I only let people that I trust touch my bass. Otherwise, I just politely say no. Exception for other bassists, of course. Unless I don't like them.
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LEAVE MY BASS ALONE!!
- Thread starter Peter S
- Start date
Turf wars don't usually help bring a band tighter together. Drunks and people I don't know are told to push off but inside the band it never bothers me. Also, all my gear is MOR at best - I'm not attached to any of it any more than I am to my car. For me it's about the friendships in the band and the buzz I get out of simple pub/club gigs - the rest of it is just 'stuff'.
I always ask permission before I touch ANY instrument. Even if it's my friend who also plays bass. It's not my property, and when it comes down to it, any passionate musician LOVES their instrument like a family member.
That being said, my guitar player touches my crap all the time, including the bass I built myself. I hate it, because he presumes it's ok...and he's garbage on a 4-string.
That being said, my guitar player touches my crap all the time, including the bass I built myself. I hate it, because he presumes it's ok...and he's garbage on a 4-string.
I'm actually fascinated when guitar players try to play bass. Strange walk patterns, odd timing and so on. I could get new ideas from such idiocratic playing.
Me too, i learned that play hand drums. You always ask if it's ok t touch or play someone else's drum because many people feel they're an extension of their soul. I also always ask before adjusting tuning on someone else's guitar or bass because it bugs me when people do it to mine. We have one guy at work who tunes some of his string high, and some low and he'll do it to mine too if he picks it up.
Yes Yes Yes. This is my point!
It's nothing to do with the lack of value in physical things. Of course an electric bass is not to be compared with starving children or God or the body and face of Charise Theron. "Health is wealth" and all that crap; I know because I have had cancer but sorry it still annoys me.
And now that I'm well through a bottle of Irish whiskey here's another thing that annoys me. A dude writes a song and asks me IF I AM ABLE to play what he thinks is a bass line for his chords which is actually a repetitive riff. Obviously if he is paying me money I do it. If he is not paying I still do it if it's good (actually I can't remember a good one) but often I will come back with something that melds into the song rather than sounding like someone who just happens to be playing a bass line at the same time the guy is playing his song. In other words the riff sticks out like a sore thumb.
This may not be totally unrelated to my initial quirkiness. Do guitarists think bass players are just failed guitarists? The bass is not like vocals way up front but is usually the train track the song travels along (I like that - made it up myself). Any views on this?
BTW I lied about the Irish Whiskey - it's a fine scotch single malt called Glenfiddich. Apart from Jamesons there are few decent Irish Whiskeys left.
Pete
This much I agree with - I don't mind another bassist using my gear so long as I know they look after their own gear and I can supervise them. If the guy's Squier is beaten to hell and craps out theres no way he's playing my Jaguar, he can have my backup squier...
At local TB GTGs I love hearing other bassists play my instruments! It's amazing how many different sounds can be brought out of the same instrument. Plus, I know they will treat it respectfully.
My guitarist always wants to try out any new basses I bring to the gig, but after the test-drive he generally leaves them alone.
My guitarist always wants to try out any new basses I bring to the gig, but after the test-drive he generally leaves them alone.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,069
- 46,010
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Owning only fretless basses solves most of it. My EUB gets even less attention than the BGs.
That said, I am fine with letting anyone I have an ongoing musical relationship with play any of my stuff, any time.
^ Same. I dont know why people get so upset over other people handling their basses. If they're mistreating them, abusing or damaging them in *ANY* way, I can totally understand that, but otherwise, who knows.... maybe they just think its cool, and are starting to think about perhaps picking up a bass themselves?
Not entirely sure why people are getting all crabby & bent out of shape over other people merely picking up their bass and doing some light playing on it.
Not entirely sure why people are getting all crabby & bent out of shape over other people merely picking up their bass and doing some light playing on it.
I really do not mind someone checking my bass out, but I do hate it when they want to play it when the band or jam starts back up. If they were wanting to play bass at the gig, they should have brought their own bass and amp. Nothing is quite as irking as someone (as yes its most times a guitar player) saying, can "I play bass on this one?"
My exprience is one song turns into a jam session, so when I do get my bass back, its usually right after I un-plug my amp.
My exprience is one song turns into a jam session, so when I do get my bass back, its usually right after I un-plug my amp.
Then perhaps I can enlighten you...
The reason (at least a reason) is that there can be a slippery slope between use and abuse. And the transition from the former to the latter can sometimes occur very quickly - often before the owner of the instrument even has a chance to step in to prevent damage - before it occurs. If the instrument is being "mistreat(ed), abuse(d) or damage(d) in *ANY* way", it's often already too late for prevention.
I think the principle here is one of control: Does one - or does one not - have the right to exercise control over his own property, i.e. to determine who, if anyone, uses it, under what circumstances, and so on? Particularly with something as personal - and potentially costly - as a musical instrument?
Rather than having to make such a decision anew, every single time someone asks to play his instrument (or worse yet, doesn't ask at all and just helps himself to it), and so that he doesn't have to drop everything else he was doing in order to protect his investment by watching the "guest" like a hawk, many owners find it infinitely easier to simply issue a universal policy of "No".
Such a choice has several advantages:
1) It's conceptually dead simple.
2) It's relatively straightforward and easy to enforce.
3) It dramatically reduces the odds that the instrument will ever be damaged or destroyed due to human error.
What's not to like?
MM
The way I look at it I buy quality gear, and part of that is the stuff is robust. If my bass can be wrecked just by someone else playing it, then it must be pretty fragile.
I've had some people let me play some AWESOME instruments and I let other people play mine. If lending I might take a few precautions, but again, there were times when I needed to borrow.
My pleasure in owning a few good instruments is amplified, not diminished, by letting others share the joy of playing them.
I've had some people let me play some AWESOME instruments and I let other people play mine. If lending I might take a few precautions, but again, there were times when I needed to borrow.
My pleasure in owning a few good instruments is amplified, not diminished, by letting others share the joy of playing them.
I don't let anyone touch my instruments.
Like you, it really bothers me when a guitar player walks over and picks up my bass.
I think that is mainly because the attitude is, "Anyone can play one of these things. I am a guitar player so for me this is nothing."
Last time a guitar player picked up my bass without asking I walked over, picked up his guitar, turned the amp to 10 and started pounding on it. He promptly put down the bass.
If they ask to play my bass I just say, " I would rather that you didn't."
Like you, it really bothers me when a guitar player walks over and picks up my bass.
I think that is mainly because the attitude is, "Anyone can play one of these things. I am a guitar player so for me this is nothing."
Last time a guitar player picked up my bass without asking I walked over, picked up his guitar, turned the amp to 10 and started pounding on it. He promptly put down the bass.
If they ask to play my bass I just say, " I would rather that you didn't."
