"No, you may not use my amp."

[NickMarinelli]

What I'm taking away from this thread is that in general, if a bassist is dealing with professionals or serious amateurs, there usually isn't a problem with lending gear. Because the others are working musicians, they understand about taking care of gear and treating it with respect.

On the other hand, it you're in a local club or venue, and there are just a bunch of amateur bands putting on a show, its time to be careful. Chances are these guys don't appreciate the cost of the gear they're asking to borrow, and they'll probably treat it as disposable. I mean, since they haven't ever bought any gear worth using, how could they appreciate yours?

In any event, I see people who show up to gigs with no equipment expecting someone else to lend them basic gear (amp, bass, cord) as unprofessional. I immediately see an attitude problem and will therefore not lend them anything.

 

[Big Brother]

A prime example of why I personally never let anyone else use any of my gear or stuff. I am not a jerk about it or anything, but I got burned as well in the past when I lent a guy in another band a chord and never saw it again.

Hopefully it wasn't a major chord, that would make a lot of songs hard to play.

 

[kaiuk]

Hopefully it wasn't a major chord, that would make a lot of songs hard to play.

ah talkbass, home of sarcasm and smartassery

 

[bassplayer8953]

ah talkbass, home of sarcasm and smartassery

...and not knowing how to spell simple words...

 

[David Jayne]

I only loan to people I know

Heh- I did that once, and the dude broke my amp. Figures.
But he did pay for the repair.

 

[bassgrant]

I don't mind lending my rig to anyone who seems genuine and asks nicely. A club i frequently play at has an unwritten code that asks the headlining band to allow support acts use of their stuff. So i don't mind. However, once a guy didn't ask first and plugged in and tuned up, which is just plain rude.

 

[danhosh]

This happens at nearly every show around Toronto. Never used to be a problem.

1) Played a gig where opening band did not bring anything but a guitar amp. Trying to be nice guys about the situation, I gave the bass player my bass rig, and my drummer let them borrow his entire kit, including cymbals. During the last song, Singer of opening band proceeded to smash his microphone off every drum and cymbal, cracking a cymbal. Then decided to tackle the bass player into my rig. Both amp and cab fell over.

2) Different show, same deal. Opening band did not bring their own gear, we let them use ours. In the middle of their set, they decided to douse the entire stage with beer. Both my cab and amp covered in beer, as well as all our guitars/basses beside the stage were soaked.

That said, if one of my friends in a touring professional band needs to borrow something, I have no problems. For a one off show with a band I've never met, it doesn't happen.

 

[4001]

OK, just venting a bit here - I am sick and tired of bass players from other bands sharing the same bill with my band asking me if it's "OK" if they "borrow" my amp for their set. Bring your own gear, dammit! I even had one guy ask if he could play my bass! Are you freaking serious?

And I am sick and tired of this newfound practice by the clubs asking that "bands share equipment to make transitions easier." The only people this makes it easier on is the club, all so they can pay the band $100, if that?

Maybe I wouldn't be such a jerk about this if the one time I did loan my amp to another band their bass player fried it during their set (and we went on afterwards - I had to play through house PA!). Guess who got stuck with the repair bill?

I agree 100%.
Nobody uses my gear but me.
I never ask to use their gear.

Now, if I was in an opening band and knew the bass player in the headliner and his amp blew up, I'd offer my amp for the remainder of their set. But, my bass gets played by nobody but me.
Sorry.

Otherwise, I do not let anyone use my amps and I do not use anyone elses' amps or basses for that fact.

It's just the way it is and the way it's going to be.

 

[kraigo]

I gigged NYC clubs for more than 30 years. A high percentage of locals do not own cars, and need to hire a van and driver to get to gigs.

To help relieve the burden on all - and to save changeover time - the members of the bands on a given bill would often work out an arrangement like you bring drums, we'll bring bass amp, you can use my cab but bring your own head, we'll bring everything and split the van fee, etc.

This worked out to the benefit of all. BUT the key is in communicating BEFORE the gig rather than ambushing other bandmembers. The communication also helped create an inter-band dialogue that worked to make everyone act responsibly with one another's gear. I can say I never had a problem.

That's the answer, IMO. We communicate before hand and often set up the bill with bands that are friends, so there are no surprises. The last time I gigged on someone else's drums I regretted it because they were total crap.

KO

 

[Downunderwonder]

This happens at nearly every show around Toronto. Never used to be a problem.

1) Played a gig where opening band did not bring anything but a guitar amp. Trying to be nice guys about the situation, I gave the bass player my bass rig, and my drummer let them borrow his entire kit, including cymbals. During the last song, Singer of opening band proceeded to smash his microphone off every drum and cymbal, cracking a cymbal. Then decided to tackle the bass player into my rig. Both amp and cab fell over.

2) Different show, same deal. Opening band did not bring their own gear, we let them use ours. In the middle of their set, they decided to douse the entire stage with beer. Both my cab and amp covered in beer, as well as all our guitars/basses beside the stage were soaked.

That said, if one of my friends in a touring professional band needs to borrow something, I have no problems. For a one off show with a band I've never met, it doesn't happen.

I'm not a violent person and 99 times out of 100 I'll shy away from physical conflict but if that was happening to my gear someone would be getting a facefull.

 

[Electricblue]

Maybe a few of you can answer this.

If you turned up, with all of the gear you should have (amp, bass, cables etc) and your amp took a crap on you, you didnt have a backup.

The band who is playing just before/after you has a stack, all set up and working. He wont let you use it.

What would you do?

 

[Downunderwonder]

And you can't go direct to PA? And I can't go home and get spare gear? Go home or sing BV's if the band wants to carry on with no bass

 

[Electricblue]

And you can't go direct to PA? And I can't go home and get spare gear? Go home or sing BV's if the band wants to carry on with no bass

This gig has no pa.

 

[MikeBass]

Maybe a few of you can answer this.

If you turned up, with all of the gear you should have (amp, bass, cables etc) and your amp took a crap on you, you didnt have a backup.

The band who is playing just before/after you has a stack, all set up and working. He wont let you use it.

What would you do?

This gig has no pa.

Guess I'm not playing.
Oh well.
Can't blame the other bass player. I totally respect the fact that he wants no one to use his gear.

 

[anonymous073020132]

If your a trusted friend & you dont screw with my knobs, yes have a go at it. If i don't know you then your just dead in the water & might as well ask someone else.

 

[azureblue]

I put a piece of duck tape over all the amp knobs, with "DO NOT REMOVE!!" written on it. And I sat beside the stage where my amp was plugged in, so if some idiot decided the warning did not apply to him, I could just shut down my amp at the first sign of trouble. And the guy who ran the jam had a very clear "no drinks on stage" policy.

 

[TheBass]

Did somebody ever try to charge other bands for using your equipment ? Just a thought ...

 

[aledeville]

This happens at nearly every show around Toronto. Never used to be a problem.

1) Played a gig where opening band did not bring anything but a guitar amp. Trying to be nice guys about the situation, I gave the bass player my bass rig, and my drummer let them borrow his entire kit, including cymbals. During the last song, Singer of opening band proceeded to smash his microphone off every drum and cymbal, cracking a cymbal. Then decided to tackle the bass player into my rig. Both amp and cab fell over.

2) Different show, same deal. Opening band did not bring their own gear, we let them use ours. In the middle of their set, they decided to douse the entire stage with beer. Both my cab and amp covered in beer, as well as all our guitars/basses beside the stage were soaked.

That said, if one of my friends in a touring professional band needs to borrow something, I have no problems. For a one off show with a band I've never met, it doesn't happen.

Damn, that almost hurts to read. What did you do then? What were the consequences? (Were there any?)

 

[HailCorduroy]

I've loaned my cab to the bassist in a band we were playing with. He had brought his head but thought the venue provided cabs. They were playing right after us and he asked nicely. I asked him about the head cause my cab was only 200 watts and dint want to blow a speaker. His head was only 100 watts, so it was no problem. After they played, he helped me carry the cab out to my car thanking me several times and raving about the tone he had gotten out of it. We've played several shows together since and become friends.

I've borrowed an amp twice from another bassist whose band we play with a lot. The first time, the venue was pretty small and load in space was limited, plus it was pouring rain outside. I was going to wait til right before we went on to bring my rig inside and he said to use his instead. I touched nothing but the volume knob. We both did a show in atlanta and he offered his again since it was smaller than my rig and we were limited on space.

 

[T-MOST]

OK, just venting a bit here - I am sick and tired of bass players from other bands sharing the same bill with my band asking me if it's "OK" if they "borrow" my amp for their set. Bring your own gear, dammit! I even had one guy ask if he could play my bass! Are you freaking serious?

And I am sick and tired of this newfound practice by the clubs asking that "bands share equipment to make transitions easier." The only people this makes it easier on is the club, all so they can pay the band $100, if that?

Maybe I wouldn't be such a jerk about this if the one time I did loan my amp to another band their bass player fried it during their set (and we went on afterwards - I had to play through house PA!). Guess who got stuck with the repair bill?

+1

I was at a open mic last week and some dude signs up to play and doesn't even have his bass! He asks me if he could play my Smith EG as I'm unplugging. I look at him like he's crazy but I let him play it. The reason being I havn't heard this bass in anyone elses hands but mine. He was ok but my bass sounds amazing! LOL However, I wont be sharing my toys again.