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LEAVE MY BASS ALONE!!

#62
funny-Beatles-old-photograph-guitar.jpg
 
#64
What I'm annoyed at is that every single friggin time when we play at a venue that booked one or two more bands with us, a bassist would come up and ask if he can use my rig to play through. Never happens to guitarist! Once the guy even showed up without his backline and asked if he could use mine. After explaining that we're packing after our set he asked if my amp & cab are staying at the venue. I was like "???" and pointed him to the house Ashdown combo. I swear it's every single time since I got GK NEO 412. It's just lazy and sloppy to behave like that. And when I borrow, they just lay their bass against my cab and not give a damn because hey, it's not their equipment. Pisses me off..
 
#65
For the most part, I only respond with "just be careful". I've scratched and dinged my guitars and bass myself more times than I can remember, and while that hurt, I survived. Most people who ask are typically conscious of the "value" of things and don't do anything stupid. And, if it helps to give someone that "taste" of an instrument, and the idea that it might make them happy, I say go for it. I know what to dial in on the amp as well so yeah, he or she can take the stage if they wanted to.
 
#66
Walk over to his stuff and do the same start playing some loud stuff and bend the strings down in stead of up like they always do to the bass. I feel the same way for this reason guitar players who try to play the bass are always trying to play some lead riff on the and start bending the strings up. I have had a few bass players ask me to play a song or two before a show but, for some reason many do not come up after my first set when I ask them what song they want to do they decline? Our band is killer so, I look at this as a pat on my back because they don't want to step into my shoes ha ha ha
 
#68
Mugre said:
Life's too short to wind your identity/ego/self worth in a physical object. ANY physical object. Yo Yo Ma is famous for letting quite average cellists play the 1712) Davidov Stradivarius. I'm pretty sure that's worth more than your bass. Every thing I own has dings put in it by some kid.

In all seriousness. I'm 54 and life got a lot easier and funner when I stopped measuring myself by what I owned and or it's condition or worth and just got busy with the experience of using (and sharing it). I never really cared who sat on my drums to "have a go." and I quite readily hand a $3500 cello and a $500 wooden recorder to small children (the same thing as a guitarist, right? ; ) all the time.

Let it be fun.

Mug
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+1 - also letting go of the bitterness over the selling of gear some 30yrs to engage in the 'thankless task' of raising kids may make life a little more fun too! ;)
 
#69
Now this is an interesting one, and I've been trying to decide where I stand on this. To me it sort of sounds like 2 questions rather than 1.

Firstly, how do I feel about random people (or guitarists) just picking up my bass? In short, I don't allow it. In my experience, good musicians will ALWAYS ask first (and I'll almost certainly say yes), and I wouldn't even consider picking up sone elses instrument of whatever type or perceived quality without asking first. It's how I was brung up, and it seems like a good rule of thumb to me.

But the guys I choose to be in a band with are not just random people (or guitarists). I guess I'm lucky in that they are like brothers to me, and I would not question any of them reaching for my bass any time. They can't play it (and I'm happy to remind them), but they are welcome to try. They would never do anything to damage any of my gear - for some, years on the road with them means I just know that. For the rest, if I have any doubt I'd be working with someone else. We tease each other, joke with each other, play tricks on each other, even fight woth each other, but in the end respect each other.

It's sad that so many folks here seem to be trapped in gigs with people that they don't seem to trust, respect or even like. I can't imagine how a band like that could work musically, but you obviously make it work, and get my respect (and sympathy) for that. I guess it's the curse of playing for a living rather than because you like it.
 
#70
Mike11121 said:
It's sad that so many folks here seem to be trapped in gigs with people that they don't seem to trust, respect or even like.
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You are right Mike! In my first incarnation as a bass player I was 16 and until I stopped when I was about 23ish that't how it was - the band of brother's gig. Now at 59 I play for 2 bands regularly (they don't gig a lot) and sometimes take on another band if I have time and it looks they are going to gig. Trouble is at 59 nobody wants to know you except other oldies. I understand this; do you really want to hang out with your grandfather? The net result is you play with people - not friends - there are no ties. This means if the guitarists's long lost bass playing brother returns from the moon you get a phonecall saying "My brothers returned from the moon - we don't need you anymore". Damned astronauts!!
 
#71
Peter S said:
Trouble is at 59 nobody wants to know you except other oldies.
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Yeah, Peter. I know what you mean. But there is hope! I played professionally from about 18 to 30-ish with a solid band that had some success (recording contract etc), and who were also great friends (mostly). Then I stopped when my kids were born - touring and parenthood having some mutually exclusive elements I found.

I stopped altogether until about 45, and now (at 50) I play regularly (but for fun) with a group of guys who are all late 20's or 30's. Sure, teenagers won't want to play with you in public (like my kids ;)) cause it's not cool. But I've found that beyond mid-20's musicians rate you more on reliability and demeanour than on age and image. If you say you'll be there and actually are, and you hold up your end, I have found that there are plenty of good players who are also nice people to play with.

They are out there - stick at it.

By the way, it always makes me laugh when my kids tell me I'm too old to play, then shell out bucks to see Iron Maiden or AC/DC. Both great bands without doubt, but older than both of us (but still seemingly cool enough, eh?) And my kids obviously think I am cool enough to teach them "classic rock" songs (they were just rock when I played them), and they still borrow my "vintage" instruments and amps for recording - karma.
 
#73
I'm a lucky guy for playing in a band with guys who really know how to treat equipment. I have absolutely no problem with them using my equipment during our rehearsals, as they have no problem with me touching their stuff. It can lead to interesting ideas, new riffs, etc.
 
#75
pudgychef said:
+1 - also letting go of the bitterness over the selling of gear some 30yrs to engage in the 'thankless task' of raising kids may make life a little more fun too! ;)
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I was not being serious about this one. The money obtained was quickly eaten up and that's life if you marry young. It's my double bass I miss most but "suck it up".

Mind you I had to buy the two grandsons an xbox and kinnect this Christmas because I am just retired (today) and from now on I won't have a pot to pi** in.

That's the end of the big spending and probably puts the mockers on me getting a Fender Precision which I would really like. Does not seem right for a bass player not to have a Precision. I just want a new standard one - not uber cost vintage model.
 
#76
I say yes to people I know. I agree that good musician's would not assume that someone else wont mind their instrument(s) being touched, played with, whatever. Strangers - no. Dirty hands, belt rash. Guys who want to borrow my ax at a gig with more than one band. That's the worse situation - invariably it is some @ho with a really lame story about what happened, or they just plain assumed it would be fine to hold me up when maybe I was going to pack and run. I've had people get NASTY with me in that situation when I said no. My personal favorite instrument is neck through, it has custom artwork by my daughter - no, you are not borrowing it. Not even for one song.

OP -
Raising kids and thankless jobs - hmm. I quit rock & roll in a combination of having to become a single parent to my two oldest children (since Mom had decided to become all-day drunk) and the bad karma of the drummer who inherited $40k and disappeared for 3 weeks with one of the guitards for a coke fest in a seedy motel. The kids were ungrateful(as most are), but I did good by them - and yes, sold some really nice stuff. Swore I wouldn't play again. 15 yrs later I got pulled into doing Christian Contemporary - hey, rock & roll without the bar. The break was good, I feel I play with more musicianship than ever and I now have the most incredible rig and instruments I could hope for. I think people of all stripes like seeing an older musician casting all caution to the wind for a good, heartfelt groove.

REtired!?! - that's the mistake. DOn't retire, nobody can afford that. Just keep plugging away and you can get you that P bass.;)
 
#79
Mike11121 said:
Sure, teenagers won't want to play with you in public (like my kids ;)) cause it's not cool. But I've found that beyond mid-20's musicians rate you more on reliability and demeanour than on age and image. If you say you'll be there and actually are, and you hold up your end, I have found that there are plenty of good players who are also nice people to play with.
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This is very true - a high percentage of younger musicians have a nice, bond with us oldsters. They know we've paid dues(if we don't drone on about it!) and are undersatnding about a lot of "life". Then again, I remember interviewing a lead singer who was 35 - his attitide sucked and he TOLD US, " you need a young buck to front you." I'm the blunt one, so I laid it out, " I used to be a young BUCK, but you are just a chubby little teddy bear - you are not BUCK material." NEXT!!:atoz:
 
#80
mouthmw said:
What I'm annoyed at is that every single friggin time when we play at a venue that booked one or two more bands with us, a bassist would come up and ask if he can use my rig to play through. Never happens to guitarist! Once the guy even showed up without his backline and asked if he could use mine.
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I actually had two different occasions where I agreed to staying so some one could use my gear, and after the show they tried to STEAL my equipment. In the one case the dude and his friend made it to the parking lot and started leaving - by the grace of God the traffic stopped them, I reached in through the driver's window and grabbed the driver by the neck( I'm not small) and pulled the snap-down cover off his pickup bed with my right hand. And there was my new head. I wante to scramble his face but the bouncers were making their way across the lot(big club, biker bouncers). I mumbled something about it was "just a joke" and walked off with my head - bouncers were ready to crack heads and sort it out later. Throwing down with some 1%s is not a good way to end the evening.:help:
 

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