Loaning out your Alembics?

[glocke]

Just got a rather strange text from a local bass player who asked to "borrow" my Series 1 for an extended length of time for a "special show", using the argument that I like playing my jazz basses more. 


This is 822241   http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24603.0


Granted, I do use my jazz bass more in live settings, but that's only because the playing conditions are often cramped and/or less than desirable (outdoor gigs in sand or questionable weather, etc).


I can't think of an instrument I'd be less inclined to loan out.  Maybe if it was a fellow forum member that happened to live close by and I knew well, but thats certainly not the case here.  I don't have any animosity towards the guy, I just simply don't know him well enough to have that level of trust thats required here.


Sometimes a persons thought process is kind of amazing.

[edwardofhuncote]

Then don't  do it. It's the definition of a no-brainer Greg.

I can think of maybe two fellow bass players I'd even consider loaning my Alembics to, and neither of them would ask.

PS- #82-2241 is AMAZING.

[glocke]

Then don't  do it. It's the definition of a no-brainer Greg.

I can think of maybe two fellow bass players I'd even consider loaning my Alembics to, and neither of them would ask.

PS- #82-2241 is AMAZING.

yeah its a no-brainer for sure.  Im just amazed someone would actually ask..

Also not sure whats up with some of those photos in that thread and another one i have. they seem to have turned into blue boxes.  the older i get the more of a luddite i am becoming lol.

[edwardofhuncote]

I hear ya' man.   

Here's the thread where I first spotted your bass on Reverb and posted it. The (expired) ad still has pictures up. http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=24498.0

And as I said, Spectacular. 

Yeah, I got a buddy down here who I'd actually love to put my Series I in his hands for a big show, just to hear it really put through paces. He's a far superior bass player than me, and a monster guitar player too. I kinda' hope one day we'll do a Grateful Dead project together. (Major Deadhead) After I got #77-621 this past Spring, first chance, I took it to his band's rehearsal for a test drive. But he would never have asked that.

Posed with that question, I would think of a tactful but firm way to say no to just anyone.

[fmm]

No one has asked to borrow my Series I, but I wouldn't rule out lending it to the right person.  I would have to be at the event.
I have loaned it out without being asked.  Sometimes a student will be doing a gig where a chart or two will just cry out to be played on an Alembic, so that's what we do.

[gtrguy]

Oh, hell no! Then again, you could ask to borrow their wife or girlfriend for the same length of time in exchange...

[cozmik_cowboy]

I loaned my son - that's my son - my Alvarez to take to a campfire.

When he brought it home I was dumping gravel out the sound hole.  Really.  Loan an Alembic to someone I'm not related to?  Probably not, I'm thinking.........

Peter (who likewise never let that little turd take one his guitars out of the house again)

[hieronymous]

I finally learned basically never to loan out anything - 18 years ago I lent a Moog synth to a friend/local musician, hoping he would make some amazing music with it while I was out of the country. When I got it back from him several years later, he said he had lent it out to someone else! I wasn't expecting that. I just sold it the other day, and took a big hit because the keys were all messed up - looking at pictures from 2002 & more recently, the damage definitely happened when it was out of my hands.

I prefer never to borrow anything either...

[keith_h]

I don't loan out musical equipment. I have let other bass players I know check out my Alembics during breaks or what not and will use my amps as part of the backline if I'm running sound but unsupervised never. 

[jwright9]

My brother and I loan gear back and forth to each other. We trust each other implicitly.
Other than my brother, no.

[lbpesq]

What's next, "Hey, I'm getting married and planning to raise a family.  Can you lend me your house for an extended period of time?  After all, I see you in clubs and in your car a lot more often than in your house."

Or another approach: "sure, no problem.  Just leave me a $25,000.00 security deposit".

Bill, tgo

[peoplechipper]

I've only loaned out stuff that I would consider selling; if it gets wrecked or not given back, fine, you sold it and get paid, otherwise you have big conflicts in your future...besides, borrowing a main instrument from someone is like spouse swapping, but the instrument can't give consent! Tony

[edwin]

I loaned out my Series I to Dark Star Orchestra back in 2002 when they were playing the Fox here in Boulder, but I was good friends with the keyboard player and it seemed like the right thing to do. I had a gig down the street and went back to the Fox after I was done, so I was able to keep an eye on it, but I wasn't worried and my confidence was justified.

OTOH, I had some idiot from a metal band grab my Starfire out of my hands for a Denver Music Awards jam session. To add insult to injury, he spent the whole time trying to drown out the rappers. Disrespectful idiot on so many levels.

[hammer]

It’s always interesting who asks and who tells you they wouldn’t even think of asking or playing your instrument even when it’s offered.


 I’ve been fortunate enough each of the last six years or so to have been able to stage house concerts at my place with some quite popular European artists. In a few weeks Lukas Sommer is coming back for a second time (incredible classical guitarist from the Czech Republic whose played at the Kennedy Center and later this year at Carneige Hall). Chleck him out on you tube: Lukas Sommer Suite in old style (romantic guitar but Jan Vesely)


I’ve always asked the artists if they’d like to try the instruments I have here which are typically sitting in the rooms in which they’ll be playing including two furthers and several Alembic basses. They always respond by saying they’d never think of asking to hold not alone play them. In one case the bass player in question found his instrument with a broken headstock when he opened his case three hours before the show and he still was extremely reluctant. In that case I ran out and rented a bass from a local luthier who builds basses while he warmed up on my series I. After I got back with the very nice $4,000 custom bass which we rented he reluctantly put the series I down and played the rental for the concert...most of it that is. Just prior to the encore he finally came over and sheepishly asked if he could use the Series on their final tune. I, of course said yes. After they closed the show he came over to me and gingerly place the Series back in my hand indicating in broken in English that “this is a piece of art that you don’t even need to think about when you play.” He then pointed at the rental, again an extremely nice bass, and indicated that it was a toy compared to the Alembic. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

OTOH, I had some idiot from a metal band grab my Starfire out of my hands for a Denver Music Awards jam session. To add insult to injury, he spent the whole time trying to drown out the rappers. Disrespectful idiot on so many levels.

Drowning out rappers?  At last, a use for metal!

Peter (who is by no means arguing that he wasn't a blivet for grabbing the bass)