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Do you let other people play your basses?
- Thread starter misterCRUSH
- Start date
All the time. My son's band rehearses at my studio and his bassist has his pick of anything he likes. Wouldn't be like that if I didn't totally trust the kid. I lend some of my other basses, too. I'm just super careful about who gets them. I like my instruments to be played.
All the time. Three of them are on perma-loan and have been living in others' houses/studios for several years.
Sharing is fun.
Sharing is fun.
My wife can put her hands on my instruments whenever she wants. Otherwise, no.
Sure do, my kiddo's bass player seems to grab my CV Jazz on occasion and I have a Dean acoustic bass and a great playing Squier P as "house" basses in my buddy's jam spot. Share and share alike, back in tha day a ton of us local musicians always had eachothers backs whether it be a PA, drums, monitors, instruments or a ride and I guess it just carried over for me.
Back in the day, I was "house bassist" at a few open mic sessions in San Franisco. Every few weeks someone would ask to use my bass. Since I brought a beater to the jams, I had no issues doing so.
One time, a particularly ripe individual who looked like he slept in the streets dropped in. I was hesitant, but I let him use it. He played wonderfully, and was respectful to the instrument. To quote Chuck Berry: c'est la vie say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell.
One time, a particularly ripe individual who looked like he slept in the streets dropped in. I was hesitant, but I let him use it. He played wonderfully, and was respectful to the instrument. To quote Chuck Berry: c'est la vie say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell.
Yes, if I know them. I'm one of those "you gotta try this" kind of people. If I have something cool, I want my friends to experience it too.
Yes, if asked nicely it's no problem. If something bad happens I expect whoever to make it right, or I'll make it right myself. Had to do that a few times but overall my experience lending basses has been pretty positive.
Of course I do. It is an inanimate object, not my family member.
My bandmates: if i have difficulty coming up with a bassline sometimes, my drummer most often can, & i just hop on guitar (f wrote the song on acoustc frst). other than them, if i don't hand a person an instrument of mine, then hard no. there're a couple of non music frends who i do let.
Strangers? No, hell no. It takes one careless second to put a nick, scratch or dent in your instrument. Friends? Hell yea!
EdwardofHuncote
I Still Dream of Jeannie
- Aug 21, 2013
- 6,669
- 2
- 16,479
- Disclosures
- I privately own and operate a local musical instument repair shop.
I gotta' know 'em pretty well, but yeah. Put it this way, I've been in this musical circle long enough to know who not to let play my bass.
Depends on who and which bass.
(I have one bass that no one is even allowed to point at)
(I have one bass that no one is even allowed to point at)
Very occasionally, such as at a Bass Boot Camp.
But few want to. Evidently many find an unlined fretless 6 intimidating...
But few want to. Evidently many find an unlined fretless 6 intimidating...
If I know beforehand that it's a possibility, I have basses I'll take to the gig and some that I'll leave home.
I had an instance where a very drunk friend of a bandmate talked the rest of the band into letting him play while I was in the can. On my way out he staggered up to me and asked "so which tune ya gonna let me sit in on?".
It was my first gig with a new bass.
My response. "Not a one". The bandmate thought I should have trusted his judgement and let him play. He said he was a great bassist and that he always played drunk... and he couldn't understand why I'd have a problem with him playing.
When I reversed the role and asked him if he'd be ok with my having some of my friends come up and play his gear he said "no way", but said there's a big difference.
I had an instance where a very drunk friend of a bandmate talked the rest of the band into letting him play while I was in the can. On my way out he staggered up to me and asked "so which tune ya gonna let me sit in on?".
It was my first gig with a new bass.
My response. "Not a one". The bandmate thought I should have trusted his judgement and let him play. He said he was a great bassist and that he always played drunk... and he couldn't understand why I'd have a problem with him playing.
When I reversed the role and asked him if he'd be ok with my having some of my friends come up and play his gear he said "no way", but said there's a big difference.
A primary concern for me with letting someone else play an instrument is belt buckle rash. I generally play with it up fairly high, so it's a non-issue for me. Many others have a different height preference, and so ... no. If it's a situation where I know them enough to be confident they'll be appropriate in their use of it, then ...ok ... if I must 
.
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Yes, it's normal, and I also use and play with a lot of borrowed instruments. People know how careful I am with my equipment, they respect it, they take care of my things the way I do. At least so far I've never had any problems with it, it's just things we like.
