Do you label your equipment you leave at rehearsals?

JaneBass1 · #1 08-19-2008, 05:18 PM

I left some equipment at the practice space we are sharing with another band.

One of the members of our group is friends with some of the band's members and we actually help with the rent. What I heard is that they are very professional as they gig frequently and the bassist (who i never met) has let me use his full stack at the practice.

Now I have stuff of my own and left it there recently. I am kind of paranoid on just leaving that stuff there unmarked. I don't have insurance on them yet.

Should I just put my name and phone number on my cabs with a permanent marker, put a label on it, put a big noticeable sticker or just make sure I have insurance for it just in case?

What do you usually do with your equipment?

mrkreuzschlitz · #2 08-19-2008, 05:19 PM

I don't mark it.

Little things like cables and whatnot that are expendable, don't worry about, that happens no matter what.
You could use a label maker to write your name and your band's name, etc. on big stuff, like heads, cases, cabs, all that expensive, non expendable stuff.

Adam Bomb · #3 08-19-2008, 05:20 PM

Usually, I don't leave anything.

Sometimes, I'll leave the heavy stuff (cabs) and take everything else with me.

When I do *that*, I mark the gear, I note the serial numbers, and I usually snap off a quick phone pic of my stuff in there.

Trust issues? What?

--Bomb

cnltb · #4 08-19-2008, 05:22 PM

I've never left anything.
If I did, I would bring it in lockable,and labelled cases.

Phalex · #5 08-20-2008, 07:19 AM

I mark everything that might be confused with other peoples stuff. All my cables and small stuff have my name on them. That way I get them back. The last time I bought mic cables I got bright yellow ones. I didn't put my name on those because they are the only bright yellow cables I've ever seen.

nsmar4211 · #6 08-20-2008, 02:59 PM

Everything I own is labeled with a P-Touch labeler label. The rack has it visible and another one not visible (just in case). All basses are labeled inside the battery covers or the electronics covers, my gig bags have luggage tags on em.... Stands and stuff are marked. When you're packing up , everything looks the same (except my bright red bass cable

) and we've had a few cable swaps by accident LOL. Call me paranoid but its too easy to pick up the wrong stuff

.

Come to think of it, I gotta find a way to mark my acousttic guitar...hrm......

phatbass · #7 08-20-2008, 03:08 PM

I NEVER leave stuff at rehearsal rooms. Period.

huskies90 · #8 08-20-2008, 04:15 PM

Not sure marking it does much. When I was younger I left a 15" combo at my drummer's house that he rented and shared with other guys who were in other bands and rehearsed there too. One day after a short hiatus I went to pick it up. Gone. Sold for drug money. I doubt my name on it would have prevented that...

StyleOverShow · #9 08-20-2008, 05:06 PM

Lots of players use the same music/mike stands so I label them. Have adapted a bass logo and name tag. Maybe I should put TB on it too?

fdeck · #10 08-20-2008, 08:51 PM

You don't have to label your gear. All gear is labeled "steal me" when you leave it in a rehearsal room.

coreyfyfe · #11 08-20-2008, 08:58 PM

We have a practice space we share with another band of long time friends so I never worry about it. I leave my head/cab there with the speaker cable and I think I have a few random things there like extra tubes and a cable or something but thats about it. It's pretty clear what stuff is mine since I leave it all in one area, that and no one else uses anything like my stuff anyways. I've never been worried about theft since its in a quiet area, hidden away from view and has good security. That and members of the other band are living in the apartment in front of the space, so I'm sure they'd notice.

If you're really worried about theft, either insure it if its big enough or don't leave it. Otherwise, a label isn't going to much to prevent someone from taking it, even "accidentally".

dubyaresee · #12 08-20-2008, 09:05 PM

Would engraving your name or other identifying information on the backside of the bridge help in recovering a stolen bass? I've never been in the situation (on either side), so I honestly don't know if it would help.

I figure if you spend the time to label your own equipment, it might deter someone from "accidentally" walking off with it. Keeping info etched in an out-of-the-way place (back of the bridge, backside of the pickguard, inside the electronics compartment) could help recovery if the police get involved, or you check out local pawn shops and second-hand stores.

Any insight on if this has worked for anyone?

tplyons · #13 08-20-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubyaresee

Would engraving your name or other identifying information on the backside of the bridge help in recovering a stolen bass? I've never been in the situation (on either side), so I honestly don't know if it would help.

I figure if you spend the time to label your own equipment, it might deter someone from "accidentally" walking off with it. Keeping info etched in an out-of-the-way place (back of the bridge, backside of the pickguard, inside the electronics compartment) could help recovery if the police get involved, or you check out local pawn shops and second-hand stores.

Any insight on if this has worked for anyone?

I would say no on the engraving the bridge... bridges are easily removed and replaced. If you wanted to do it right, label the neck pocket, or control cavity, or under the neck plate... an inconspicuous place that cannot be removed from the bass.

dubyaresee · #14 08-20-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I would say no on the engraving the bridge... bridges are easily removed and replaced. If you wanted to do it right, label the neck pocket, or control cavity, or under the neck plate... an inconspicuous place that cannot be removed from the bass.

I certianly don't dispute that it can be replaced. I do wonder how many "master criminals" that steal an instrument from a rehersal space would spend the effort to check the back of the bridge and sanitize said instrument before turning it around to a pawn shop or "second-hand-store".

It is pretty easy to etch metal. My question revolves around the effort-to-recovery ratio. Any practical experience in that matter is of interest to me.

If you have a valuable instrument that will bring a thief more than a couple hundred on the stolen/sketchy market, the risk profile definitely points to not leaving it unsecured.

I bet just labeling equipment and keeping it dust-free does wonders to deterring the random opportunistic thief. I'd love to hear stories of how it has gone either way.

Rattman · #15 08-21-2008, 01:41 AM

Yeah... its a good idea to label everything you use within the band. Every single piece of musical gear I own is labeled very well, including all amp/instrument stands and cables, long or short. For my instruments, I post two conspicuous labels in plain sight: back of headstock and on the rear body. Then two more labels inside the body cavity.. someplace hard to spot.

Rathead123 · #16 08-21-2008, 01:17 PM

I label stuff, I have AMP, on my amp, Bass on my bass, Cable on my cable. Mic, on my mic, etc. Sounds like im being sarcastic untill you factor in that im the only one in the band labeled, so if it has something on it , it must be mine.

**Stumbo** · #17 08-21-2008, 01:19 PM

If someone steals your stuff, most anti-theft options can and will be removed or covered.
I think the story would go something like "Oh, I scratched off/painted over the previous owner's name and put my own".

Has anyone ever (and I mean ever) checked the serial numbers of what they wanted to buy with the local police. AFAIK, there's no national database of stolen property. If your stolen cab gets sold out of your local area, you can kiss it goodbye.

Not with standing the above, I would at least stencil your last name on the head/cabs so it's very visible so no one can say "they accidentally" borrowed your head/cab. I would also take all cables/mics home. Never leave your bass.