Do you let people play your bass?

[chuck norriss]

Personally I learned early on that your position on loaning out your instruments needs to be about the same as loaning out your wife.

MY policy is never to loan out instruments...ever. Sad experience with people who were supposed to be knowledgeable skilled musicians and also friends of mine proved the error of trusting musicians to do or be what they say. And that ALSO goes for my modded SX basses. I've encountered so many folks who will treat their own stuff with care, but as soon as it's owned by someone else it's just so much junk to them to be thrown around and abused.

But I must admit I'm not totally hard-nosed. I commonly let fellow musicians "try" my instruments while I'm standing there observing and they typically return the favor by letting me try their gear. As others have said, it's a common thing at jam sessions where one can easily put a stop to damaging acts before they get out of hand. And you get to learn a few things by trying new things yourself.

But as for loans and especially loans for gigs, the answer is no. I used to loan stuff to people I've known for 10 or 15 years who I would have never doubted, it would still come back abused. Eventually I learned and just made the flat rule of no loans no matter WHO you are. (Probably have to eat these words when one day Vic Wooten needs to borrow a bass for a gig! )

ha! wooten. yea, i suppose if laboreal himself asked I would hesitate but of course i wouldn't wnat to say no. Imagine that--cuz you know he digs & slaps & bangs into them.

reminds me of a cat i knew who had a very expensive ducati but when he rode this guys hayabusa he wheelied it & when he landed i'm not sure what hit but the sparks flew. sucky.

 

[JonahTheAmazing]

I commonly let my friends and anyone who asks play. They shouldn't want to, because my only bass is nothing extraordinary, but I will let them if they ask.

That said, I can't stand how this one person in particular attempts to tune it. It's great that you try to tune by ear, but if it ain't working, just use the tuner I set directly by my amp. Then I have to waste 5 minutes of my precious time tuning it back. Grr.

 

[dudelove]

i do both, if i know thy can play i let them try, and if i dont, they never get closer than wath it, also if i know they cant play any, but if i can see the have som gift i let them try

 

[FatCity]

I am moving soon so I contacted a bass playing acquaintance to come over to practice and check out the band to see if he might be interested in joining once I leave. He did not bring his bass so I let him use mine. I didn't like it. It just felt a little too familiar.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Hard to say no....but stand right there if they do. Most don't ask....I play fretless.

 

[Rapisme]

I once had a tech that suffered from allegies and sinus problems,. So after working on my bass he's slapping and popping like nobodies business. Every couple of seconds he's wiping his nose and back to doing a Larry Graham impersonation. Then hands it to me. I take it put in in the bag. Once home, the lysol sheets come out and the new strings get put on! Mine you the strings where a day old!!! LOL

 

[T-MOST]

Rarely. If I know the bassist and we are friendly I will let them check it out for a few minutes. They do the same for me.

 

[Hawaii Islander]

I let my nephew play my bass all the time.

 

[fourfinger]

I voted Yes, I would let others play my instrument.

I owe lots of Karma, because before I could afford my first real bass, I was lent one, long term, by a friend. I returned it in good shape after more than a year. I will never forget how that huge favor changed my life.

 

[toddLURR]

I let my former guitarist play my fender jazz bass, he thought he could slap, and ended up down tuning my bass from EADG to CACG

 

[Adam Guzzo]

My guitarist sometimes asks to play my bass, and I usually say no. But sometimes I let him play it to avoid an awkward situation that would consist of him asking me why he can't play my bass, but I watch him like a hawk and am scared ****less because he plays it fairly aggressively with poor technique AND he has super sweaty hands to top it off. After I get it back I wipe the hell out of the strings and lock it in the case until he leaves......

 

[chuck norriss]

thats what im sayin. i dont want to be a douche & say no but come on--sweaty hands, throwing my floating bridge out of intonation?!

 

[Mediumhero]

only trusted musicians touch any of my bass equipment, normally they don't ask but oh well.
Nobody touches my drumset anymore after my idiot guitar player buddy broke the hi hat pedal haha.

 

[pacojas]

sure,... you can play my bass! show me what you got,...
and it BETTER be good.

if you are fakin' it, then you're wasting my time. i've learned alot from watching ppl play my stuff, though. (even some wankers)

 

[toddLURR]

As a bassist I don't think I'd ask to play a fellow bassists bass...It seems kind of rude

 

[Dan Knowlton]

Yes, but only if I am standing right there. After loaning out a 12-piece, double bass Sonor kit (think of Fodera for equivalent cost/quality) and cymbals and getting ripped off I will not loan my equipment to anyone!

Dan K.

 

[Rebop]

I let people play my basses all the time. (however, no loan without deposit) No questions asked, usually. Sometimes it's good for a laugh, other times they can really play and it's fun to make the new acquaintance.
Even my beloved prewar Epiphone upright bass (about 1939-41) is yours to play for a minute, maybe even sit in. I love it when EB guys ask to sit in when I only have my DB with me. They're usually. "oh yeah, bro. i can play it". After they can't find any notes other than open strings on a slow blues in E and totally missing the B7 on the turnaround, it becomes totally worth it!

My main philosophy is that: my basses have been here (some 70+ years) before me and were played by countless people. They are made to be played. Even my nice electrics (when I owned any) have had their share of people play/use them. One day, they will not be mine and I won't care then. Will I? I don't think I own, or would own, an instrument that I wouldn't be cool with someone playing music on. Just be careful when you put it back when you're done. What are ya' gonna hurt?

 

[baileyboy]

Only my instructor and Geddy Lee... if he ever asks.

 

[vivifiction]

Friends and known bandmates: Yes

Dudes at the show: NEVER EVER.

+1

 

[Spleenface92]

If any of you on talkbass asked to use one of my basses, I'd let you readily.