How much is too much?

[Lost Drummer]

So I was in a music store, admiring a nice 5 string fret-less... I believe it said it was a Rob Allen. When an employee came half-way screaming at me to put the bass up. He apparently didn't think that I being as gentle as I should be with the instrument.

I had a pair of headphones amps on so no-one could hear my noobish playing while I attempted to get the noise that Les Claypool gets at the beginning of John the Fisherman. I was basically strumming all five strings at once while fretting all five strings at once with my index finger an sliding slowly down then up the neck...

Was I going overboard?

[Trevor.A]

No, the strings were meant to be played on. I don't see you could've damaged the bass?

[Brad Maestas]

Well, it depends on how hard you were strumming. If you were strumming hard enough, sure, you could put some gouges in the top. Without actually being there, it's hard to say whether the salesperson was being harsh or not.

Rob Allen's aren't cheap and I would expect any employee to protect their company's investment. Obviously a bass will devalue if it sustains any wear on the showroom floor. Naturally, I wouldn't tolerate paying the "new" price for a worn instrument so therein lies the problem.

Do you play store instruments like they're yours or do you treat them like you would want your own instrument to be treated? (just a rhetorical question.) Whether I'm at a store or at a dear friend's house, I treat all instruments with the same respect. I would hope that others would do the same for mine so when I'm at a store, I try not to leave a trace of even having been there. That doesn't mean you can't "play" it, just to me more mindful of what you're doing when you're not hitting the strings.

[mike_v_s]

I'm not sure about y'all, but I don't even pick up a bass unless I'm planning on purchasing something in it's price class in the immediate future and need a comparison.

Mike

[Lost Drummer]

I didn't do anything to it that I wouldn't do to my bass.
And I'm pretty anal about how my bass is treated.

[Munjibunga]

Noobish moves on an expensive bass for sale. I don't really blame the store guy.

[SoComSurfing]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Noobish moves on an expensive bass for sale. I don't really blame the store guy.

Word. I used to sell acoustic guitars that cost as much as your average Fodera, and had to be really protective when people wanted to play them.

[jsbass]

Originally Posted by Lost Drummer

So I was in a music store, admiring a nice 5 string fret-less... I believe it said it was a Rob Allen. When an employee came half-way screaming at me to put the bass up. He apparently didn't think that I being as gentle as I should be with the instrument.

I had a pair of headphones amps on so no-one could hear my noobish playing while I attempted to get the noise that Les Claypool gets at the beginning of John the Fisherman. I was basically strumming all five strings at once while fretting all five strings at once with my index finger an sliding slowly down then up the neck...

Was I going overboard?

Claypool stuff? Yes, probably.

[Fo' Shizzle]

Originally Posted by Lost Drummer

I didn't do anything to it that I wouldn't do to my bass.
And I'm pretty anal about how my bass is treated.

If your profile is current you're playing a Squire. The bass you were playing is probably over $2K. I can totally see the shop guy's point.

Not trying to flame you, bro. Just a guy that has some experience trying to help you out.

[invader3k]

It was probably pretty obvious that you had no intention to buy that bass, or anything similar, so I don't disagree with what the shopkeep did.