I always watch closely when I let someone use my gear. I actually carry a second bass, and that's the one I let them use. I have to say the several hundred times that I've let people use my gear, I've only had a couple of unpleasant experiences; and those were players who couldn't keep their hands of the knobs on my amps. I normally try to get them set up with a sound they like before I walk off the stage, or at least tell them what knobs they're allowed to touch.
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Guest bands using your rig....any stories?
- Thread starter sweetcharlie454
- Start date
I have a couple questions on previous posts in this thread.
How can letting someone use your rig damage preamp tubes?
How can a heavy handed player cause setup problems to your bass?
How can running an active bass into an unpadded input fry an amp?
I'm not being a smart a$$. I really would like to know the answers for future reference.
How can letting someone use your rig damage preamp tubes?
How can a heavy handed player cause setup problems to your bass?
How can running an active bass into an unpadded input fry an amp?
I'm not being a smart a$$. I really would like to know the answers for future reference.
This has rarely happened to me but I can remember one time this guy was having amp problems and we were opening up for them. They asked nicely and I didn't have any problem with it. He changed my settings but I understand he had his "own sound" so that was cool. The guy was named Dan Lilker and the band was Nuclear Assault. 
I've shared rigs both ways without a lot of problems. Although, once or twice for bands I KNEW were either unreasonably loud or abusive, I've agreed on one condition- long speaker cord and bass head far enough away that 1) I can adjust it and 2) he can't. "I'm not loud enough" "No, you're loud enough- but you might need to have a conversation with your guitarists, they're too loud."
I was playing a show once, and the bassist before me somehow broke his bass. It seemed like a wire was loose inside. Since there wasn't enough time to fix it, I let him use my bass. I didn't know him too well, but I had straplocks and he seemed like a good kid. He got plenty of compliments on the tone of his bass haha.
I'd be pretty hesitant to do it again, because I was pretty nervous as soon as he got up on stage. But I felt guilty, because it was either that or be down a bassist.
I'd be pretty hesitant to do it again, because I was pretty nervous as soon as he got up on stage. But I felt guilty, because it was either that or be down a bassist.
I may start hosting a blues night soon, for one reason to try and get people to TRY and destroy my fEarful. Ok not literally, but I am not really worried about the cab, but I would probably find some $100 good enough for blues peavey head that only has 350-400W to ensure that if I am not standing right there shouldn't be a large problem.
NOBODY but Ruby Rendrig gets to touch my bass on a gig. Period. Hanging out at practice or something maybe, but if your bass sucks enough to crap out before a gig, you should have 2 basses that suck. Or one good one works fine for me.
"I could rant on this subject all night so I think its time to stop typing....................
"
Yeah, what he said!
NOBODY but Ruby Rendrig gets to touch my bass on a gig. Period. Hanging out at practice or something maybe, but if your bass sucks enough to crap out before a gig, you should have 2 basses that suck. Or one good one works fine for me.
"I could rant on this subject all night so I think its time to stop typing....................
"Yeah, what he said!
I borowed an Ampeg B15 and a 1966 Fender jazz bass for a church gig in the 70's and ended up keeping it for two years after I moved out of state. My guitar player tried it and blew the speaker. I replaced it with a cheap Radio Shack speaker and gave the rig back to the guy... later he called and left a message on my answering machine that I sucked... I guess the new speaker sucked as well... I should have kept the rig after all, it would be worth thousands today.
These kind of run together. Clipping = Bad. Clipping can cause damage to speakers, tubes, crossovers, tweeters... everything really. Active basses have more output than passive (in general though this varies.. personally I've rarely ever padded any of my active basses). The higher output can cause the input stage to clip.
A bass is always under tension, the neck is under a lot of tension from the truss rod and the strings. A heavy handed player can mess with the normal equilibrium of things.
Clipping damages tubes?
Well I can see the loaning gear thing both ways. When I was a young punk kid all I had was a bass, literally. For a period of time I lived in my car, ate velveeta and crackers and played bass every day. I begged and borrowed a rig at every show. Often I just played into a DI. Hate that sound!
I can still remember the first times some nice older bassist let me play through an SVT or a Mesa. then you ask how much those amps cost and $2000 sounds like too much money to ever have at once.
Years later I own a mesa head and cab. I letohter bassists use it and tell them not to go past "here" on the volume.
One day I am playing a show AND doing the PA. This semi-well-known band Godstomper is on after us and wants to use my bass amp. Sure, the show is on a beach and its a pain to haul a bass rig through sand so why not.
I go about my soundguy duties and my single guy duties then I notice that my amp is really loud. I look and can see that every knob is dimed. Now those of you that have Mesa amps know that this is not their best setting for performance reasons. But more important, I am gonna rip that guys bass off and beat him with it! Its one thing when a guy puts your amp in dange of blowing a speaker. Its another when he upstages you with your own rig!
Before I even get to the stage the cops shut the show down and threaten to confiscate any gear still there in half an hour.
So I had to wait for another day to beat his little ass.
I still have no problem with loaning out my gear to another bassist on the same bill. But explain to them what happens if they shaft me.
never once had a problem letting a bassist use my amp. i tell them to do what they want with it. but i will stop them from putting too much volume through it. but most everyone i have using my stuff is a pro, so no worries.
i take that back. there was one time when i was 17 i let the brother of my band's guitar player use my acoustic 136 100w combo for bass with his band). he blew the cone the very first song and i had to play with it all night like that. at least it worked, but it sure was annoying to me. and yet not one person noticed.
i take that back. there was one time when i was 17 i let the brother of my band's guitar player use my acoustic 136 100w combo for bass with his band). he blew the cone the very first song and i had to play with it all night like that. at least it worked, but it sure was annoying to me. and yet not one person noticed.
Mine is almost identical to yours...except that we were playing a party for our guitarist's birthday and some of his friends wanted to get up and jam after we were done...so one of his friends that happens to be a well played local bassist asks to use my stuff...bass and rig...cranks it up to DOOM and just grinds the tar out of it...I thought the speakers were gonna jump out of the cabinet...I just don't push my stuff that hard...luckily all was fine with it...needless to say, my guitarist apologized up and down for it...still does...
I've been in a few gear sharing situations, where one band on the bill supplies the drum kit, another supplies the bass rig, etc. This arrangement encourages mutual respect, because each band is lending something. I've used other rigs a couple of times, and I've let others use mine a few times, and never had a problem. The players have always been appreciative and respectful. These arrangements have usually been made in advance. If it came up on the spot, I'd need some good reason to trust the situation, e.g., know someone in the other band, they're a pro-level or extremely mellow band, etc.
I also let someone use my P-bass because he broke a string. I seriously dug his playing and he was a nice guy, but he probably hadn't washed his hands in days! My bass felt nasty after his set. I'd prefer to avoid that in the future.
I also let someone use my P-bass because he broke a string. I seriously dug his playing and he was a nice guy, but he probably hadn't washed his hands in days! My bass felt nasty after his set. I'd prefer to avoid that in the future.
My amp came with little templates that I use to write my settings down for specific instruments or specific songs. So if someone needs to use it and jacks with the settings, I can reset it quickly enough.
I have let a few people I know use my stuff, and I have not had a problem with my rig. The only problem I did have was that a friend of mine used my bass and my rig, and he forgot to unplug my (active) bass and the battery died. He had never used an active bass though, and it's just a battery, so it was not a big deal.
I have let a few people I know use my stuff, and I have not had a problem with my rig. The only problem I did have was that a friend of mine used my bass and my rig, and he forgot to unplug my (active) bass and the battery died. He had never used an active bass though, and it's just a battery, so it was not a big deal.
I've let others use my rig and have used other people's. It's never been a problem. I have a fairly complicated setup, though, so I point to volume and EQ and most guys that have borrowed it were afraid to touch anything else, so I guess that works.
i work with a guitar player who lets people borrow pretty much anything they ask for.
he used to keep all his stuff in a monthly rehearsal room that we shared with other people. there were a few suprises.
1. came in one day to find blood all over the face of his white strat. we found out who it was and really all he had to say for it was he was "getting so into the jam it diddnt matter."
2. same guitar, got burn marks on the headstock (it was in fair condition to begin with.) from someone else putting a cigarette there, wich is something the owner of that guitar, would never have done
3. walk in the room to find the guitar amplifiers volume was on 10 (edit- should i add that during our own, rather loud, rehersals and jams, that amps volume NEVER passed say, 3.5), and low and behold, plug it in, it doesen't make a sound. $500 repair, that time.
obviously that other party was not a bunch of professional musicians, but nonetheless, shows you how people can treat your stuff worse than their own.
he used to keep all his stuff in a monthly rehearsal room that we shared with other people. there were a few suprises.
1. came in one day to find blood all over the face of his white strat. we found out who it was and really all he had to say for it was he was "getting so into the jam it diddnt matter."
2. same guitar, got burn marks on the headstock (it was in fair condition to begin with.) from someone else putting a cigarette there, wich is something the owner of that guitar, would never have done
3. walk in the room to find the guitar amplifiers volume was on 10 (edit- should i add that during our own, rather loud, rehersals and jams, that amps volume NEVER passed say, 3.5), and low and behold, plug it in, it doesen't make a sound. $500 repair, that time.
obviously that other party was not a bunch of professional musicians, but nonetheless, shows you how people can treat your stuff worse than their own.
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Dr. Bass, The best cabinet you'll NEVER own!
I've let other people use my rig. Typically this would only happen if someone was opening for us or a player would sit-in. The list of bassists that sit-in with my band is VERY short (one and he's a friend). I've played benefit gigs where we were the final act and it was just easier to let the other players use my rig. ALWAYS with adult supervision!!!
Love the understatement in the last sentence
I let other players use my rig, but I'm always ready like a tiger to interrupt.
I never lend my basses or my cables. Absolute no-go there.
When I read stories about how people mistreated your gear I'm horrified. How did you react? I mean, that's the question that raises, no?
I can tell about myself, I'd get furious and when they're not understanding...
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I work hard for my equitment and do not lend it out, if your playing gigs you should have your own stuff. I played out of a guys bass amp once at a show but I was told not to bring mine own amp that I would need to use his.....He had a nice setup but I do not like using other bass players amps, everything gets all out of whack and I do not want to touch there settings.
