Bassists without a Bass?

Red Rover · #1 05-04-2009, 12:27 PM

Hey guys,

Just a quick kinda funny story.

I just played a gig last Friday. We were the opener for a 4 band night. After our set, the guitarist (who knows me) comes up and asks if their bassist can use my bass. I figure why not... his might be in the shop or something like that. Also, I'm not overly protective of my gear as I usually buy cheap (had an SX that night). They play their set... bass sounds good. It's all cool.

The second band starts setting up. They start their set. The bass looks awfully familiar. Hey! That's my SX again! What the? Like I said... I don't mind sharing but this time nobody even asked permission. They have a second bassist sit in while the first guy goes on guitar. Sure enough, he's using my bass too. So that's 3 bassists and none of them thought of bringing a bass. Jeez!

The fourth band went on and I was relieved to see that they had brought their own bass. I packed up and left.

The SX sounded good all night long though...

Foamy · #2 05-04-2009, 12:34 PM

A couple years ago our praise team was moving from boring stuff to more contemporary songs. At rehearsal, the new leader played a great song with a great guitar riff - I was the guitarist! I loved it! It totally rocked and I was jazzed that I was going to be able to play it. Well.....the bass player USED to play guitar. He heard it too and all-of-the-sudden says 'I'll play guitar on that one on Sunday'. I politely said 'No, you are the bass player for the past few months now. I'm the guitarist, and I'll play it'
Sunday morning rolls around, and the guy doesn't bring his bass. He brings his guitar!
I was a bit miffed.
I made him drive home and get his bass!

There was some good bass groovin' in that song too - but he was really just a root note player and didn't get the groove.

Anyhow, I still laugh when I see the guy. He's a good guy though - just got weird over that one bit.

mkrtu9 · #3 05-04-2009, 12:42 PM

^^^ dude brought his guitar and not his bass. lol

Bhuti · #4 05-04-2009, 12:52 PM

No one touches my bass. No sound man, no club owner and no other bassist without my permission and damn sure not to play a set. If you feel like your set would be better with a better bass, then you need to give yourself a few more hugs a day.

I find it disgusting for someone to just loan someone else's gear out without permission or introducing all 3 parties. Same goes for the smallest of my gear...

Red Rover · #5 05-04-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhuti

No one touches my bass. No sound man, no club owner and no other bassist without my permission and damn sure not to play a set. If you feel like your set would be better with a better bass, then you need to give yourself a few more hugs a day.

I find it disgusting for someone to just loan someone else's gear out without permission or introducing all 3 parties. Same goes for the smallest of my gear...

I have to admit I was somewhat annoyed because the 2nd and 3rd guy hadn't asked permission. I would of said yes had they asked. It just seems weird that 3 guys would come to a gig without an instrument.

Gubna · #6 05-04-2009, 01:03 PM

I thought you were going to say "The fourth band went on and he had my bass!"

my singer used to offer our gear out as a backline a few times. I put that shite to an end. the first time, they were young kids, and didn't even thank us afterward. - but only the amps, and drums, - not my bass. Another time, some chick came up to ask me - but then it wasn't even her playing bass - it was some other guy. that was messed up. I never allowed that to happen again. funny thing was, the next time it happened turned out to be the guy who eventually replaced me in the band - and now were friends!

I think I only ever lent out my bass one time - two a guy who didn't bring his and I felt like being nice - I did lend him my back up. I'm thinking the same thing - how do you go to a gig without your instrument?!

nightcityburn · #7 05-04-2009, 01:11 PM

I played sets this past month where the kid did not have quality gear and asked to borrow my entire stack, which would have been a leap above his combo amp. I politely declined, as I was going home after I played.

That weekend we were playing another gig together and he asked to borrow my head, as most of the backline was being provided, aside from heads. I obliged this time, but not without being a little upset.

How can you play in a metal band and not have your own gear?

NWB · #8 05-04-2009, 01:17 PM

What sort of gig was this?

And just what were these guys expecting to play their songs on if they didn't bring instruments?

Red Rover · #9 05-04-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWB

What sort of gig was this?

And just what were these guys expecting to play their songs on if they didn't bring instruments?

Just your regular bar gig... 4 original bands. I can only guess that they assumed they could borrow some gear. Most of the guys in the 4 bands know each other. I'm the new guy in so I don't know everybody yet (I didn't really know any of the bassists except the one guy who did bring his). Maybe they were going to borrow the other guy's bass but preferred mine because his was short scale. I don't know.

Rick Auricchio · #10 05-04-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rover

I can only guess that they assumed they could borrow some gear.

In an earlier thread on this topic, I think one suggestion was to ask if you can borrow the guy's girlfriend/wife.

Ozzman · #11 05-04-2009, 04:08 PM

My band was headlining a local metal show and the second band was this group of kids who's dads managed the band and got them their gear. Their bass (I think a higher end Ibanez) wouldn't work and they couldn't figure out why. So I asked a simple question:

Me: "Is the bass active?"
Kid: "What's that mean?"
Dad: "Not as far as I know."

Me:..."Let me see the back."
I point out the 9volt slot, and quickly told them they needed to replace it because their bass was dead. The dad quickly asked to borrow mine and I agreed. But as I was handing the Brawley to the 14 year old I told him very quietly "Break this and I break you."
He didn't move an inch the entire set, just stood very still and played softly. Only time i've ever let someone borrow equipment.

rarisgod · #12 05-04-2009, 06:14 PM

I'm not usually too fond of lending out my basses. I like keeping them in as best condition as possible, and if there's any scratches on it, I want to be the one that caused them.

But there's times when I've done it. One time, a friend of mine was on stage (it was a school show, groups go up, play a song, etc.) and I had my bass with me. I usually keep it on me if I can because I like to know where it is. Anyway, so they're up on stage setting up, and suddenly the bass player goes to the mic and asks for me specifically. I'm like "What could this be?" So I walk up to the stage, and he asks if he can borrow my bass because his battery died. Amusing that he called me specifically. But yes. I watched him for the whole song. Not that I thought he'd drop it or anything, I just get edgy sometimes when it comes to my bass.

Another time, as some of you have seen on my YouTube channel, I arranged "Blast" by Marcus Miller for our band to play. So there's three of us taking turns playing the bass part. During a performance, I had already taken my turn doing one of the solos. But then during the second guy's turn, the third guy (same guy as the other story) tells me he broke a string! So I quickly traded basses with him...it's one of those "you had to be there" things to fully enjoy the story, but I've lent my bass on very little notice a fair few times.

cutthroatmolloy · #13 05-04-2009, 11:00 PM

i knew a 'guitarist' that didnt own a guitar. haha.

If someone showed up to a show without bringing the appropriate gear and just expected to borrow mine they would be in for a bit of a surprise. i don't lug that gear to shows just incase you don't feel like bringing your own, its just plain rude to expect to be able to borrow stuff.
sure, if theres alot of bands and its pre arranged ill loan my cabinets, and maybe my head, but only if its been arranged previously, or maybe if one of the guys in other bands' gear breaks on the night.

if someone showed up to play bass at a gig with no bass i would ask them how did they expect to play a show without a bass. not much chance of me lending you my bass.

sonic assassin · #14 05-04-2009, 11:31 PM

id let someone use my bass.. but its a cheapo. its also covered in blue tape and my various "graphics" printed on them. then are going to be sporting the straight edge bonekrusher, and they are going to wear it VERY high on their chest.

the best way to keep people off your bass is to get a 5 string

clueless bassists cant make heads or tails of it.. and seems like the people that would show up without a bass are those types.

dohead · #15 05-20-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rover

Hey guys,

Just a quick kinda funny story.

I just played a gig last Friday. We were the opener for a 4 band night. After our set, the guitarist (who knows me) comes up and asks if their bassist can use my bass. I figure why not... his might be in the shop or something like that. Also, I'm not overly protective of my gear as I usually buy cheap (had an SX that night). They play their set... bass sounds good. It's all cool.

The second band starts setting up. They start their set. The bass looks awfully familiar. Hey! That's my SX again! What the? Like I said... I don't mind sharing but this time nobody even asked permission. They have a second bassist sit in while the first guy goes on guitar. Sure enough, he's using my bass too. So that's 3 bassists and none of them thought of bringing a bass. Jeez!

The fourth band went on and I was relieved to see that they had brought their own bass. I packed up and left.

The SX sounded good all night long though...

damn. good thing about being a lefty... no one bugs you to borrow your bass

bad thing about being a lefty, finding a good bass!

ErebusBass · #16 05-20-2009, 08:50 AM

My excuse is that my bass is tuned funny. I would use that excuse even if I was bringing one of my basses that's in E.

atheos · #17 05-20-2009, 09:02 AM

Not too many bands play in Db-Ab-Db-Gb tuning so I can just say everybody not to change it and they give up.

BillyRay · #18 05-20-2009, 11:32 AM

I've let people use my gear because other people have let me use their gear in the past. I had a stint where I gigged regularly but I was using a borrowed Memphis p-bass.

Now, these things were always planned in advance I never borrowed anything at the last minute unless something went very wrong. Never lended expensive stuff also.

And the best way to not get asked again is to play an ERB fretless.

bonus LJ: The instructor who taught me how to ride motorcycles was an old dude. Probably pushing 70. In the 60's, it wasn't rare for his friend to ask to borrow his bike for joyrides, and most joyrides involved alcohol in those days. He countered this by buying a modified hand shift Triumph with the reverse clutch. Nobody asked to borrow his ride after that. He was still riding that bike from time to time to get to classes.

Illbay · #19 05-20-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

In an earlier thread on this topic, I think one suggestion was to ask if you can borrow the guy's girlfriend/wife.

That is what is known in the parlance as the "quid pro quo."

darkladytaelyn · #20 05-20-2009, 12:31 PM

Maybe this is just a local thing (and considering the residency of a one Chuck Berry this may be founded somehow), but most of the people I've played with here will name their instruments and hold them to an almost personified level. So, asking to use someone's axe really would be like asking to dance with their spouse. If the answer to that is even remotely a "yes," it will probably be accompanied by "but you will keep him/her in my sight at all times or you will not live to see tomorrow."