"No, you may not use my amp."

[knumbskull]

i dunno, on the UK DIY circuit it's pretty common to share backline. I've even done gigs where bands have shared the same rig for the night rather than bother piling 3 separate bass rigs onto a tiny stage - the other band's kit just stays in the van.

(these are touring bands, too, not just weekend warriors).

i understand if people have a lot of money invested in their kit and don't feel comfortable with other people using it, though.

 

[JakeDPR]

Maybe it is because I play with the same bands a lot around here, but we almost always have the drums and bass backlined and never have any troubles. We have drummers bring there own snare and cymbals, and I usually have bassists bring there own heads but use my cab.

 

[a707780]

If I'm doing a multi-band gig I will generally let the other bassists use my rig provided I'm made aware of it prior to the gig and if they're willing to submit to my "tutorial" on the do's and don't regarding my gear. I've got a couple very good patches on my line 6 stuff and usually have something that suits their needs. A little tweaking maybe on a post processor EQ to dial it in and we're good to go. But I stay and babysit the rig. Better for me to deal with a possible malfunction than them. The sound tech appreciates not having to move lines or mics and the change-over goes much faster.
Unfortunately any time saved by my altruistic actions is immediately negated by the guitards wanking away endlessly to dial in their precious tone....

 

[AnchorHoy]

Under most circumstances I wouldn't even consider letting anyone else play through my rig, but..........

Did a 6 band show this past Saturday where I was talked into providing backline - well in advance BTW - in a fairly small club in Asbury Park that holds maybe 150 people SRO. Since I knew three out of the other five bass players pretty well, I overcame my misgivings and agreed. Among other things, it was a chance to repay a favor to one of those bassists for providing bass backline during a previous gig we shared

Happy to report that all went well, with everybody showing due respect for the gear, and it was actually pretty nice to hear my full rig from the audience for a change. Given enough clean power to drive 'em, two Aggie GS112's kick azz all out of proportion to their deceptively small size

That said, I was still watching the LEDs on the power amp like a hawk. 600watts a side feeding one GS112 each could have easily turned into a puff of expensive smoke within seconds had any of the other players chosen to reach for the power amp knobs instead of the Master knob on the preamp.......

Bottom Line: if the situation is just right I will
Otherwise: bring your own or do without

 

[xxfaux_punkxx]

Just curious, but if you don't own the proper gear why are you in a band? let alone out gigging?

 

[Mike11121]

It's like lending your wife to another band, because the bassist forgot to bring his wife to the show.

Actually, that's my normal response to the request to borrow my gear:

"Sure. My wife is at home while I'm out this time. Ok if I just borrow your girlfriend while you're on? No? Well there you go . . . "

Having said that, I have (on only a couple of occasions) lent gear to another player on the bill who approached me professionally and with a good reason.

And in return, I had a friendly headline bassist watch my head self destruct due to faulty house wiring during soundcheck, and offer me his backline to use for the show (after the wiring was put right of course) no questions asked.

Of course, I treated his gear with greater respect than I treat mine. I'm happy to say that the people to whom I have lent gear have done likewise.

But the whole idea of enshrining this as some sort of standard practice sucks in my opinion, and I wouldn't agree to it across the board.

 

[mr george]

if anyone asks to use my gear,before i answer i will ask if they have a girlfriend then go from there...

 

[FinlessPorpoise]

Played a show in some punk club in Iowa a few years ago. First band goes on and by the end of their third song their bass player has managed to break multiple strings on his two basses because he decided to play excessively aggressive to hear himself instead of turning his amp up. Also because it was "punk" to do so it seems.

He comes up to me and asks if he can borrow my bass, I had to decline because my bass was still buried under drum equipment in the van (true). He then gets pissy and storms off.

I honestly don't understand people sometimes.

Haha, that's like nikki sixx using his bass to smash the lights off in the entire floor of the hotel and then coming back in and asking Mick if he can borrow his guitar. Lol

 

[Munjibunga]

I loaned my Drozd to this man. It's James East, Nathan's brother. It was also his gig, but I got to sit in with his band.

 

[Electricblue]

I loaned my Drozd to this man. It's James East, Nathan's brother. It was also his gig, but I got to sit in with his band.

That's a lovely bass, but that jack makes me cringe.

 

[Agito]

I only borrow my amp to close friends, people who I can trust with eyefold.
Not once people called me from my city asking my amp for their show because they are stuck w/o an amp (cause I'm the only one who worked and bought a powerful amp to perform with it in my city)
But don't mind that, the fact is the same people called me twice after I told them the amp already died once and the twitter is getting always fried or when it was in need of repair.

Bottom line, the only people who can use my amp is close friends, I'll maybe allow some other people which I know as well as long I have my eye on the amp head so they won't clip the hell out of it.