People wanting to use your rig

[Rich Emme]

I take superb care of my instruments and equipment, I probably know of only a couple people whom I can entrust to have the same level of care and responsibility for them as I have. Unfortunately my past experiences in loaning stuff out have been less than what I desired over the years, anywhere from playing instruments with greasy/sweaty hands and not wiping down the fretboard etc, to blown amps/speakers, to someone selling my stuff (the balls on that dude!).

At this point of my life, I've learned to say "No". I have a couple of guitars and amps that I consider back-ups, and would consider loaning to friends in need, but I don't loan out my main players.

 

[Monkey]

I don't loan my rig, but will sometimes let others play through it if it's set up and I'm right there. Over the years, I've often heard, the "oh, come on, man, be cool!" stuff when refusing to loan it out.

I once played a set at an outdoor reggae festival in the summer heat. After I packed up and moved my rig off the stage, a guy came up and said, "hey, man, can we borrow your rig? We drove in from across the state and our bass player forgot his amp." I told him I was leaving and that he couldn't use it, and got the "you're uncool" attitude.

I agree with most posters who don't loan their rigs because of potential damage or theft. Are any of you reluctant to loan your rig because of feeling that it's "my sound"? For example, my reggae band played first at a club with another band. Back then, I used 2 Aguilar GS112s with upgraded speakers and my LMIII. The bassist in the band after me (who I knew superficially) came in, saw and heard my rig, and said, "I'll just use yours." I looked down and he had a Behringer combo. No wonder he wanted to use my rig!

I now play with one or two fEARful 12/6s (one of which I built myself) and my trusty LMIII. That rig (along with my self-built fretless) is MY SOUND and I worked hard for it. I'm not loaning it out to anyone.

 

[B-string]

So you were a nice guy last year and let them use your rig. You did a nice thing. A year later your singer can't remember you play bass for his other project or is it that the guy playing fat string is not committed to the instrument and after a year has not made provisions to play that gig?
I would have to tell them you are not a music store and while you helped them once they need to be responsible and equip their own gigs like you do your OWN gigs.

 

[1954bassman]

A lesson I learned from my sweet wife of 32 years. I can say "no" without supplying an excuse. No explanation needed, just no. Try it, it works. Friends don't ask friends to explain themselves when it comes to doing or not doing favors.

Your lead singer friend's friend who does not even own a bass amp has plenty of time to acquire an amp to use on October 31st.

 

[twinjet]

100% refundable deposit upon passing return inspection.

 

[1954bassman]

Also, bottom line is if somebody (you in this case) saved up and bought a nice bass rig with hard earned money, that person is going to take extra care of it, because they actually worked to pay for it.

Conversely, a person using an expensive item that they have zero personal investment in, could not care less if they abuse or damage the item.

This is especially true of musicians who do not own even own basic gear of their own, like an amp or bass.

And I really like the guy who shows up and says: "Our bass player forgot his amp" - or - "I'll just use yours" while holding his POS amp and looking at yours.

Since the "bass dude" doesn't have a bass amp, and apparently has no plans to buy or rent one, then he has no business accepting a gig that requires one.

 

[Humbled]

I'd loan this one out. It's been in a buddy's basement for about three years now. The time I said "no" was because the guy that wanted it lives in a small apartment with a wife and two boys and three daughters age 1-8 years old. And he was not a fellow I trusted. I could imagine it coming back with ice-cream smeared all over it and half the knobs missing...

 

[pbassjbass]

There are people in the business of renting gear. I do loan to guys I know needing to cover gigs because of problems with their equipment. The mutual understanding is the reverse would also be true. Mutual assurance. But I'm not in the lend/lease business. Besides, I'm eternally optimistic that i'll get a call, and be booked that night. My policy is "always ready to play", and that means, my gear at my house, ready to go to my gig.

 

[Munjibunga]

The singer in my band does a certain cover act with a group of friends every holloween. Last year they borrowed my rig. Since then, i got a kickass 810 with an svt 7. Ive been playing 22 years and only just got this pro status rig. We share a practice space and my singer called to ask if they could use it for practice last night and mentioned they may need my old rig for their show. My old rig is all the way at my house which is across town and i practice on it. My band has a gig 10/30 and theirs is 10/31. I really dont want anyone using my new rig at all and i really dont feel like hauling my old rig. I also dont want to be a jerk and want to be a nice guy. What do you guys think? I
let them use my nice rig last night, but how would you treat this going forward?

Try this one: "No."

 

[Munjibunga]

I have let others use my rig at open mics, but I am right there and have no qualms about walking up on stage and turning it down if some jackass cranks it to distortion. Haven't had to do it yet, though.

 

[Munjibunga]

Here y'go. Tell him to go to GC and buy a rig for the gig, then take it back the next day. (Some people actually do that, and not always at GC.)

 

[Bassic Playing]

"Told me they may need my old rig for the show"..?

Some guys, most of which you don't know and are too flaky to own their own stuff, rudely tell you they need your rig, and you haul it around at their beck and call?

Tell them to get lost. Why would you let anyone you dont know borrow anything of yours, let alone a multi-thousand dollar bass rig?

 

[makatamusika]

i understand your situation.

if you don't wanna feel bad about saying no, try to say no and suggest something.

like, "no sorry, but i can lend you my older rig..."

or "no sorry, but im using it on that day" even though it's obvious you are not, they should get what you mean.

 

[Bigmuffdiver]

let them pick up your old rig.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

How about a big old bag of nope.

 

[peledog]

No.

 

[Duke Damn]

Yeah it sucks but i may drive the forty minutes to get my amp head out of the practice space ... I want to be a nice guy and help out but i also dont want anything to happen to it.

Dude, you've received a lot of good advice and just repeated the initial question. You need to learn how to say no.

You don't owe them anything, you've already proven you're a nice guy by lending it out once, they have a few weeks to procure a bass rig, and, for some reason, their 'dedicated bass player' hasn't gotten himself a rig during the year he's had between Halloween gigs to get one.

People like these are the reason that there are musical gear rental places. Tell them to go rent a rig for a single night. It's not hard.

Say it with me!

'NO.'

 

[Billy Apple]

Yeah it sucks but i may drive the forty minutes to get my amp head out of the practice space ... I want to be a nice guy and help out but i also dont want anything to happen to it.

F' being the nice guy. There're not being the nice guy with you. They already had their fun and used your gear. If they're going forward with this band tell them to get there own stuff.. like you did

 

[Ibanez Bassist]

If this happens more often then not or the borrowing seems to be increasing .. Time to buy or rent their own gear.. people work too hard for the good stuff they may purchase .. friend or no friend as soon as something happens to it most will run the other way..

 

[NotTylerHendley]

I played a show where the bassist asked my drummer if they could use my cabinet.
"no problem, just don't blow it out" - I've been where he is before, you know?
When we get to the gig, the story changed from just the cabinet to "hey, you're still cool with him using your rig right?"