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Bassists using your equipment at gigs

#161
I've let opening bands use my amp/cab with no real issues when I was in a band that shared a lot of gigs.

One day, we played a festival, and there was a band playing after us...no clue who they were, and didn't even know there was a band playing after us until we got there. We left right after we were done playing. Their bassist shows up with no rig, under the assumption somehow he could use my rig. No communication beforehand...and no clue why he'd assume I was even going to be there during their performance, nevermind use my rig. Idiots.
 
#162
LiquidMidnight said:
...or you could just let people do their things without having to be "opposed" to them. The fact that you equate musicians of any kind to a jukebox tells me you have a LOT to learn about music, regardless if you have 2 or 3 hours of material.

As far as this thread, I think I've come to the conclusion that we need a "Gear Borrowing" sticky, because I swear this topic comes up every couple of weeks.
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Thanks for letting me do my thing then. I'm glad you aren't opposed to it.
I'm sure I have a lot to learn about music. As does every musician on the planet.
 
#163
thebass905 said:
Not every bassist has a amp appropriate for larger venues,
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Then they should stay out of larger venues until they get one.

I don't loan my gear to anyone. I often am asked to use someone else's gear at a show, which I do. But I don't touch it, and that comes in handy. When I was playing a show just 3 weeks ago the bass player's cabinet blew a speaker. Since the FOH sound was fine, all I had was just a really thin, trebly backline which I just dealt with and moved on.

But the fact that I physically never touched the amp helped me . . . if it had come to blame I would have had the recourse that he set it up, he EQ'd it, he set the volume, obviously I did not blow his rig.

I don't like using other people's stuff and I always detest the sound I get, so from now on I bring my own.


slaps76 said:
ITheir bassist shows up with no rig, under the assumption somehow he could use my rig. No communication beforehand...and no clue why he'd assume I was even going to be there during their performance
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What is amazing to me is that I have seen this same crap for decades. I was at a battle of the bands in the mid-late 1980's, and half the bassists in the building were going direct into the PA. I don't know what it is about "beginner on bass" that indicates "no equipment required," but it sure does torque off those of us who have bothered to build up our rigs.
 
#164
maxgrant said:
What is amazing to me is that I have seen this same crap for decades. I was at a battle of the bands in the mid-late 1980's, and half the bassists in the building were going direct into the PA. I don't know what it is about "beginner on bass" that indicates "no equipment required," but it sure does torque off those of us who have bothered to build up our rigs.
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So if I plug straight into the PA I'm a beginner on bass?:eyebrow:

I've been gigging since I was 12 years old and I'm in my 20s now. After spending thousands and thousands of dollars on fancy amps, my conclusion is that the audience really doesn't care what you sound like. To think anything else is absurd! To me, bringing an amp is far more hassle than its worth at this point.

Figure it this way:
A) Portable and good sounding PA equipment has gone a long way
B) At a larger venue, you're really only using your amp as a monitor. If you crank to sound good FOH, you throw off the whole band and the overall sound goes way way down.
C) At a venue of any size, sound dispersion is important. Something a PA allows you to do!
D) Most rigs are overkill for the small-medium venues that the majority of people play.
E) The audience only cares that a bass sounds something like a bass. Don't get sensitive. They also don't care about the guitar and drum tone either. They want CLEAR vocals and a BALANCED sound.

I own a nice DI box and an EQ pedal. Anything really specific (tone wise) I talk to the sound guy about. I play in many different types of bands playing vastly different kinds of music.

Also, I've pushed every band I've ever been in for the last few years to buy a good PA system. A really good one (suitable for the large end of medium sized venues) will cost under two grand if you buy it new.

My current PA (which I own) is two self powered mains, a powered sub, mixer, monitors, small power amp, vocal eq and compressor. It cost me $1200 used. By owning my own PA, I'm also able to play at venues that don't have one. This rig has already paid for itself 10-12 times over since I got it last year. Better investment than I bass amp I think. ;)
 
#165
GeneralElectric said:
So if I plug straight into the PA I'm a beginner on bass?:eyebrow:
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I am not sure you grasped my point. Someone who knows what they're doing and PLANS to go through the sound system is different than someone who simply assumes that everything will work. At some of these shows I went to . . . the PA wasn't enough for a bass. That's when all the weenies started crying about sharing equipment.
 
#166
maxgrant said:
I am not sure you grasped my point. Someone who knows what they're doing and PLANS to go through the sound system is different than someone who simply assumes that everything will work. At some of these shows I went to . . . the PA wasn't enough for a bass. That's when all the weenies started crying about sharing equipment.
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I'll admit that I didn't grasp it either. I took as you dogging people who choose to go direct as opposed to use a full rig.
 
#167
GeneralElectric said:
So if I plug straight into the PA I'm a beginner on bass?:eyebrow:

I've been gigging since I was 12 years old and I'm in my 20s now. After spending thousands and thousands of dollars on fancy amps, my conclusion is that the audience really doesn't care what you sound like. To think anything else is absurd! To me, bringing an amp is far more hassle than its worth at this point.

Figure it this way:
A) Portable and good sounding PA equipment has gone a long way
B) At a larger venue, you're really only using your amp as a monitor. If you crank to sound good FOH, you throw off the whole band and the overall sound goes way way down.
C) At a venue of any size, sound dispersion is important. Something a PA allows you to do!
D) Most rigs are overkill for the small-medium venues that the majority of people play.
E) The audience only cares that a bass sounds something like a bass. Don't get sensitive. They also don't care about the guitar and drum tone either. They want CLEAR vocals and a BALANCED sound.

I own a nice DI box and an EQ pedal. Anything really specific (tone wise) I talk to the sound guy about. I play in many different types of bands playing vastly different kinds of music.

Also, I've pushed every band I've ever been in for the last few years to buy a good PA system. A really good one (suitable for the large end of medium sized venues) will cost under two grand if you buy it new.

My current PA (which I own) is two self powered mains, a powered sub, mixer, monitors, small power amp, vocal eq and compressor. It cost me $1200 used. By owning my own PA, I'm also able to play at venues that don't have one. This rig has already paid for itself 10-12 times over since I got it last year. Better investment than I bass amp I think. ;)
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You are stupido...you in 20's...must carry 140 lb 8x10...and 75 lb multi rack amp.... :-P

Seriously...if it wasn't for Markbass or GK neo...I'd be doing the DI thing too.
 
#168
RaginRog said:
You are stupido...you in 20's...must carry 140 lb 8x10...and 75 lb multi rack amp.... :-P

Seriously...if it wasn't for Markbass or GK neo...I'd be doing the DI thing too.
Click to expand...

That's what I love about my genz benz, no need to have a speaker load. It is good with by cab or using it as a direct box with a tube preamp and simple eq. Gotta love this new technological age we live in.
 
#169
My basic rule is if they can't hurt it, and I am hanging out for their set anyway, I will offer it up.

If I have a rig out that another bassist can damage if they crank it up, then no.

I generally assume the worst; they will dime everything in a moment of panic if they get buried by their own band.
 
#170
My bass I seemingly have very little choice over, being that the gigs I may be lending it are high-school end of term concerts and if I piss off the teacher I lose my gigs, 2 of my bands, my trombone lessons, and potentially a tour to europe in a few years time. So I got a five string and everyone is very reluctant to use it.

As for amps I currently have to use the school supplied one because mine is a practice amp. Once I get my new, gig-worthy amp in a few weeks then it's a different story. People I know and have seen play can use it, but I will set the EQ. I'll set it to a sound that fits for them but they won'd be touching the head. Cab I'll let most use as long as I can see their head doesn't have the power to get near blowing my cab. If I haven't seen them play or don't trust them though, they can beg the teacher to borrow the slightly-damaged Behringer. Blowing that one would be doing the world a favor.
 
#171
chatterbox272 said:
My bass I seemingly have very little choice over, being that the gigs I may be lending it are high-school end of term concerts and if I piss off the teacher I lose my gigs, 2 of my bands, my trombone lessons, and potentially a tour to europe in a few years time. So I got a five string and everyone is very reluctant to use it.
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This is so wrong!!!!
If it is your bass then the teacher has no - ZERO - right to have any input on who you choose to let play your bass. He didn't pay a cent for it and has no say on anything about who plays it.

If he wants students to play the same instrument, he should be providing it.

Talk to your parents and principal about this ASAP.
 
#173
Floyd Eye said:
I never lend out my gear. To anyone. Ever.
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I broke that rule just once, around 1980. Touring band came into the Homestead, FL club where we usually played, and someone promptly stole the bass player's Precision. We were off, so I let him use my M/M Stingray. I sympathized with him because someone had swiped my Peavey 2x15 cab (I'd locked up the amp in my trunk) from the same club the week before (obviously an inside job).
 
#174
Honest to god, I have issues if someone else even touches my cheap practice amp I have laying around my room, there is just something that creeps me out about people messing with anything that is mine.
Datamater said:
I broke that rule just once, around 1980. Touring band came into the Homestead, FL club where we usually played, and someone promptly stole the bass player's Precision. We were off, so I let him use my M/M Stingray. I sympathized with him because someone had swiped my Peavey 2x15 cab (I'd locked up the amp in my trunk) from the same club the week before (obviously an inside job).
Click to expand...
Wow, I'm guessing you never played at this club again?
 
#177
IMO, it's just an unfortunate part of human nature that some people don't give a **** about anything that they didn't have to sacrifice to get. I was taught that you returned anything that you borrowed in the same condition you borrowed it in or even better if you could clean it up a little. Apparently, this lesson has been deleted from the curriculum. And, yes, I am old. I am very reluctant to loan gear or basses.
Also, you have some players who have made an artform out of never having to load gear in or out. I know a guitard who owns 6 to 8 really nice guitars and zero amps or DI boxes. He bums somebody else's amp (usually a combo) wherever he plays. He's been doing this for years. When he's done, he just unplugs the (usually borrowed) cable from his guitar, puts his guitar in the case and legs it out of there. Nice.
 
#178
GeneralElectric said:
E) The audience only cares that a bass sounds something like a bass. Don't get sensitive. They also don't care about the guitar and drum tone either. They want CLEAR vocals and a BALANCED sound.
Click to expand...
I think you might be a little sensitive to hearing other opinions with that pre-emptive 'don't get sensitive' strike against anyone who might disagree... ;)

Personally I don't much appreciate a band that thinks tone is an afterthought and thinks whatever comes out of the amp is good enough. A band that takes the time to craft a sound that complements the song really stands out in my opinion. Putting together a nice sound palette is as important to me as a painter using colors that work together and set the right mood. There is more to music than hitting the right notes with a little rhythm.

I realize a lot of people really don't notice and not caring about tone will not really offend the average listener, but it's the critical listeners that will decide how far you go in music. Not the guys who just follow the party around and remember you as 'the band.'

You don't need an amp to get tone but I wouldn't bank on the idea that nobody cares about it, especially when it comes to guitar. Just an observation from the crowd.
 

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