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Bassists using your equipment at gigs

#23
I'm not really okay with it.

I don't even like playing through other peoples gear unless I know it functions 100%, and even then it makes me worry just in case something happens. Then I would have to replace it, but if I wasn't so lazy I could have just brought my own and been done with it.

I've done a few shows where we all use the same backline, I just don't want to be the one providing it unless it was a rental and I was putting on the show.
 
#24
never...I had people who take advantage of it and tell me not to touch his settings...when its my amp?? People these days think they have the right. If they dont come prepared they shouldnt be playing at all.
 
#25
My band is typically a headlining act, and *most* of the time we don't use an opener - on the times that we do, we'll usually offer to let the opener use our backline, in an effort to reduce changeover time... Of course, we're a bit selective on whom we let open for us, and always reserve control of our gear, should it appear that something's being abused... All of this is agreed beforehand, and not the night of the show, however - I would never show up at a gig without the gear I needed to play, and assume that I could use someone else's... I also wouldn't allow my bass rig to be used by a bunch of acts at a fest - that's just asking for trouble... I almost always know anyone who's going to use my rig beforehand - and definitely wouldn't appreciate having it volunteered for me to a complete stranger...


- georgestrings
 
#27
MiJaKo said:
If the other band contacts us beforehand and works out arrangements AND I know the person or my bandmates can completely vouch for them, I'm ok with sharing my rig.
Click to expand...


This... although I also have to say that my rig is somewhat overkill, and fairly "bullet-proof", so the risk is pretty minimal - not everyone is in such a situation... In the clubs we play, someone would already be screaming at the player cranking my rig to "turn down" long before any damage could occur - since it's definitely capable of breaking stuff in the venue, and drowning out the drummer and PA...


- georgestrings
 
#29
I was playing with a 60's band a few years ago and we supported a former UK 60's chart act, who it turns out had arranged to use our gear. Their bassist (who had apparently done some work with Eurythmics at one point) gleefully turned my TE combos way up beyond where I had them set. They suddenly sounded distressed. I don't care if it could have slightly interrupted their flow, but I walked on behind him and turned the cabs back down to where I had left them. Sorry about that, but I had to use them at the next gig. He didn't. He shot me a look and I said, "Well, go and get yours out of the van then."

The same happened with a former 1970's UK two hit wonder chart act (whose old lady on the piano was long dead). They managed to make a mess of our guitarist's Twin Reverb. He was never happy with it after they had nearly blown it to Kingdom Come. At least their bassist left my settings alone. He was told in advance that I'd set it for him and he quite liked our mix, so didn't interfere at all.

So I would as a rule never let another bassist use my gear. The exception being if I am helping host a jam night, then I'd turn my amp round so the settings on it can't be altered. I'd bring a bass that I am not too fussy about someone using.
 
#30
Years ago, my band was opening for another local band. Their bassist had just gotten a new Trace Elliot head THAT DAY. Hadn't even turned it on yet.

That night, they decided that we had to use their amps. I was against it but went with it.

I turned his amp on. It blew up instantly. Not my fault, but he was pissed. He had never even gotten a chance to try it out. We both had to DI that night.

That was the last time I've shared an amp.
 
#31
I can't imagine myself going on a gig 'gear-less', asking for a gear to borrow.
I can't imagine myself asking someone to use his/her gear just because "It is better!" either...

Therefore, I don't/would not let anyone to use my gear.

However, I would let it being used as a backup in case of failure (amp blows up, broken string,...)
 
#33
I've been in both situations before. People have asked to play through my gear. In my situations, the bands are generally respectful of my gear, and I always talk to the bass player for a minute just to lay out my requests for him not to max out the gain, etc. Sometimes, the other band did bring their gear, and they are asked by the sound guy or whatever to see if they can share gear to minimize setup time.

On the other hand, I played bass for this guy that was a literal compulsive liar. He made stuff up in his own head, and believed his lies. Anyways, we played a festival in Louisville, KY, and I had my gear to take with me on the bus. But the guy told me that I didn't need to bring it, because he already talked to the other bands and I could just use their gear. I was uncomfortable with that, but I agreed.
So, we get to the show, and low and behold, no one knew anything about me using their gear. But luckily for me, the bass player in the band we played after, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, was very nice and let me use his Ampeg stack.
So I see it both ways. Sometimes, not everyone is a loser that shows up without any gear and just wants to ROCK! Most of the time, people are very courteous and thankful to use my gear if I let them.
 
#34
Rip Topaz said:
Years ago, my band was opening for another local band. Their bassist had just gotten a new Trace Elliot head THAT DAY. Hadn't even turned it on yet.

That night, they decided that we had to use their amps. I was against it but went with it.

I turned his amp on. It blew up instantly. Not my fault, but he was pissed. He had never even gotten a chance to try it out. We both had to DI that night.

That was the last time I've shared an amp.
Click to expand...


Sorry, but I found that to be a little bit funny - the guy insisted on you using his new rig, then it blows before he even plays thru it??? - that's sheer comedy gold right there...


- georgestrings
 
#36
I bring my rig to the rehearsal studio (which has an ok ish rig provided) because I hate playing through gear that I don't have an intimate knowledge of. So, I would NEVER use someone else's rig at a show. If there's a hassle about a changeover, I always offer to move both bass rigs. So far I've never had anyone get angry about it.

However, I've had a few guys walk up to me and ask if they could use my rig and they always get a no. I don't care who they are... Ok, that's not entirely true as there are 3 bass players who I'd lend my bass, amp, effects, cab, and daughter to, but I doubt they'd ever ask... Point is, I don't lend my gear to anyone and that has led to 3 bands having to send someone home to pickup an amp and a few bands that didn't play.

The bands that didn't play had a bass player who didn't own an amp. That really makes me wonder how you can take a gig without having the equipment you need to play it? The ones who sent someone out to get their amp make me wonder why you wouldn't bring your $#!t in the first place...
 
#38
I had a small gig at a Wine Room in SoCal and there were three other combos that were gonna play after we had the lunch tour buses all served and shipped out.

The only gear there was our stuff - the first arrivals of the other combos said that gear was supposed to be provided for free for them to use.

At the end of our lunch crowd, we just packed it all up including my PA - and the restaurant Maître d/Manager came over and asked me what we were doing and why were we taking the gear.

I just looked at him and said our show was over and we were leaving. He got really torqued at us for not leaving the gear for the other guys - too bad.

Maybe he didn't notice that we also brought all the stuff too.

When we left, so did the music.

If management lied, that's their problem, but nobody - ever - under any circumstances uses our gear. None of it. Never.
 
#40
Back in my days of DJ'ing, I used to do a lot of private parties. I usually used to do approximately 4 hours (Midnight till 4am) which was more than what was agreed, and I always used to provide the PA.

I got fed up with people telling me (when I was packing up to leave) that I couldn't take my gear with me because they would be left without music, and that I was going to kill the party, so in the end I used to carry a cheap chinese cassette player, and when they started complaining, I would offer to lend it to them. They usually said no!

My point is, maybe if we were to carry a small 5/10W combo amp, and when asked to lend them an amp, just offer the combo! Should at least be good for a laugh!!
 

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