Band members on your bass?

[Martin89]

As long as their hands are clean, playing my bass is a-ok with anyone.

 

[prd004]

I would let my band mates check out my bass. But I play with mature people who have invested a lifetime of money and passion into their own gear, and understand how much I value mine.

Strangers..................? No way.

 

[Roger Ford]

I will offer a similar situation. My son is manic about driving off road. In his Toyota 4X4 he cannot pass a mud puddle. Then comes the Rubicon Trail here in California. At the middle of the run, there's a river running through the canyon, with a beach. He couldn't resist driving down the bank and into the river... It's now called 'Toy Sub', he found out what it was like to change engines 8 miles into the wilderness, with a comealong and a chain over a pine bough. "My message is, 'Don't Play With Your Daily Driver!'" Or, if you are going to allow folks you don't know to play bass, carry a throw away!

 

[soulman969]

He should ask and if you trust him with then let him play if he actually knows how. If he doesn't and all he's doing is screwing around then I'd discourage it. Even the members of your own band need to respect your gear and your feelings about letting someone else use it. That's just common courtesy.

 

[klaus486]

I'm in the "no way' category! Especially strangers. I have let a few folx play my newest bass but like others here have said the unlined fretlessness of it makes it only last for a few seconds. Most bass players are pretty respectful.......guitarists otoh seem to just want to bash the bejezus out of every bass so I usually respectfully decline.

Fortunately I'm in the instrument retail business so I do get to put plenty of instruments into peoples hands all day!

Forgive me if I'd like to keep mine for myself!

 

[ThickSounD]

I hate it when I let someone play my bass and then find out after its handed back to me that their fingers were covered in macaroni n cheese, chicken fat, diaper stuffing and hair grease.... taking the greasy funk thing to a whole new level.

Lately, I've been asking people if their hands are clean before touching my bass. I always wash my hands before playing. Gotta keep those expensive strings snappy and that smooth neck smooth, not sticky.

 

[owlie]

I once got to our rehearsal space and there wasn't any sound from my bass.. (active and the battery had died) well it turns out that one "friend" had used the bass and left it plugged in w/o asking permission.. :scowl: I met him couple days ago and gave him a earful..

I think its ok if band mates ask permission to play your instrument. We have even had "chill time" with our band when we just hang around, drink and play each others instruments. its quite humbling experience to be in the other guys shoes so to say..

 

[Duke21]

I let the lead guitar to pick my bass, but he is very polite and never just grab it without some eye to eye communication. He is also very careful and respectful for with basses. My other band members are fine and polite, never pick up others instruments.

 

[swspiers]

I notice a few quips about 'growing up and sharing', which seems a little simple-minded to me. There's also such a thing as growing up and setting boundaries.

 

[Thor]

I've seen the thread where people talked about the open stage nights and letting people use their gear.

What about people in your band? Would you let the drummer pick up your bass if the guitar player was playing while you were getting a drink? Our first open stage hosting was just us with a few people that wanted to sing or sit in on drums. The drummer was kind enough to let people play his kit. While one person was playing the drums along with the guitar player from my band, the drummer ran up to me and asked why he wasn't getting sound. I told him I had the mute activated. He then proceded to play my instrument.

I don't have fantastic and expensive stuff, but it's mine. I also greatly dislike touching other people. After he used the bass, it felt weird for a song or two...like it wasn't mine. Do I just let it happen next time, trust the people in my band? It's hard, but I'm not sure on the etiquette in this situation.

Newbie question here,

What is proper etiquette when hosting an open mic or open stage night? I am really new, but I have been going to a weekly open mic. Every bass player there has asked me to play their stuff, which I have respectfully declined all but one. Most of these guys are long time friends and we were friends WAY before I started playing, plus I think I am known as a pretty responsible guy.

It seems that everyone usually asks before they play someone elses stuff, but is the host band supposed to let people use their bass/ guitar if they didn't bring their own and someone wants to play?

Is the supposed to supply an instrument for people?

I know it is different for the drummers cuz they really can't bring their own gear, but I have noticed the host drummer usually has a conversation with the guest drummer before they play.

I don't know about your area, but around here people get paid to host open mikes. This includes making sure instruments, amps, drums, guitars and basses are available to be played.

If you are THE HOST, bring a rig that you expect others to use. If your band is the host, so are you, so be welcoming. There are times that people who didn't intend to play get the spirit and sign up.

If you are a guest as a bassist, then you are welcome and encouraged to bring your bass if you like. Use the house backline unless you make other arrangements as setting up and dialing in your own gear may cut into that performers allotted time.

If you are a guest, you are not obligated to allow anyone to use your gear, you aren't being paid for it.

If you are the host, but have "don't touch my rig issues", don't host. When you get over that, then, like the drummer, you are probably wise to give some basic instruction on the rig, like 'here's the mute switch', or please don't change the knobs, they are all set'.

If this is a gig, then no, your drummer noodling on your bass is not cool. Probably not for an open stage either as during the break, you should be setting up the next performer(s). If there is no one there to play, then I guess your OM was a bust and don't expect that gig to last long.

Also, see this thread Fireguy http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f32/open-jam-etiquette-626425/

 

[Flyingfrets]

Our guitar players are pretty laid-back individuals, both have some seriously enviable vintage gear ('60 Les Paul Standard/ '58 Junior...bought as "used" not "vintage" many moons ago). I have no quarrel with either of them playing my basses. If anybody understands respecting someone else's gear, it'd be these guys. Our drummer has no interest.

Someone I don't know touching my stuff? Their ass would get to the hospital before the ambulance...

 

[PaulMacCnj]

I like to know the person and how they regard gear before letting them hold / play one of my basses. Some people are very respectful. They ask first and take extra care to handle the instrument carefully. Other people have no respect. They pick up the instrument like it is a rag and beat the crap out of it with some over the top slapping and popping. That is when I immediately grab the instrument from them and kindly say, "Here, let me show you something on this bass", which is BS but it gets the instrument away from the abuse.

 

[thunderstation]

Our band is made up of older guys (59, 60, 61 & 62) I've known them for 10 years and I would let any one of them play my bass- the rhythm player was the bass player in a previous band, the keyboard player who does not play stringed instruments. really enjoyed picking it up and feeling the power of the lows-

 

[cnltb]

What about people in your band? Would you let the drummer pick up your bass if the guitar player was playing while you were getting a drink?

It very much depends on the drummer/person.
Generally it's a "no" however.

 

[RustyAxe]

Do I just let it happen next time, trust the people in my band? It's hard, but I'm not sure on the etiquette in this situation.

I don't see any victim here, only a volunteer. Tell the drummer to leave your gear alone, or live with it.

 

[Vakmere]

Nobody touches my Smith. End of story.

 

[Marko 1]

Band situations, nobody ever picked up my bass, and anyone who ever wanted to sit in happened to be cool, so I didn’t mind at all. I usually like to go out and check out the mix, and I enjoy seeing and hearing my bass from that perspective.

Friends who come to my place to jam, we’re pretty close, and they’re actually more respectful of my stuff than I am. I would usually have my beater bass in there, but lately I have been playing more expensive one, but they’re still no “all that”.

In fact sometimes I like to dip out for a smoke or whatever, and if someone picks up the bass I don’t feel pressure to get right back.

Also sometimes I’ll use that as an excuse to start banging on the Congas/Timbale… which for some reason gets me my bass handed back to me pretty quickly...

 

[Hobobob]

My band often switches around instruments at practice, often to help convey ideas to each other. But we always ask first, and we are all very good friends. If it was somebody I didn't know, I'd probably let em play it (if I wasn't getting any weird vibes), but they'd be under intense scrutiny and I'd have no problem pulling it right out of their hands if they got too rough. But if anyone ever grabbed my bass without asking, there would definitely be a problem.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Sure. I've known all of my band members for years, and they all take good care of their stuff. Everyone would have enough couth to ask first, too.

 

[pepepu]

If someone I know wants to see/hold my bass it's ok but to play it...no and my guitars not one of my friends touches them because they are all in different tunings