Yeah. There are ways to say "no" politely, and I do. A guy wanted to play one of my harmonicas yesterday at a little festival up by Bracebridge, Ontario (the Lose Yer Shoes Folk & Blues Festival). He'd had a few drinks, obviously. I smiled and said, "Well, y' know, I don't lend out my harmonicas...it's sort of like kissing the person." "So?" chimes in his girlfriend, "He's kind of cute..." I look him over. "Well, yeah, only he's just not my type, that's all..." We all laughed, and I went on my way.

I frequently do allow others to play my guitar, using intuition as my guide. I can recall only 2 cases where some slight damage resulted to the instrument...out of maybe a couple of hundred.

I know one asshole whose idea of life is that everything should have a few marks, gouges, or chips out of it to give it "character". If he sees you wearing a new pair of shoes, he'll try and scuff them with his heel so they look broken in. His guitar shows numerous signs of abuse, including a large signature on its face with a black felt pen by someone like Garth Brooks, or whomever, I don't remember. This guy I do not lend anything to. I avoid him if I can.

I do not lend guitars out of my sight to anyone...except Don Bray...he is a world class guitar player, songwriter extraordinaire, and a prince of a man. I have never seen anyone with more respect for a fine instrument. I have a 1981 Martin Grand Orchestra which Don likes to borrow when he records, and I will lend it to him at any time. Don has a CD (a very good one) if anyone is interested.