Guitar tech
In an indie rock band, a guitar technician would likely configure the equipment to evoke through tone a modern yet historically evocative sound.
In an acid rock band, a guitar tech might have to manipulate the controls on a ring modulator or a rotating Leslie speaker cabinet to create unusual sounds while the guitarist is performing.
During the show, the tech stands ready to replace any guitars in case a string breaks or if there is an equipment malfunction.
At the end of the show, the guitar tech disconnects all of the patch cords, cleans the instruments and puts them back into their cases.
The guitar tech also might perform any of a variety of maintenance tasks, such as checking that the string height of the guitars is set properly, modifying ("dressing") the height and arc of the frets, adjusting the intonation of the instruments, checking that tubes (valves) on tube amplifiers are working properly, and that cables are in good condition and free from crackles and hum caused by nicks and abrasions in the shielding or cable insulation.
Techs also check the batteries on "outboard" devices — effects boxes, tuners, and pre-amps — and wireless transmitters, and change them as necessary.
Depending on the size of a band's road crew, the guitar tech may either do this maintenance him- or herself, or, in a large touring act, delegate tasks to more-junior personnel.
On the other hand, a tech may have to set up ten or more electric guitars, a variety of amplifiers, and connect them to an intricate sequence of effects pedals.
Tuning problems may come from old or dirty strings, damaged or worn machine heads or frets, or mis-adjusted bridges.
While another member of the road crew may be dispatched to pick up an item, the tech usually writes down which models or brands are acceptable replacements.
On the other hand, a major touring act may hire a guitar technician as a permanent employee and provide them with a range of benefits.
A guitar tech traveling with a regional-level band may stay in inexpensive motels and receive a modest per diem for restaurant meals.
A guitar tech traveling with a major touring band, however, may stay at the same first-class hotels as the star performers and eat catered buffet or restaurant meals.
As well, guitar techs are often expected to set up, repair, and adjust electronic effects, tuners, pre-amplifiers, amplifiers, and pedalboards.
To do these tasks, guitar techs must know about a range of audio engineering and electronics concepts—such as impedance, signal phase (for speakers and microphone wiring), and input voltage for pre-amps and effects.
Once a guitar technician has joined the road crew of a major touring act, they may seek out promotions within this organization, to jobs with greater responsibilities and higher pay.
In the early part of a guitar tech's career, there might be a great deal of mobility between different types of bands and technician roles.
Depending on the band, these styles might include such as slap and pop, tapping, or upright bass-style playing with the thumb.
Also, since both piezoelectric transducers and microphones are more prone to unwanted feedback than magnetic pickups, the bass tech may have to set up a notch filter with a parametric equalizer to reduce the frequency that is feeding back.
