a gripe if you will

dingbass · #1 08-09-2009, 03:31 AM

I play in a band that hosts a jam every Sunday night and usually i have not problems with guys coming up and playing my gear. everyone is respectful and rarely every has a problem with what i use. a while ago i was playing and a guy came up and played my rig. he is a SICK bass player and can play circles around me, hands down. so the guy gets up and really starts pushing my gear. Clipping the amp, really digging in on my bass and almost trying to break something. now i play hard, really hard and my gear can handle its fair share for what it is. (i use an eden wt 400 and a 1x12 on this gig because that is really all i need. it sounds good and i don't want to have to cart a big amp with me because i don't drive). now granted on that night i was only using a cheap squire jazz bass so i wasn't really concern about the bass. I usually bring my Dingwall but for some reason that night i didn't and in hindsight that was good. I come to find out later that this guy was dissing my amp, dissing my jazz bass (this i can understand) and dissing my dingwall.

Now i don't really have an issue with him dissing any of my gear, to each there own. if we all liked the same gear there would be a lot of companies out of business, but the fact of the matter is if you are playing on someone else's rig it only seems like treating it with respect is the right thing to do. the guy took over my position in a band that i left and i don't know if he had something to prove or what but as i said before i know in terms of flash the guy can out play me, hands down; but you know it just wasn't cool and i think that is what burns me.

I guess in the end what really matters is that i am gigging almost every week, and he's NOT!!!

With crap like this i really have to remind myself that karma will Kick A$$ in the end and that always helps me sleep a little better.

Auzzie-Phoenix · #2 08-09-2009, 03:45 AM

When someone plays another person's gear, the rule is to always be respectful. What this person did was the equivalent to a slap in the face. Definitely not someone I'd want touching my gear at a gtg.

Uribam · #3 08-09-2009, 03:56 AM

I agree. This guy is just nuts. Why would you take someone's gear that's clearly not yours and try to kill it? I would really have to hate someone to do that, and I mean hate. And if I were in your shoes I would have probably beaten the living hell out of him there and on the spot.....with the jazz bass. I don't really like jazz basses, but they're heavy enough to teach a lesson, I'll give them that any day.

Scott

dingbass · #4 08-09-2009, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uribam

I agree. This guy is just nuts. Why would you take someone's gear that's clearly not yours and try to kill it? I would really have to hate someone to do that, and I mean hate. And if I were in your shoes I would have probably beaten the living hell out of him there and on the spot.....with the jazz bass. I don't really like jazz basses, but they're heavy enough to teach a lesson, I'll give them that any day.

Scott

lol

TomA1234 · #5 08-09-2009, 04:30 AM

you should have reminded him that a bass breaks alot less easily than their skull

derrico1 · #6 08-09-2009, 01:24 PM

In your shoes I'd have turned the rig down once to get it out of clipping, and had a word with him at the same time. The second time I had to go up would have been to turn the rig off until the next player came up.

60bass · #7 08-09-2009, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingbass

I guess in the end what really matters is that i am gigging almost every week, and he's NOT!!!

You are right - end of story.

I don't care if the guy can play circles around you or not. YOU have something going for you regardless of your ability.

The next time (and if it was my gear there wouldn't be a next time) kindly let the jerk know that you don't appreciate the way he treats your gear and that you require him to provide you with CASH upfront to cover damages should he trash your stuff. Or he can bring his own gear.

Don't know the guy but from your description he sounds like countless others I've seen that are ego driven losers who can't hold down a gig because they can't put their ego's aside long enough to be a part of a "group".

Keep Low

salcott · #8 08-09-2009, 01:34 PM

"I guess in the end what really matters is that i am gigging almost every week, and he's NOT!!!"

You got it!! Let him sit home and play circles around the guy who's actually working. Next time he wants to sit in and spoo all over everything, just say no.
BTW, the only strings broken on any of my instruments in 40+ years have been broken by someone sitting in. If I don't know them well, it's bring-your-own-axe, and if you blow the amp or speaker, you've bought it.

ClassicRock55 · #9 08-09-2009, 01:39 PM

Musicians are like dogs and their bands are their respective "fire hydrants." Dig what I'm saying? When someone is using another guy's equipment or filling in for a gig, he is essentially taking a figurative leak on the fire hydrant. If he goes too much on the fire hydrant, the other musician comes back and sees that his territory has been infringed and now smells like another dog.

Enough with the pee related metaphors. What he did was totally disrespectful, and I'm sorry your stuck with a bad taste in your mouth.

standupright · #10 08-09-2009, 01:44 PM

i've been hosting jams for several years now and here it what i have found to be effective.

1. bring a crap bass in case a bass player shows up without his instrument. i have only seen this happen a couple of times. why someone would show up to a jam without their instrument is beyond me.

2. do not allow anyone to adjust your amp volume. 2 reasons. it's a jam, not a showcase, and if you allow the bass player to adjust the volume, everyone else will do so in kind and next thing you know, you're at ear bleed level.

standupright · #11 08-09-2009, 01:48 PM

also, the first time someone physically disrespects my gear, that's it. you're done. don't come back.

guy was doing this to our drummers kit during a tune at one of our jams. our drummer removed him from the kit almost immediately (during the tune) and picked up where he left off.

Chad Michael · #12 08-09-2009, 01:48 PM

Next time he asks to sit in, tell him this:

"No. You're a great bass player... but you've abused my gear so forget it."

His reply "Blah blah blah (fill in the blank)" ... it doesnt really matter what he says, just don't let it affect you.

Your response: "Go get your own gig and leave me alone"

Kirk Bryant · #13 08-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Having hosted literley hundreds of jam nights in the last 40+ yrs I can tell you thats BS. I have gone up many times and turned my rig down on jammers that crank it and I play fairly loud anyway, so I know the rig is plenty loud enough for the gig as I rarely have my bass Vol all the way up. If they persist in cranking I have and WILL go up and turn it OFF. I tell them thanks but gring your own rig if you don't want me to tell you what you can and can't do with MY rig. And by the way I don't mind at all guys turning knobs to get thier own sound.
One night on a jam in San Jose I had recently purchased a brand new Tobias Killer B 5 st. and had it as my only bass on an open jam. There were 4 bass players sitting in at various times throught the night, all friends by the way. On the last set I picked up my new baby and there on the back was a BIG gouge. I freaked and went to all of them personally and asked if they dented it and all denied they did it. I told them it's OK just tell me! All denied I asked the drummer he said no way. So I never did find out who did it. there were a lot of people on stage that night so who knows. Lesson learned.

The next week I went out and bought a Mexi Jazz and thats the only bass I let people play from then on!.

peace on ya...Capt Kirk

standupright · #14 08-09-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirk Bryant

Having hosted literley hundreds of jam nights in the last 40+ yrs I can tell you thats BS. I have gone up many times and turned my rig down on jammers that crank it and I play fairly loud anyway, so I know the rig is plenty loud enough for the gig as I rarely have my bass Vol all the way up. If they persist in cranking I have and WILL go up and turn it OFF. I tell them thanks but gring your own rig if you don't want me to tell you what you can and can't do with MY rig. And by the way I don't mind at all guys turning knobs to get thier own sound.
One night on a jam in San Jose I had recently purchased a brand new Tobias Killer B 5 st. and had it as my only bass on an open jam. There were 4 bass players sitting in at various times throught the night, all friends by the way. On the last set I picked up my new baby and there on the back was a BIG gouge. I freaked and went to all of them personally and asked if they dented it and all denied they did it. I told them it's OK just tell me! All denied I asked the drummer he said no way. So I never did find out who did it. there were a lot of people on stage that night so who knows. Lesson learned.

The next week I went out and bought a Mexi Jazz and thats the only bass I let people play from then on!.

peace on ya...Capt Kirk

damn that sucks. should have asked who was wearing a belt.

phatbass · #15 08-09-2009, 02:16 PM

Although I'm not doing it currently, I've done my time in house bands at jams/open mikes.

My policy is, "You can use my rig but bring yer own damn Bass". No discussion entered into. I also (normally) for these gigs use a fairly moron-proof rig; my Behringer V-Amp pro into a power amp driving my almost indestructible Warwick 411 Pro quad box.

I set the global gain on the V-Amp so that no matter what stupidity they commit, they ain't gonna drive stuff hard enough to hurt things (and it IS capable of very decent volume, even set up like this).

And they can do what they want with the eq on the V-Amp; at the end of their set I just recall my basic setting with the push of a button.

If they don't like it, I tell 'em to go start their own night...

dingbass · #16 08-09-2009, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derrico1

In your shoes I'd have turned the rig down once to get it out of clipping, and had a word with him at the same time. The second time I had to go up would have been to turn the rig off until the next player came up.

oh I did, I didn't shut it off but i pretty much sat right next him after that

dingbass · #17 08-09-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60bass

You are right - end of story.

I don't care if the guy can play circles around you or not. YOU have something going for you regardless of your ability.

Don't get me wrong, i am good at what i do but i am not a flashy, super lick focused player. I can play a solid groove and lock in with the drummer. I kinda anything more than that is just gravy an is not necessarily required on the gigs i do. What i meant about his abilities is that he can play all of that crazy stu hamm two handed stuff and super fast 16th note licks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60bass

The next time (and if it was my gear there wouldn't be a next time) kindly let the jerk know that you don't appreciate the way he treats your gear and that you require him to provide you with CASH upfront to cover damages should he trash your stuff. Or he can bring his own gear.

No next time, at least not on my rig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60bass

Don't know the guy but from your description he sounds like countless others I've seen that are ego driven losers who can't hold down a gig because they can't put their ego's aside long enough to be a part of a "group".

Keep Low

this seems to be the way it goes for him.

You know we have been doing this jam on and off for a few years now and i really don't have any issues with guys using my rig, my bass or what ever. In fact if a guy is interested in trying my dingwall i will usually let him/her asuming they are not wearing studded jackets or anything like that. You know 99.9% of the people who come up are super cool it is only that .1%.
anyways just had to gripe a bit
thanks guys and gals

**Stumbo** · #18 08-09-2009, 04:21 PM

New rules: Bring your own bass to the jam. Don't touch the amp. Any screwing around will get you shut down(even in the middle of a song) and banned. End of story.

Don't let anyone disrespect you like that and keep doing it right in front of you. You can step in any time to take control of the situation. Screw him if he doesn't like it.

billoetjen · #19 08-09-2009, 04:24 PM

Slam the jerk down; no second chances. He didn't earn it.

Jazzdogg · #20 08-09-2009, 04:31 PM

The only time I've ever played someone else's bass at a session is when I wnt to listen, and the person who owned the bass asked me to sit in. When I've hosted sessions, my bass is off limits without my prior consent. Every instrumentalist is expected to bring their own instrument. You'll seldom see sax players swapping axes; why should bassists be more lenient?

When it comes to amps, I always ask the owner before I make any changes to their rig. If it's my session, I talk to every bassist before they play to size 'em up and, if necessary, review the ground rules. If I don't get a good vibe from them, they don't play. If they "misbehave" they get one warning, after which they're done.

Calm and assertive before the fact is always better than pissed-off and aggressive after the fact.