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Lending Gear and Related Ethics

#141
I know I've answered this one a few times before but what the heck.

When it comes to lending gear, it depends. I will lend my "starter" gear (a Washburn with flats and a Rumble amp) to people I know and I accept that any damage will probably be absorbed by my own wallet. My better gear (Spector, Peavey, Warmoth and Barefaced) stays with me...no exceptions. I have had $1000+ instruments damaged from lending and storing in less than optimal conditions and honestly, it's on me.
 
#142
I guess I'm a minority guy. I've lent gear to friends my whole career. I still offer it to friends to try something new I picked up. I trust them, they trust me. I've supplied backline in a multi use environment more times than I can remember. I've never had a problem. Not once! There are very few I let play my basses, but again, for those I trust, I have no problem letting them taking it for a spin some night. My tools are insured. I'm a big believer in karma. You never know when you will be the one in need of a favor.
 
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#145
Since we're sharing stories:
I dd a benefit gig when I supplied the bass backline. It was a memorial concert with a number of acts, so my bandmates and I loaned our gear as the official backline to keep things moving as smoothly as possible. Four of the five acts before us? No problem. However, the one guy that was a problem was special. Midway through his first song, a buzzing, popping, shorting out noise starts coming through the amp. Telltale signs of a bad input jack on the bass, especially since his had his cable flying free instead of tucked over the strap. Right? This individual starts smacking the top of my amp and shaking the cable inside the amp's input jack! Needless to say, I made my way to the stage very quickly and interrupted the proceeding. Since this was a memorial show, I refrained from any name-calling and politely informed this gentleman that the problem might lie with his bass.
"You might want to wrap the cable over the strap for some relief."
"I've never had a problem with any other amp."
"Humor me."
He obliged and the rest of their set went on without incident.
Unfortunately, some people see strapping on an instrument (or sitting behind a kit) as license to act the fool. I think it's great to help someone out, but there is a risk. If, as one poster said, someone approached me expecting to use my gear instead of making a polite request? That's a red flag.
 
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#146
Hotblack said:
Since we're sharing stories:
I dd a benefit gig when I supplied the bass backline. It was a memorial concert with a number of acts, so my bandmates and I loaned our gear as the official backline to keep things moving as smoothly as possible. Four of the five acts before us? No problem. However, the one guy that was a problem was special. Midway through his first song, a buzzing, popping, shorting out noise starts coming through the amp. Telltale signs of a bad input jack on the bass, especially since his had his cable flying free instead of tucked over the strap. Right? This individual starts smacking the top of my amp and shaking the cable inside the amp's input jack! Needless to say, I made my way to the stage very quickly and interrupted the proceeding. Since this was a memorial show, I refrained from any name-calling and politely informed this gentleman that the problem might lie with his bass.
"You might want to wrap the cable over the strap for some relief."
"I've never had a problem with any other amp."
"Humor me."
He obliged and the rest of their set went on without incident.
Unfortunately, some people see strapping on an instrument (or sitting behind a kit) as license to act the fool. I think it's great to help someone out, but there is a risk. If, as one poster said, someone approached me expecting to use my gear instead of making a polite request? That's a red flag.
Click to expand...
What a buffoon.
 
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#147
I have let a number of people use my amp and drum kit. All of them are well known to me and know how to use gear. On one occasion, I let a person I didn't know use my amp, and it worked out OK. I made sure to give him a quick rundown on the procedure I want to see used, and he did that. This is especially important if the amp is an old Acoustic 360 that does not have an on/off switch for the power section. If you have used one, you know the issue involved. If you haven't ever used one, you don't know what I'm talking about. And there's a big problem right there. So, that's how I deal with it. Either you get checked out on the equipment or it doesn't get used. It never gets used if I'm not there. It isn't rental gear.
 
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#150
gillento said:
If I were in that place I would be scared to turn up with nothing or some poopy amp/cab/combo.....
I ALWAYS bring my stuff including a backup bass and a second amp.
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Yeah. Any sharing of rigs needs to be arranged well beforehand.

Apparently, from posts on here, it's common in some areas for people to roll up to the venue assuming they can borrow someone else's gear without asking, with such confidence that they don't even bring their own.
 

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