Other bands thinking my gear is theirs.

[lfmn16]

While it's nice to help but let's face some harsh truths. When times are tough, never mess with a man's livelihood.

Adjusting the settings on an amp is not messing with anyone's livelihood.

I don't think anyone is saying you HAVE to let the opening act use your amp. I don't think there is anything wrong with saying no. I think they are saying if you DO let the opening act use your amp, don't be a dick about it. If it's a typical amp with a handful of knobs, it takes all of 10 seconds to put it back where it was ... Assuming you are smart enough to take a pic.

 

[Not yet]

Sat in with folks all over and never ask them to adjust their controls, even when they offer. Think they're more than hospitable just letting me play a few.

And always seem to be able to sound like myself. On the few occasions I've hosted jams have similar opinion to OP.

 

[lfmn16]

What does this:

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).

Have to do with this:

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?

NOBODY said they were cool with someone DAMAGING their equipment.

 

[Richland123]

This guy took that a step further. We were the main band for a jam session. Almost everybody brought their own guitars except for one guy. He asked our guitar player if he could play his Fender Stratocaster on some songs and our guitarist said okay. The guy then asks if he can adjust the action on the guitar since he did not like the way it was set. Needless to say, our guitarist said no way was he going to change his action just to play a couple songs. The guy got mad and started swearing and fuming and did not play. The nerve of some people.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

Not cool man. Never sabotage the other acts. Again - you can say "NO" you should not say "Mwa Ha Ha, you will all sound sucky!!!!"

Well..I didnt leave it on "Suck"

Just not as good.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

I really didnt mean to bring a s**tstorm in on myself with that post.

I was invited by a friend of mine to sit in with his band once, and before I did, I went to the bass player and made sure it was cool with him. Then- I took off my belt and got a table napkin and put it in my waistband behind his bass, then I sat in on a couple of songs.

I was as considerate and respectful of his equipment as i could be.

Afterwards, I thanked him and bought him a drink.

Not ONCE did i even consider tweaking his tone settings or volume.

So-

 

[Broadbandcorpse]

OK this is getting out of hand, I asked if other people had any similar experiences not am I right or wrong, Yes I allow other people to run through my amp but that doesn't mean they have an automatic right to change what they want on my amp, would you go up to Flea and change his amp setting because you are amp sharing?
Everyone is getting anal about my ways but when I play with bands most of them are ok and I only allow other people to use my amp if they haven't brought their own which is what we ask them to do.

 

[lfmn16]

Not cool man. Never sabotage the other acts. Again - you can say "NO" you should not say "Mwa Ha Ha, you will all sound sucky!!!!"

+1

My playing speaks for itself. If I'm not as good as someone else, I need to practice more, not try to make them sound bad.

 

[lfmn16]

would you go up to Flea and change his amp setting because you are amp sharing?

Yes because it would never occur to me that someone would offer to let me use their amp and not adjust it. I've never told an opening act to leave my amp settings alone. I actually meet with the other bass players, make sure they have everything they need, and see if they have any questions. It's called courtesy.

 

[FretNoMore]

...
would you go up to Flea and change his amp setting because you are amp sharing?
...

Of course I would, if necessary. I'm sure Flea would have zero problems with this; he would think it is self evident that every bass player would want his own sound and therefor must be allowed to dial in whatever settings are needed on the amp.

I'm sorry, but your attitude to this is rather amateurish. Don't offer up your amp as shared backline if others can't change the settings, you're disrespecting the other guys and potentially making them and their bands look bad. End of story.

 

[Broadbandcorpse]

Yes because it would never occur to me that someone would offer to let me use their amp and not adjust it. I've never told an opening act to leave my amp settings alone. I actually meet with the other bass players, make sure they have everything they need, and see if they have any questions. It's called courtesy.

But that's you not me, everyone is different.

 

[Bassquest]

Of course I would, if necessary. I'm sure Flea would have zero problems with this; he would think it is self evident that every bass player would want his own sound and therefor must be allowed to dial in whatever settings are needed on the amp.

I'm sorry, but your attitude to this is rather amateurish. Don't offer up your amp as shared backline if others can't change the settings, you're disrespecting the other guys and potentially making them and their bands look bad. End of story.

Amen!

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

OK this is getting out of hand, I asked if other people had any similar experiences not am I right or wrong, Yes I allow other people to run through my amp but that doesn't mean they have an automatic right to change what they want on my amp, would you go up to Flea and change his amp setting because you are amp sharing?
Everyone is getting anal about my ways but when I play with bands most of them are ok and I only allow other people to use my amp if they haven't brought their own which is what we ask them to do.

Yes because it would never occur to me that someone would offer to let me use their amp and not adjust it. I've never told an opening act to leave my amp settings alone. I actually meet with the other bass players, make sure they have everything they need, and see if they have any questions. It's called courtesy.

Of course I would, if necessary. I'm sure Flea would have zero problems with this; he would think it is self evident that every bass player would want his own sound and therefor must be allowed to dial in whatever settings are needed on the amp.

I'm sorry, but your attitude to this is rather amateurish. Don't offer up your amp as shared backline if others can't change the settings, you're disrespecting the other guys and potentially making them and their bands look bad. End of story.

But that's you not me, everyone is different.

Amen!

I also would ask him and I would be shocked if he told me no. OP, You are entitled to your opinion but I think you are in the minority of offering a back line that cannot be touched. If you do not want them dialing your settings, do not offer your rig. You could always offer them to use just the cab, something commonly done, and just tell them how high they can set the volume safely.

 

[lfmn16]

But that's you not me, everyone is different.

You asked the question and I answered it. Sorry you don't like the answer.

 

[electracoyote]

would you go up to Flea and change his amp setting because you are amp sharing?

If He offered to backline a show with His amp, I would fully expect to change the settings on the Amp of God Himself to my preference.

You seem to be missing the point here: No one is begrudging you the right to exercise the amount of care and concern you feel appropriate toward your rig. I'm pretty careful with my rig too, and therefore I would not offer it up for backline purposes.

But it's unreasonable to offer your rig for backlining a multi-band show and then be so limiting about how people use it. It's also unreasonable to expect anyone to use your signal chain and EQ unaltered. Your bass may sound great through your signal chain; my bass may sound like crap through it. Have the grace and common sense to let me tweak it, or tell me flat out to bring my own rig.

The logical conclusion is, if you are that particular about people touching your rig, don't offer it for backlining a gig. That's what has so many on this thread scratching their heads.

Did you understand the car analogy? If I loan you my car but forbid you to adjust the seat and mirrors, shift gears, make left turns, etc., doesn't that strike you as kind of a paradox? I'm not really doing you any big favor, am I? It's the same with an amp offered to other bass players at a gig. You either offer the amp and have the courtesy to allow them to alter the settings within reason, or don't offer it at all. Like it or not, the way you handled it doesn't make sense to most of us.

 

[lfmn16]

I also would ask him and I would be shocked if he told me no. OP, You are entitled to your opinion but I think you are in the minority of offering a back line that cannot be touched. If you do not want them dialing your settings, do not offer your rig. You could always offer them to use just the cab, something commonly done, and just tell them how high they can set the volume safely.

+1

Typical Talkbass. Ask a question and then argue with every opinion that doesn't agree with yours.

 

[Hopkins]

I see it both ways, letting him adjust your EQ is no big deal, just make sure its at a reasonable setting that wont blow your speakers.

But on the other hand, it is your rig and the guy should respect the fact that you dont want him messing with it, or bring his own amp. Him gettig pissed off about it is kind of childish.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

I was invited by a friend of mine to sit in with his band once, and before I did, I went to the bass player and made sure it was cool with him. Then- I took off my belt and got a table napkin and put it in my waistband behind his bass, then I sat in on a couple of songs.

I don't know, if someone started undressing and reaching for absorbent napkins while handling my guitar, I'd be inclined to throw a beating on him...

 

[FretNoMore]

I see it both ways, letting him adjust your EQ is no big deal, just make sure its at a reasonable setting that wont blow your speakers.

But on the other hand, it is your rig and the guy should respect the fact that you dont want him messing with it, or bring his own amp. Him gettig pissed off about it is kind of childish.

If he wasn't made aware of this restriction so he could bring his own gear instead then I think he had good reason to be pissed off. It's rather clear from the majority opinion here that it was reasonable for him to assume he could use a supplied backline fully.

 

[THUNDERGODX]

I don't know, if someone started undressing and reaching for absorbent napkins while handling my guitar, I'd be inclined to throw a beating on him...

I don't know, if someone started undressing and reaching for absorbent napkins while handling my guitar, I'd be inclined to throw a beating on him...

If somebody was that careful with my gear, negativity would not be a result.