Can I borrow a guitar?

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 02:44 PM

Once I let a moron plug into my Fender Bandmaster cabinet, which I used a Carvin P-5000 brain, in which we already blew out the Jensens, and replaced them with Pyle Drivers. He fried both speakers, cranking his 'overdrive' up, way to high. That really pissed me off, but in actuality was fortuitous, because I replaced those(Pylie Drivers) with Carvin High Energy 12's. Now it is incredible!..and indestructible! Sounds better than ever!.....but try to plug into it???..ummm, no morons allowed! You can tell a moron, because they laugh like, 'Guh huh, Guh huh'!!

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: maire-aine
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 01:37 PM

I certainly don't own a vintage Martin or Gibson or anything at that level, but I try to take good care of my guitar. I would only loan it to someone who I actually trust, or who is trusted by someone that I trust. Some people that I've known for a long time are the very ones I would NOT let play it.

M

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:57 PM

acid sweat, drunken louts, wandering geniuses showing up in Shefield, Bert Jansch anecdotes.....this is a good thread!

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:42 PM

I copied and pasted this post of mine from the other thread, but it's still relevant.

At a session, I'll lend my guitar to anybody who asks as long as he isn't visibly drunk, and I'm there watching. I will take it away immediately if the player - drunk or sober - uses it as a percussion instrument.
This happened last summer at a session in Hoban's pub in Westport, Co. Mayo. A young fella asked if he could borrow my guitar, I said 'Sure,' and handed it over. Well, he started battering the lower bout in between chording (which he appeared to do quite well) and he had a handful of rings, which made it sound like a snare drum.
I instantly put my hand around the neck in mid-strum, and said 'It's a guitar, not a drum.' and took it off him.
He was miffed, but the session players applauded me, so he left in a huff.

On the same subject: a musician friend of mine is one of those individuals whose hands sweat profusely. If he comes to my performances, I usually get him up to do a couple of numbers knowing that he'll deaden the strings in 5 minutes. He doesn't abuse the guitar, he's a fine picker/singer, he just sweats like George Bush at a spelling-bee, and I have to change strings when he's done.

Seamus

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:39 PM

Scenes from history that mercifully didn't happen (no.1)

Bill Leader: Right Bert, we're ready to start recording.

Bert Jansch: Hey Martin, OK if I borrow your guitar?

Martin Carthy: Actually Bert, I've got this nasty skin disease.

Bert Jansch: Ugh! I'm off down the pub then. Coming?

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:16 PM

I tell people I've got a nasty skin disease.

I guess one of the most famous examples of guitar lending was when Bert Jansch borrowed Martin Carthy's to record his debut album in 1965. The rest is history.........

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:08 PM

I let a guy borrow my Stevie Ray Vaughn Fender strat one time. That is really the only time I have been burned. It took me forever to get it back and when I did it was wrecked. Scratched all to peices (I mean chunks of paint off) even the ground wire was snapped. That is the only time I really got burned by someone borrowing. I don't lend stuff out over night anymore. If I do I am right there with them. In a "I want to get up and play a few." type setting I would let them have it no prob. If someone started abusing it though I would not hesitate to stand up mid-performance and take it back. I have been called alot of things in my life so being called one more bad name for stopping somone's performance really wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:58 AM

Lending a "house" guiar is one thing. Lending a personal guitar is something else. One shouldn't just casually ask to borrow one, and assume that an OK is forthcoming; if someone offers the use of one, that's a privilege, IMO. Unless they offer a crap guitar. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Tyke
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:50 AM

Now that's a good idea a Pub/Session Guitar brilliant perhaps a pound or two in a Pot to pay for new strings and or to give to charity.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:15 AM

At the Sun Inn in Beverley we have a guitar hanging on the wall that is used by those that need one - it was donated by mudcatter ETWIGGER and it ain't a bad instrument. There is also a fiddle but I haven't seen anyone brave enough to play it.

R

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:52 AM

I'd lend my crappy old Yamaha guitar to anybody. My banjo? don't even think about it...
Ray

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: mandotim
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:23 AM

I've got some nice guitars; some I would lend, and some I wouldn't. The one I use most in sessions is a Rainsong, made entirely of Carbon Fibre. It's pretty much unbreakable, and scratches can be removed with T-cut and Autoglym car polish (the method recommended by the manufacturer.) Sounds pretty good too, and it's the best plugged-in acoustic I've ever played. Having said that, I winced when I lent it to someone and he was using it to tap out the beat for another singers song by tapping the bottom of the guitar on a stone tiled floor! He's still alive, but it was close. If I'm playing the mandolin, or my 1975 Rob Armstrong doubleneck, don't bother asking...
Tim

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 09:41 AM

I have heard it said that asking some to borrow their guitar is akin to asking to borrow their wife. :-}
I don't usually mind lending my guitars because the ones that I own are far from being considered top end. A couple though sound very good and often the borrower has more picking skill than myself. That allows me to appriciate how they sound in a masters hand.
A few years ago I was playing some songs at a local variety concert. I was using my old Eko J54 (Ranger) that is built like a real dreadnought.( battleship) Sitting in the front row were several folks from a group home for mentally challenged adults. They were real enthusiastic about the music and they were very appreciative. When I came off stage I was approached by a young lady from the group who wanted to try my guitar. The attendant with her was trying to discourage her but she was very insistant. I carefully passed it to her and let her try it. She strummed the open strings several times and passed it back. The audience gave her an applause and it made her evening. It also made mine but in truth I was glad that it was the J54 that I brought that night.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 09:32 AM

You have as much chance of a loan of one of my guitars as you have of being struck by lightning.

Or my other instruments.

I don't apologise ; I say No. If the would-be borrower persists, I just take me glasses off and stare them up and down. So far I haven't come across (so to speak) any who'll persist after that.

The only exceptions to this rule : I let my youngest grandson play my whistles, but not my taborer's pipes ; and I have a half-size, nylon-strung guitar that both grandsons can arse about on.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 09:26 AM

Even though I have a ton of horror stories regarding this subject. I still lend mine out. Escpecially to younger players that are just coming on the scene. I know they are probably the most dangerous but I do. I remember being in thier shoes and not being sure of myself and not having a decent instrument. They normally get a thrill out of playing a real good guitar and I normally enjoy seeilng them perform. People were VERY cool to me when I started about this. So I guess I feel the obligation to encourage and help musicians that are just starting out. So far so good I have not had much damage (except for 1). My ex wife did more damage to my guitars out of anger than anyone has borrowing one lol. I had thousands of dollars worth of damage from her. I have just got some scratches from borrowers.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 09:08 AM

On a packed night on Wednesday at the Rivelin Folk Club, a very enthusiastic (but very noisy and very drunk) fellow asked if he could do a song. The MC reluctantly said OK and he asked if he could borrow a guitar - the 1st he asked said "No - you're too drunk", the 2nd just said "Sorry - no" and he moved onto the next. If the drunk was an embarrassment then the hospitality afforded the poor feller was getting even more so, so I stepped forward with my Lowden and handed it over so the show could get back on the road.

He then asked to borrow a pick, and I thought "here goes some more cedar chips off the old block" and crossed my fingers. He proceeded to pick out a blues riff very gently, moving up and down the fretboard to places most folk don't ever go, before starting to sing a few lines he had great difficulty remembering. Now I didn't think his memory was any worse than others who have sung at the club, and I suspect that when sober he could play and sing many under the table, but he was soon whisked off to save further embarrassment. He handed me my guitar back (unharmed) and with a gracious "Thanks very much, that's a lovely guitar, and you're a star for lending it me".

As Thompson sang - "God loves a drunk" - just as well really...

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 08:59 AM

From Starlight Express, Poppa's Blues [Richard Stilgoe]

'Don't lend your mouth organ
Not even to your best friend
Don't lend your mouth organ
Not even to your best friend
'Cos if the blowing doesn't get you
The suckin'll get you in the end!'

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Phil Cooper at OCFF
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 08:52 AM

I pretty much have to know the player. I've played Mooh's guitar and lived to tell the tale. Actually a couple of them. I'd be picky too.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 08:09 AM

Not any more, since I lent a new Martin OM-28 Marquis to someone with keys or a zip in their trouser-pocket and it came back with scratches on the waist treble side.

Never again. I don't borrow, and I don't lend.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:59 AM

I lend mine reluctantly, and try never to lend it to someone I don't know.
I always feel churlish when I refuse, but nonetheless I do so sometimes.
Usually when it's someone who says 'Ooh a Martin, can I try it?'.


JM

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:53 AM

Those who remember Diz Disley back in the 60s will remember that he ALWAYS borrowed guitars.

For a while he had a genuine Maccaferri, but it was either stolen, or broken, or repossessed or something.

After that, he never got round to getting another and, for what seemed like years, used to turn up at clubs and just pick a guitar from the half dozen or so propped up against the back wall.
Most people were quite pleased to say that Diz had played their guitar. And quite remarkably, it didn't seem to make much difference to him how good or bad the instrument was. He always seemed to manage to knock out all those amazing Django licks.

There was also an apocryphal story that Charlie Christian had lent Diz a guitar, and had then gone and died so Diz didn't give it back.

When he eventually got another Maccaferri, he still used an old bit of string instead of a strap. And when the bit of string got lost, which it regularly did, then he would borrow people's straps.

I'll bet nobody would get away with it these days, even somebody as endearing as Diz was. But then, the folk scene was so much more inclusive in those days.

G

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:17 AM

One reckoned that some people have very acid sweat and it rotted the string faster than his delicated digits. And he had 4 degrees, one a PhD and one in Psychology. And a diploma in counselling.

But could he drive a forklift?

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:10 AM

I knew a couple of guitarist who refused or tried to, mostly successfully.

One reckoned that some people have very acid sweat and it rotted the string faster than his delicated digits. And he had 4 degrees, one a PhD and one in Psychology. And a diploma in counselling. Not that it helped him in the self-image department too much. Methinks he just didn't trust others to love his guitar they way he did. Can we blame him? He did know how to play it.

Now should I be a little more territorial over my Bodhrans? - they are not just any Bodhran they are specially red, which improves the playing of course! And I do feel somewhat peeved if they don't ask first - and one or two don't feel the need to.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:00 AM

I've had people in pubs asking to borrow harmonicas.

I always refuse, giving hygeine as the reason.

Same with whistles.

Occasionally let others use my guitar, but am careful who

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Zen
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 04:34 AM

No hard and fast rule for me... I'll usually decide according to the circumstances. If I've seen the person play before that helps. I only have one instrument that I prefer not to lend at all, unless I know the lendee well and that's my parlour guitar which is very lightly built.

Zen

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 04:22 AM

From: jonm
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:41 PM

Oh, the joy of being left handed!
I'm a lefty, too. I always take my watch off, if I play. I have a Martin D-21, and a custom, left hand rosewood strat, besides a piano.. as far as the piano, I'm not too worried, just don't touch the settings. As far as the guitars, mmm I'm a little picky(No pun intended) about who I let even try them...and NOBODY, even touches them with obviously dirty hands!

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 08:49 PM

What I wrote on that previous thread hasn't changed:

Generally the answer is a good firm but polite "No". I too have heard my guitars played by stellar players but they're in the minority. If someone is offended and considers me a prick then so be it. I will hand my guitar to a trusted player, but even one of my closest friends is so clumsy I won't trust him with it.

Most often the culprit is alcohol, crowdedness, roudiness, but I don't take any chances outside of my own home.

I'm waiting for a certain pain-in-the-ass to ask to borrow my Telecaster again. Won't he be surprised to find it has no frets above the fifth...that'll stop his wanking in a hurry...he can hardly find the right notes with frets.

A year ago I bought a student guitar (A&L folk cedar, orange, so it's known as The Pumpkin) so that students who are unable to bring their own have a decent guitar for their lesson. It's also the loaner/beater for, "Hey man, gimme your axe, will ya!" moments. Nobody (okay, maybe my luthier friends, and I will admit to letting [here's some name dropping] Tony McManus and Simon Mayor take one for a spin) gets to play my real guitars, but I like the cred I get for having a loaner/beater.

Seriously, there's nothing more horrifying for a working musician to find than some drunk jamming on their axe while they're in the loo between sets. Always carry a spare.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Melissa
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 08:13 PM

I hand off my guitar when I see people standing around the edge who obviously itch to play.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Tyke
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 07:55 PM

No sorry I do not lend out my instruments!

Here is a link from a previous thread called Lending instruments especially in Pubs

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Jayto
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 05:45 PM

I was at a get together one time and the MC asked a guy to puck one. He said he didn't have a gutiar and the Mc said "Well there are plenty here. Someone give him a guitar. The MC was not a musician himself just an organizer. A man stood up and said "here take mine but be careful." The man handed him a 1960's Gibson Super 400 special. This guitar (for the ones that don't know) is so expensive I don't even want to think how much it was worth. Mint condition all gold hardware it was an amazing guitar. The man put the strap around his head and stepped up to the mic. He took both hands off the guitar to adjust the mic stand. When he did the guitar strap gave way and it fell face first right onto the concrete floor. Parts of guitar went rolling all over the place. It smashed it bad and broke off all the hardware. All the guitarist just about puked. They pick the guitar up and then the peices of the guitar. It was horrible. I wiil never forget the look on the faces of both the borrower and the lender. It was BAD!!!!

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 05:23 PM

I usually play a pottery ocarina at some point during most sessions. They're about 100 years old, and while they weren't very expensive (mostly off EBay) they would be very difficult to replace. So they stay in zipped foam-padded pouches until I'm ready to play and they go straight back in there when I'm done. They never rest on a table and nobody but me ever gets to touch them.

Loaning instruments reminds me of somebody I knew in the 70s who used to take a spare toothbrush to folk festivals. His rationale was that nobody who'd think of asking to borrow your toothbrush is going to understand why you'd say no.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 04:25 PM

Quite a lot in this thread.

I don't play myself, so don't encounter this problem. However I am frequently amazed at the stoicism I see among those who lend their instruments, sometimes quite valuable ones, to complete strangers.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: stevi
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 04:13 PM

I have lent to people i know (well)and not had any problem so far!
but several years ago someone throw a pen across the room to someone
else and it bounced off my guitar! a Lowden i nearly cried. A
drunk once just picked it up and asked if it was in tune. Ever
since i allways put it away in its case when not being played.

Stevi

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 04:04 PM

I'm happy to lend my guitar (not an expensive one but it sounds good) to anyone who may have either forgotten or hadn't brought theirs for whatever reason but I remember lending it to someone once and when I got it back I couldn't play it - it was like the chap had spread evostik (contact adhesive) all over the neck and the strings.

It might well have been that he had the sort of skin/sweat that had this effect or he'd been eating a finger buffet beforehand and not washed his hands. I now keep a duster with polish on it and a cloth with some degreasing spray in the case just in case I meet someone with the same problem.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:56 PM

I have a fine guitar which has many nicks put there by a friend. She plays in places where no one has ever thought to put a guard. I forgive her, but if anybody else asked to borrow a guitar, I would say, 'Sorry, this one is real fragile and the top's unusually soft. I can't lend it out.'

With pawnshops full of guitars, a person who wants to play can just get himself one.

========
I solved the nick problem by putting Scotch Magic tape on the places she hits. It has been there three years with no damage. (The top has a matte finish.)

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: jonm
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:41 PM

Oh, the joy of being left handed!

The only time anyone has ever borrowed my guitar was a drunk on Paddy's night - he was the only person who hadn't noticed and it took him the longest to hear that he had a problem....

.... and that's why I only ever take cheap guitars to sessions on certain nights.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Genie
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:41 PM

Well, I have deep gashes in my old Martin, just below the pick guard, almost entirely from one heavy handed strummer borrowing it one afternoon at the beach and flailing away using a heavy flat pick, missing the pick guard for the most part.   He did an amazing lot of damage in about 25 min. (total) of playing.   

OTOH, I'm grateful that several Mudcatters (Big Mick, Nancy, and Bruce, Fortunato and Susette, e.g.) and FSGW members offered to lend guitars for use by us out-of-town flyers at the Getaway and singarounds.   

I think the wisdom of lending guitars depends a lot on the setting and the kinds of people involved.   I'd rather my guitar be used by a lousy player who's gentle with her than with a hot shot who leaves gouges and dents.

Genie

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Gurney
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:37 PM

I saw a well-known (and large) owner literally tear his Spanish from the hands of someone who had borrowed it, and then had violently flat-picked it. The varnish had been scarred by the pick.
The precursor was, when the owner objected, the borrower obligingly put away his flatpick and started donning metal fingerpicks!

So, I guess the answer is, ask them what style they play, first.

Subject: RE: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:31 PM

I'd have to know the person and their playing "style" before I would loan my guitar to someone.

Subject: Can I borrow a guitar?
From: Acorn4
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 02:50 PM

Actually, this could apply to any instrument but it more often than not happens with guitars.

I've always been willing to lend my guitars to other performers - they are not a top of the range model but sort of mid-range.

I had a first uneasy moment at a festival this year when someone asked to borrow a guitar - it soon became obvious that they'd been on more than the bitter from the bar - the guitar survived and one of the other singers said on the way out that he admired "your nerves of steel".

Another slightly more humorous incident at a local pub. A very good finger style picker rather reluctantly led a guitar to a punter who then played something along the lines of "Irish Rover" -the owner had a strained expression on his fact throughout then said when the guitar was handed back:- "It's never been strummed before!"

Should we lend instruments to those who can't be a***d to bring their own?

Has anyone had an instrument damaged by lending it?

Suppose this could be on the "manners" thread but that's getting a bit crowded.