flavoe ans a honkeytonk piano,,and NEPHEW is the PASTOR,,sweet . Praise God and play louder!
David

[babalooga]

I play my Tele in church most of the time and all I ever heard from the team leader and fellow team members was positive comments. I play a modded MIM Strat as well, and they seem to like it as well. I'm thinking about putting coil taps in my Elitist Les Paul, I would probably play it more often with the single coil option, I guess I'm basically a single coil guy at heart.

[curtbob]

Speakin' just for me, I don't understand why an electric guitar in church would be 'sacrilegious' while an acoustic one would be 'righteous'-- unless of course you mean my Seagull . In the case of electrics, just use some sense-- avoid something shaped like the devil, a battle axe, a squashed spider or obscenely shaped.

I don't recall hearing too much flack about guitars in a church service.

[dantonel]

I for one Do not catch Flack for my tele toting worship. I think the people at my Church appreciate Great Tone when they hear it. (And for Sure Great Worship

[tom grossheider]

No-one has ever said a thing about what guitars I play or how I play it, and I don't expect anyone ever will at least in my church. If they do then I'll deal with it, so let's rock!