I've had people ask to use my ampeg 8x10 before but I always tell them no. It may be mean, but I saw a show one time where a similar situation was going on and a bassplayer was borrowing another bassists rigs. The rig blew up during the set and then the bassists bailed after the show leaving the guy stuck with the repair bill.
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"No, you may not use my amp."
- Thread starter Fawkes007
- Start date
I've gigged the same Mark Bass cab around London (and the UK) for 5 years now. 90% of the gigs we do my amp acts as the house amp.
Our guitarist had the tubes in his amp broken by someone he leant it to, but that didn't discourage me. It's just easier this way. Some of the places we play are small, so there's nowhere for 4 bands to keep their own 4x10s in house. I'd rather share my amp and cut down on changeover times.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
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- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Sigh, I work way to hard for my gear to loan it to some unprepared idiot. Your amp is dead? Don't you bring a back up? Your cab is blown ? What no back up? I broke a string and don't have any extra. What no back up ? Rule #1 be prepared. It is not up to people you do not even know to be your back up. On occassion we open for major acts. I was approached once by one bands toadie, he was drooling over my rig. Any chance so and so can use your rig he would really love it. *** you have to be kidding me, I of course said I bet he would but I'm sorry the answer is NO.
- Apr 1, 2000
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No way
I'm using an iAmp800 and 2 Aggie GS112s. Still a pain to take even a small amp and a bass on the train though.
Just did a big show last night with multiple local bands, and I put my amp in as the backline.
Turned out fine and everyone dug the sound.
Am I worried about someone breaking it? I'd like to see them try.
There's a blast from the past that I almost forgot about. Very 'eavy.
I don't like letting stranger use my amp, but I will. One time I went to a church and I was told to use the amp that was there. The bass player for the church came in and said , Hey man, that's my amp and you can't use it. I apologized and played through the house which meant having a wedge monitor as my monitor. I was horrible. About 8 months later that guy came to our church with another group and asked me if he could use my amp. He didn't remember he and i reminded him of who I was. I then told him, sure he can use my amp. He felt like such a heal. We became friends. You just never know.
If you loan your amp and it breaks, it was about to break anyway so the sooner you can get one that is reiable the better.
If you choose to not loan your amp it may break on you soon and Karma will say "NO you wouldn't let me use your amp when I needed".
Me??? I loan amps as long as I'm there monitoring the situation. If it breaks I consider it good as I now know that amp is unreliable and I look for replacement. I encourage knob adjustment cuz I'm not much of a musician if I can't coax a decent tone out of my amp. And lastly how do you know what your amp sounds like if you can't stand back and listen to someone else work it.
Bottom line is it's your choice and anyone not respecting your decision is an A$$hole.
If you choose to not loan your amp it may break on you soon and Karma will say "NO you wouldn't let me use your amp when I needed".
Me??? I loan amps as long as I'm there monitoring the situation. If it breaks I consider it good as I now know that amp is unreliable and I look for replacement. I encourage knob adjustment cuz I'm not much of a musician if I can't coax a decent tone out of my amp. And lastly how do you know what your amp sounds like if you can't stand back and listen to someone else work it.
Bottom line is it's your choice and anyone not respecting your decision is an A$$hole.
The last time this came up for me, I said sure... and I asked to run their credit card for a deposit online ($600 to be returned at the end of the gig). The guy said no, so I said no. He played through the house DI and I felt fine about it.
I feel a bit out of place here, but I always share.
You never know, the time may come when someone will have to get YOU out of a bind...
You never know, the time may come when someone will have to get YOU out of a bind...
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.
After seeing him tear up a couple of his own basses, I think I'd be inclined to pass on letting him use one of mine!
My Fender BXR is a cheap piece of junk, and I let anyone who asks use it. Worst case scenario, I'd have an excuse to go buy a real amp.
However, I never ask other musicians to let me use their stuff, and I'm always embarrassed when my bandmates do. Our guitarist has just grabbed other people's gear off the stand without even asking, leapt up onto loaned drumsets, etc. We're not sure if he's mildly autistic or just a sociopath, but I've done a lot of apologizing after shows over the years.
However, I never ask other musicians to let me use their stuff, and I'm always embarrassed when my bandmates do. Our guitarist has just grabbed other people's gear off the stand without even asking, leapt up onto loaned drumsets, etc. We're not sure if he's mildly autistic or just a sociopath, but I've done a lot of apologizing after shows over the years.
I know how it goes. I showed up to a gig and my amp fried during soundcheck. Another bassist offered his rig and I graciously accepted. I didn't bother to touch it other than to plug in and turn it on.
If someone shows up to a gig expecting to use someone's equipment, then I don't usually let them. If the worst happens, then I help out.
If someone shows up to a gig expecting to use someone's equipment, then I don't usually let them. If the worst happens, then I help out.
ok for all those people that say they would let me put you in the situation (or atleast the one ive had)
you spend all day trying to carry your amp and bass onto the bus. then when you get to the venue (wich might i add is about half a mile from where the bus dropped you off) so you schlep this gear all that way and set it up on stage. then the soundman asks if the other bands can use your amp?. my obvious responce was "NO, but if your short of a d.i. box ill lend you one". so you do YOUR soundcheck and then its time for the other bands soundcheck and the bass player is a 16 year old kid in a (insert cheche generic rock band here _________________) t-**** whose asking his older friends to go to the bar and buy him drinks all night. so you go for a quick bite to eat while there soundchecking because you know your on 1st. when you come back from your quick lunch you notice said generic "rock" fan hasnt just used your expenvice tube amp WITHOUT asking BUT has also used it as a surface for his beer AND has messed with your settings putting EVERYTHING at 10.
now ive had that and ya know what i did. i switched off the amp and told him if he trys that again hes going to have to give me £500 to pay for any repairs that may be needed after hes done. as soon as my band finnished our set he was begging to borrow my amp but i just said "no, unfortunatly i have work tomorrow and need a early night ya wang face"
so whose the person in the wrong?
you spend all day trying to carry your amp and bass onto the bus. then when you get to the venue (wich might i add is about half a mile from where the bus dropped you off) so you schlep this gear all that way and set it up on stage. then the soundman asks if the other bands can use your amp?. my obvious responce was "NO, but if your short of a d.i. box ill lend you one". so you do YOUR soundcheck and then its time for the other bands soundcheck and the bass player is a 16 year old kid in a (insert cheche generic rock band here _________________) t-**** whose asking his older friends to go to the bar and buy him drinks all night. so you go for a quick bite to eat while there soundchecking because you know your on 1st. when you come back from your quick lunch you notice said generic "rock" fan hasnt just used your expenvice tube amp WITHOUT asking BUT has also used it as a surface for his beer AND has messed with your settings putting EVERYTHING at 10.
now ive had that and ya know what i did. i switched off the amp and told him if he trys that again hes going to have to give me £500 to pay for any repairs that may be needed after hes done. as soon as my band finnished our set he was begging to borrow my amp but i just said "no, unfortunatly i have work tomorrow and need a early night ya wang face"
so whose the person in the wrong?
Very very very not cool!!! How in the world did this kid think that was an acceptable thing to do?
I don't want to stereotype Glaswegians here but I'm surprised the kid didn't end up trying to pick up his teeth with broken fingers.
"Wang face"
Quality!!!i understand this and I agree with it for the most part, but i played a show, where another band played a set in between our set, mooseblood I think was their name.
i used for my amp for the 1st set, and I had realized my amp had a fatigue speaker problem, it was almost unplayable.
i watched the other band, and I asked if I could use the other bassist amp for the last half an hour set.
he let me use it, and he was very nice. I understand that, and I would let another bassist use my amp if an instance like mine came up.
i used for my amp for the 1st set, and I had realized my amp had a fatigue speaker problem, it was almost unplayable.
i watched the other band, and I asked if I could use the other bassist amp for the last half an hour set.
he let me use it, and he was very nice. I understand that, and I would let another bassist use my amp if an instance like mine came up.
Very very very not cool!!! How in the world did this kid think that was an acceptable thing to do?
I don't want to stereotype Glaswegians here but I'm surprised the kid didn't end up trying to pick up his teeth with broken fingers.
"Wang face"
funny enough no
but the bands singer came out later that night with a broken nose from getting in a punch up with my mate
[/QUOTE]
I've never run across a musician who was inconsiderate or as incompetent as those in this thread seem to fear.[/QUOTE]
I have and I think they're quite common in open mic or jam bars. Kid takes your amp and cranks it to 8 thinking thats cool =:^O and perfectly OK since he doesn't own a quality piece of anything.
My answer is usually No unless I know I'm dealing with a musician who respects his gear, or is at least respectful in the request.
Lending an amp is like lending your motorcycle, its all risk. OK, like lending your wife is a good one too!
I've never run across a musician who was inconsiderate or as incompetent as those in this thread seem to fear.[/QUOTE]
I have and I think they're quite common in open mic or jam bars. Kid takes your amp and cranks it to 8 thinking thats cool =:^O and perfectly OK since he doesn't own a quality piece of anything.
My answer is usually No unless I know I'm dealing with a musician who respects his gear, or is at least respectful in the request.
Lending an amp is like lending your motorcycle, its all risk. OK, like lending your wife is a good one too!
I think I'm in the minority here, but I will always let someone use my gear in a pinch. My gear is not so precious to me that it can't be replaced - even if I have to pay for it. So far it has always worked out and I've never had a problem with anyone using my gear.
I'm just waiting for the day when one of the other bands says: "Oops, we forgot our bassist. Can we use yours?"
I'm just waiting for the day when one of the other bands says: "Oops, we forgot our bassist. Can we use yours?"
I think if I ever get into the amp-building business I'll put key-lock switches on the main power.
