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Other bands thinking my gear is theirs.

#81
I opened for a band once that had a ampeg 810 with a SVT Classic and as we are loading in the bassist from the headliner said that I could feel free to use his gear. I didnt touch any of the settings and just plugged in my sansamp so that I could adjust some of the tone if needed. Half way through our sound check the amp cut out. Nothing I did, nothing the opening band bassist did either. He was bummed but was there the whole time I was setting up and was ok with everything I did. I ran and grabbed my 3 Pro and we pulled together a decent tone together, and made lemonade out of lemons.

Did it suck for him, Yes, but we both were in communication the whole time and were both a little confused as to what actually happened.

So, build a relationship and have them ask you, rather than expecting to just use it.

For the time it did work it sounded pretty sweet though!

Would I loan gear out? Not sure, It would be based on the sound of the band and whether I knew the Bassist.
 
#83
Broadbandcorpse said:
I was wondering if any of you have ran into this and what your response was.

I was playing a gig the other night and I had my backline set up and it was agreed since we were the headlining slot that the other two band's bassists would use my amp, it get's to sound check and my band does a sound check and then the next band gets up to do a line check and that goes through with no hitch, the final band (which opened up the show) get's on and the bassist says to me "come on stage and write down your settings so I can change it to mine" so I said "you're not touching my amp, just plug your pedal board in and line check" and he starts ranting at me and the sound guy puts him in his place so the bassist just storms out.

I have had a couple of bands say to me that they are changing the settings on my amp, it's completely wrong for someone to do that.

Any of you guys had a similar experience?
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There is no settings on my main amp-just a volume button and a mute.
I have had a few people confused by that. :)
However...if I allow people to use my amp (That one or another one I use at times, which does have tone shaping options), I allow them to use it as I would so they can get the best out of it, including a change of settings.( goes without saying that I know my personal settings on my personal amp so I can dial it back in within seconds).
If I don't allow them to use my stuff so they can get what they need , out of it, the whole thing makes no sense to me at all.

If they break anything, they pay for it...I get that in writing before anyone touches anything that's mine.
 
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#84
I play in a lot of small duos/bands and jams and often use someone else's amp, although I always bring my own bass. I know my guitars pretty well and I usually adjust at the guitar so I can get the sound I want or at least something close. If someone lets me sit in with a band and I play his/her bass, I leave the settings alone as it's set for his band's sound and I want it to fit in. I don't want to mess with the other guy's settings unless they are WAY off for what we're doing. And then I ask first. I like a little more treble so if I need to adjust pick ups on a muddy set up, it's not big deal. The few times when my Genz has been used for backline no one has messed with the volume enough to cause panic, so I guess I'm lucky. If they mess with the EQ or whatever, I know what my settings are and a couple of quick runs prior to the song lets me know if it's way out of whack for me.
 
#85
Happynoj said:
Or the one where OP posts a story/opinion, everyone disagrees, OP comes back and adds additional details that suddenly make their side of the story seem much more reasonable...
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It doesn't really matter to me if that other guy asked in a less than polite way or if he had had a few drinks - if you have offered your amp as backline then you let the other guys use it, including setting the controls the way they want them. You can or even should still supervise (call it help) to make sure people know what they are doing of course.
 
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#86
smurfco said:
So if I put my passive-yet-super-hot-and-bassy Hofner through your amp and I don't do what I usually do - which is turn down the bass to compensate for the extra low end mud - and I leave your holy settings as is, and I pop your driver, is it my fault?
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Exactly why I keep emphasizing the need to adjust Gain, if nothing else. Same with my G&L - SUPER HOT pickups, if the OP doesn't want his settings touched, he's in for a nasty surprise.
HOW authentic IS the CL - ie does it have an effects loop? If it does, the OP could set a compressor or limiter in the loop set to stay wide open with any of his settings and compress/limit the moment the signal goes beyond what he'd do. That way, if something gets too hot nothing likely to blow - preamp tubes can take distorting, Power Amp tubes not as much, speakers - eek!
 
#88
My gut reaction to the OP:

If you're so particular about your amp that someone tweaking your knobs to their preferences sets you off, you shouldn't be providing your rig for a multi-band backline. The guy even thoughtfully offered to write down settings and put everything back when he was done. You could have supervised his settings to be sure he wasn't clipping or overdriving anything.

There's nothing wrong with being protective of your gear; I'm kind of that way myself and you certainly have that right, but if you're that concerned about how others use your rig you shouldn't be offering it for use in a multi-band backline.

Broadbandcorpse said:
Let me just add, I alway contact the bands before the gig and ask them if they are bringing their own bass amp, if they say no I tell them that they can use my amp but they cannot touch the eq settings on it as I have OCD.
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So did you talk to this bass player in advance, and did he agree to your standards?

I would not want to deal with the distraction of playing through another bass player's signal chain and EQ settings, especially if they were very different from my own. I think it's unreasonable to expect anyone to do that.
 
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#89
jjmuckluckjr said:
While it's nice to help but let's face some harsh truths. When times are tough, never mess with a man's livelihood. Even reading a lot of posts on this site, there's some serious coin most of us have dropped on equipment. If you aren't afraid to lose it,good luck. I don't care if it's a$25 POS run through a cigar box, it's mine and I love it and what it allows me to do, explore my art, annoy the neighbors or impress the ladies. Messing with my stuff has consequences son. I bought my first bass 1977 Fender Precision for$415 New and another $250 for an amp. I was 14 and that was one long hot summer mowing lawns because my parents wouldn't spend that kind of money even if they had it. That lesson came in handy the next year when it was time to drive. Helping a guy out in need is one thing. But if you want play, you know where the music store is :bassist:, girls don't dance to air bass dummy.
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+10
 
#91
I say, let them change the settings. Some of the funniest things I have ever seen is how people have set my amp. It's like, "me bass player, me see bass knob, me turn to 10, me no need treble,me turn to 0." Yes, I have seen that happen and yes it sounded like pure crap and no I did not offer them any help, they always know better, so as long as it doesn't hurt my stuff I allow them to "know better."
 
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#93
I never liked playing thru other peoples rigs just so I wouldn't blow the head or speaker or something.....my rule...get your own gear or dont play bass...there are exceptions of course. Someones gear is shot or the bassist is this beautiful brunette etc.
 
#95
Broadbandcorpse said:
I can see that other people are cool with it but I don't like people touching my stuff as I have had to replace a couple of amps due to bands being drunk and crashing into stuff (We played with this band whose bassist got drunk before playing and fell into my amp, well let's just say it could not be fixed it was that badly damaged for the bassist falling into it with drink in hand and the headstock of his bass through the speaker of it).
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Bands who get plastered on stage are the kind of people who don't use my equipment. Getting all hammered on stage is one of those things that says don't trust 'em.
 
#98
obimark said:
Let me guess? Originals night? ;-)
Back on topic- If you agreed to provide the backline- I believe they should be able to change the settings within reason. You have the right to over-ride them if they get out of control and to supervise these changes. Now I am not talking turning your master up to 11 and diming the bass as well. I am saying polite tweaking. (As in- I want a little more mids).
When I share an amp with someone, I typically find they have it set for ALL bass with a huge thud, with absolutely no definition (usually because they are in a 2-guitard with keys band). I play in a power trio, so that doesn't work, I like top end, mids AND some low-end.

I have hosted many open jams, and I always turn on the -10db when ever another bassist comes up- which isn't that often. Mainly because I play with a medium touch-passive bass and I find many haven't evolved beyond beating the crap out of an active bass.
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I'm not very enthusiastic about the full bass knuckle headed thump routine, either. My equipment is plenty tough, but there are limits. That's why only people I already trust play through it. Also, my settings can be pretty unique, depending on what I'm playing.
 
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