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Bassists using your equipment at gigs

rapidfirerob

rapidfirerob

Fusion rules!
Dec 3, 2007
1,597
1,205
San Francisco Bay Area
#1
This is the second time now that an opening band wants to use some of our equipment, including my amp and cabinet and the drums this time out. I've opened for many bands and can't recall asking to use the bass player's amp. We're headlining a festival during the day, then playing a club at night. The opening band will be playing for an hour at the club. Plus, it will be the first gigs with my GB Shuttle 6.0 and GK Neo 112. I'd like opinions on this. Thanks.
 
#2
Basic rule of thumb: never let anyone you don't know use your gear. Sometimes the club owner, band manager or even your own band members will try to use peer pressure to make you bend but believe me it's not a good idea. It's hard because most of us honestly want to help out our fellow man/woman but what if something breaks? Then what are you, the person who spent all the money on that gear and all the time babying it going to do? Even if they make amends for it, you're still burned for that day's gig. Chuck Rainey tells an interesting story about this the first time he met James Jamerson in the Standing in the Shadows of Motown book.
 
#3
I'm no pro by any means. Our little acoustic trio is barely getting off the ground. But if it were me, I would NOT let anybody use my gear. I'm no jerk or anything. But come on. I worked hard for the money to buy my gear. And I did not haul everything and set it up for somebody else to play. I'm MY roadie :) Not to mention now theres a chance that person may damage the gear somehow. Spilled beer, over excitement, rockstar moment, whatEVER it might be. lol

Just my opinion. I'd much rather not. I would not even think about asking ANYBODY if I can borrow their gear. About the most I would ask someone is a pick, but I dont even use picks :D
 
#4
I will allow someone I know or know to be an experienced musician to use my amplifier, because I know it can be a pain in the butt to change out amps, drums, even PAs at multi-band gigs. It can also be less hassle for the sound guy. But, if the festival is big enough and there's a long enough gap between bands, maybe it'll be okay to swap all the equipment. If you have no idea who the opener is or whether they can be trusted, I'd say no unless completely necessary.

I used to let people grab my bass and play, but now no one can touch it. It's okay if we're at home and the guy wants to try the bass out, but not for a gig.
 
#5
As mentioned, if you know the people and are comfortable that you can trust them then it should be ok, and in that instance I'd say I'd probably do it. You can only be expexted to do it if you can get some kind of guarantee, abstract or otherwise, than you will be able to go home at the end of thw night with the gear you (probably) spend thousands of dollars on.

For people you don't know, just use my old way of dealing with it:
Them: "Can I use your gear?"
Me: "Na, sorry dude. Can I use yours?"
Them: "I didn't bring my gear, that's why I was..."
Me: "Hang on, so you're saying I HAVE to use my OWN gear? Dude, that's not really fair, I should be able to use your gear, shouldn't I?"
 
#6
I was actually going to start a similar thread about this.

Out of the past 10 shows I've done with other bands on the bill I've had at least one bassist from 5 of those 10 shows ask me to borrow something - usually my amp head. Now, I'd understand asking to borrow a strap or maybe a cable, but how the heck do you expect to be able to play a show without a head? How can you expect others to provide one for you?

And maybe this is just me, but where do you get the cajones to ask someone if it's okay to use their SVT Classic or DB750? You're talking about some of seriously expensive gear, and to have the nerve to expect another bassist to let you use their $2,000+ head is unbelievable - let alone try to ask to borrow their entire $3,500 rig (wow, just realized how much $$$ I have invested into music...).
 
#7
General rule of thumb for us is that other bands are welcome to our cabinets and drum kit.
We only ask them to bring their own guitars,heads,pedals,snare and cymbals.Basically this saves you moving and changing all the big heavy stuff,and also means if a band needs to,they can fit everything they need in one car.It's pretty important to get in touch first though and ask.you can't just rock up at a gig and expect to use this stuff.In the event that a band is without,that's their problem for not getting their **** together beforehand.
 
#8
i had a situation like the op's about 10 for so years ago our friends band was putting on a show and asked us to play, so we at met at a local resturant so it was 4 bands total and because we had the nicest gear (mesa boogie amps, line 6, gretch drum ect )
they all wanted to use our gear we looked at each other and said nope. they got all pissy so we told the to piss off and we left. I even yelled at a guy that started playing my rig at a house party. he made it seem like it wasnt a big deal.
 
#10
It's a case by case situation for me I guess. I don't let strangers use my bass but if you're hosting a jam every Tom, Dick, and Bass Player who shows up won't be toting his amp and even if he was there's no time to swap stuff out. If he shows up without his bass well I guess he wasn't planning on playing. But yeah, you get to use my amp as long as you respect it. If not you lose your spot in the jam even if it means I have to play all night.

The only time anyone gets to use my bass is when a friend shows up unprepared to play and I ask him to sit in and I have had others who would grant me that same privilege. I have enough respect for other professionals to trust them with my gear.

I have little experience with playing with others on the bill who don't have their own gear and prefer to use it. Occasionally I've done gigs where we have to share a stage backline and the other bassist and I use the same rig. Usually it's one that's been provided by whoever is providing sound and it's usually something pretty bullet proof. If not we'll usually set both amps up side by side and each use our own for our set.

IMHO players who come without their own gear expecting to use others aren't behaving very professionally and I have no problem telling them that. Maybe next time they'll learn to come better prepared.
 
#11
i have kinda different view an that...

when i used to gig as a drummer we would always contact the other bands and everyone would bring one or two pieces of the backline to share. we usually brought bass- and guitarcabs, so i was able to use someone elses drumkit for a show (except for cymbals and snaredrum, that's what drummers are worried about usually ;)).

as we were just playing small gigs it never was much of a problem, but i have to admit: i don't really own that expensive gear, so that's a different story i guess...
 
#14
We once did a rather large festival (10000 people), where most of the acts where DJ's doing electro and stuff. We were one of the opening acts (6th if I remember correctly), and one of the few that weren't electro.

About 2 hours after our set, the organization came to us pleading to use our DJ´s needle, as the had broken one of the two that they had supplied!! I found this unbelievable! A festival for 10000 people, who each paid 50 euros to get in, and they had only supplied two needles for +20 DJ's!

We were actually doing this gig for free (don't hate me!) yet the main act charged 20.000 euros, and even he didn´t bring his own gear!!

I strongly reccomended our DJ to say no, but in the end he rented it for 100 euros, which I guess more than covers the price of a new needle, but still, I think it is unbelievable that people don't bring there own gear!

When we agree to do a gig, the first thing I always ask is what is provided by the organization, and even if it is all there, we still bring our own instruments, mic's etc.
 
#15
Fuzzbassian said:
General rule of thumb for us is that other bands are welcome to our cabinets and drum kit.
We only ask them to bring their own guitars,heads,pedals,snare and cymbals.Basically this saves you moving and changing all the big heavy stuff,and also means if a band needs to,they can fit everything they need in one car.It's pretty important to get in touch first though and ask.you can't just rock up at a gig and expect to use this stuff.In the event that a band is without,that's their problem for not getting their **** together beforehand.
Click to expand...

THIS
 
#16
We had a gig 2 weeks ago when the act following us rocked up on the night with half a drumkit and no cabs. They then proceeded to ask every single band there if they could borrow gear as they couldn't fit it all in the car. We just asked them why they didn't organise anything ahead of time if they knew they were only taking one car.

If someone asks me ahead of time I might consider it, on the night they're on their own.
 
#18
My band is hosting a large music festival this summer. I'm not letting anyone else use my gear, so I'm renting and insuring the backline, and the fee comes out of everyone's cut equally. Problem solved.
 
#20
Maybe I'm the odd one out, but I've left my LM3 and Ampeg 4X10 HLF at multiple "multi band" events for everyone to use. Not every bassist has a amp appropriate for larger venues, and I've cranked the s*** out of that thing and it holds up fine... That being said, before they go on, every bass player gets the "only god can save you from my wrath if you manage to break this" talk.... As far as I'm concerned, if you break, you buy......or I hunt you down. (they don't know I got the entire setup for under 750 bucks, so some new stuff would be in order). But hey, that's my two cents.
 

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