Thoughts on sharing gear?

JoshuaTSP · #1 02-14-2011, 10:21 PM

What are your thoughts on sharing gear at a gig?

FletcherML · #2 02-14-2011, 10:30 PM

It's bad. Your gear will break and no one will fix it. There are a lot of threads regarding this here and they all say don't do it unless you have a rental contract... but still... don't

Muzoid · #3 02-14-2011, 10:33 PM

I will always, always help out a musician in need.

GrowlerBox · #4 02-14-2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzoid

I will always, always help out a musician in need.

In need is one thing. Can't be arsed bringing their own shiz is another.

christw · #5 02-14-2011, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

What are your thoughts on sharing gear at a gig?

You're really worked up about that 800RB, aren't you?

JimmyM · #6 02-14-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

You're really worked up about that 800RB, aren't you?

he's had it for 100 years, so i can't blame him

i have to let people use my gear on shows now and then. i have brought basses, guitars and amps for many folks. but i'm not dealing with jokers who can't play unless they have everything on 11.

Muzoid · #7 02-14-2011, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

In need is one thing. Can't be arsed bringing their own shiz is another.

Well ya....I agree 100%, and if it was sheer laziness, I would think twice.

But "The Show Must Go On", is one of my golden rules....so if a bassist calls (and has) at 11pm and says his amp just died...I pack the car and go.

vin*tone · #8 02-15-2011, 12:04 AM

I let a support act use my newly acquired SVT 6 Pro at a gig once upon a time. The bass player PUT HIS BEER RIGHT ON IT. Bad idea.......

Me over the band: "IT'S NOT A F*****G COFFEE TABLE"

Afterwards they guy was heard to say about me "he's a bit funny about his gear isn't he".

FrenchAK · #9 02-15-2011, 12:15 AM

I find it funny that, even with my ~1 year of experience playing bass and being a part of a band that's constantly the opener for teeny tiny shows, I'll be the guy people ask to borrow the amp from.

It's hard to say no when the other bands are going out on a limb to give you a chance, though.

Go figure.

Munjibunga · #10 02-15-2011, 12:20 AM

"Hey man, can I play through your amp?" "Really, man? I was going to ask if I could borrow yours."

VisualShock · #11 02-15-2011, 01:32 AM

I'm not usually too fussy about it. My set up is a little bit overkill for most instances in which it is used. I have a 300WRMS Trace Elliot head, and Ashdown MAG 210 and 115. The head can technically never blow the cabs, the pre-amp has a handy traffic-light system for monitoring input gain, and the loudest I've ever had it turned up just past halfway, which was far too loud.

I understand that a lot of people have had problems, but the problematic scenarios are much more likely to make news than a thread called "I lent my gear out, and it still works".

Muzoid · #12 02-15-2011, 01:38 AM

Ronnie King - Bassist for The Stampeders used my rig in Chelmsford ON in '09

He was very gracious, bought my beer all night (and I drank a crapload)

After the show, he offered me $2500 for it. <--- over it's market value

(nope, sorry dude)

I love my rig....it takes a lickin', and keeps on tickin'.

Implosion · #13 02-15-2011, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VisualShock

I'm not usually too fussy about it. My set up is a little bit overkill for most instances in which it is used. I have a 300WRMS Trace Elliot head, and Ashdown MAG 210 and 115. The head can technically never blow the cabs, the pre-amp has a handy traffic-light system for monitoring input gain, and the loudest I've ever had it turned up just past halfway, which was far too loud.

Your head can produce around twice it's RMS rating in transient spikes and the wattage ratings for the cabs are the thermal ratings for the voice coils. Mechanical limits are probably around half of those listed ratings. Enough low end even with the gain and volume "at halfway" can cause over excursion and damage the speaker. For instance if the gear borrower cranck's the lows and throws a Muff and a sonic stomp to the signal chain. Poor cab.

Monsterbass74 · #14 02-15-2011, 03:49 AM

I don't mind my amp being used as much as my basses. Settings are settings and I'm sure 11 times out of 10 the rest of the band would tell the bassist to turn down if he felt overly liberal. If you can't adjust from memory... well, I don't know then. It's my basses I worry about. During the "bar room days" everyone wanted to share... someone else's stuff! Hell, I even had idiot, non musician drunks come up, snatch and pose with my bass for a picture between sets with me 5 feet away from my gear like it didn't matter.

mongo2 · #15 02-15-2011, 04:21 AM

I've learned the hard way not to loan gear.

Electricblue · #16 02-15-2011, 06:08 AM

Theres 2 sides to sharing kit when something breaks.

1. They broke your amp and should buy you another

2. Every amp will break every so often, but it just decided to die when somebody else was using it.

I dont like borrowing kit, or lending it to people.

billfitzmaurice · #17 02-15-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

What are your thoughts on sharing gear at a gig?

On par with sharing a woman afterwards.

Never_grew_up · #18 02-15-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

On par with sharing a woman afterwards.

As long as I get to go 1st - On both the woman & the gig.

Never_grew_up · #19 02-15-2011, 06:36 AM

Seriously though...
If you're the opening act you have to stay till the last act is over before you can even load out and you can pretty much guarantee the other band won't show up to help you load in, or hang around to help you load out. If you're the headliner you have to get there early enough to load in for the opener. Maybe they'll help load in, maybe not. Odds are the opener won't stay to help w/load out either.

JoshuaTSP · #20 02-15-2011, 06:58 AM

Good call on the lazy vs. the in need.......