When A Stranger Asks to Play Your Guitar

[AlohaJoe]

Friends at the house, sure. Strangers, not so much. It depends on the situation to some extent, but it won't leave my sight under any circumstances. I size things up and decide, but err on the side of caution... I've had a neck broken when somebody 'borrowed' one and then haphazardly leaned it on a chair. He felt bad of course, but that wasn't much help.

At gigs there's invariably somebody (sober or not) who comes up on a break and says "I play guitar too man, can I play yours?" That's always a big no.

 

[jazzmang]

Depends on the guitar!

 

[adorshki]

It depends on the situation to some extent, but it won't leave my sight under any circumstances.

oh yeah, that too.

I size things up and decide, but err on the side of caution... I've had a neck broken when somebody 'borrowed' one and then haphazardly leaned it on a chair. He felt bad of course, but that wasn't much help.

I won't even let my friends do that with their guitars in my house.. Had a buddy who was notorious for disrespecting people's house rules and property, as well as his own, and sure enough...didn't break his axe's neck but put a nice ding on the headstock. Sadly, had to fire him eventually after he put one too many dings on my furniture and burns on my rug. So there's another "tell": how well do they take care of their own stuff? (He'd totalled 3 cars in 2 years :shock: ) Why I never did let him play my D25, just told him "It's my wife don't even go there".
Back to my golden rule: In its case or in your lap. And maybe some one else's lap.

 

[Bing k]

[

P.S. Bing, it's all your fault, you know. :lol: ::::impish grin:::: Just mention the word necced...... ::::teehee::::

I know sorry

Not to make light of the subject at hand. I understand the hesitation to allow others to play our guitars. Some players (me not included) are more particular about how their guitars are handled, and that's OK. A new or pristine condition guitar makes us especially nervous sometimes. In my case I'm just as likely to ding it up as anybody so I'm pretty lenient about it. Most of what I play is pretty good stuff but not with out a few "character marks" here and there. Like some here have posted: I like to have others be impressed with my Guilds and when their jaw drops as they begin to play it's often worth the risk.

In the showroom it's a different deal. We worry about making sure the customers have a good experience when trying out an instrument but it's a fine line to draw when we have to keep the sales value shipshape.

 

[Bing k]

At gigs there's invariably somebody (sober or not) who comes up on a break and says "I play guitar too man, can I play yours?" That's always a big no.

The drunks I just tell: "Well it's tuned in open-crossed half-step D flat." That usually stops'em.

 

[Geo]

At gigs there's invariably somebody (sober or not) who comes up on a break and says "I play guitar too man, can I play yours?" That's always a big no.

The drunks I just tell: "Well it's tuned in open-crossed half-step D flat." That usually stops'em.

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'll try to remember that one.

George

 

[ladytexan]

The drunks I just tell: "Well it's tuned in open-crossed half-step D flat." That usually stops'em.

Absolutely primo, Bing! :lol: :lol:

 

[taabru45]

I play with myself a lot so nobody ever ask.

George

Ummm...I play by myself mostly...Steffan

 

[CA-35]

I'm reminded of something I've heard somewhere before........
"Made to be played" :lol: :lol: :shock: :lol:

With all due caution and respect!

 

[ladytexan]

I'm reminded of something I've heard somewhere before........
"Made to be played" :lol: :lol: :shock: :lol:

I wish I could be 'relaxed' about potential dings and dents, CA-35. But, I do worry. Dang it! Guess that's why I park my Audi in the back 40 at any store or shop - willing to walk the mile(s) to try and prevent dings. Go figure, huh? :shock:

 

[davismanLV]

I play with myself a lot so nobody ever ask.

George

Ummm...I play by myself mostly...Steffan

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Geo]

I play with myself a lot so nobody ever ask.

George

Ummm...I play by myself mostly...Steffan

:lol: :lol: :lol:

My Mom said I would go blind if I didn't stop. I told her I just planned on doing it until I needed glasses. 8)

George

 

[killdeer43]

I've just reread all of the posts here and I can't believe the topic hasn't been transposed to a stranger asking your spouse to dance.

Do you check for buckles, dirty hands, level of inebriation, etc.? Seems like a similar dilemma. :wink:

Just pondering,
Joe

 

[Dr. Spivey]

I'm reminded of something I've heard somewhere before........
"Made to be played" :lol: :lol: :shock: :lol:

I wish I could be 'relaxed' about potential dings and dents, CA-35. But, I do worry. Dang it! Guess that's why I park my Audi in the back 40 at any store or shop - willing to walk the mile(s) to try and prevent dings. Go figure, huh? :shock:

Don't feel lonesome, I park my '97 Buick in the back 40 also. The car is far from pristine, but I'd rather wreck it myself. The walk doesn't hurt me, nor do I miss doing battle for the choice parking spots.

I usually let folks play my guitar as long as they show no signs of intoxication or severe mental illness. If they do something stupid I take it back.

I don't let children touch guitars, or even get real close. They are coated in food, boogers, remains of dead insects and can have animals in their pockets. They don't all grow out of that at the same age. The child that can actually play guitar knows the drill and will comply with a mandatory inspection and cleansing.

 

[krysh]

I'm very picky whith who I lend my basses and guitars to.
it has often happened that after I had given someone my guitar the formerly fresh strings had been dead because of some peoples acid sweat and that I had to do a complete cleaning and setup. so usually I only give an instrument to people I know that can play and appreciate the instrument.

 

[griehund]

[quote="CA-35":1kzanpba]I'm reminded of something I've heard somewhere before........
"Made to be played" :lol: :lol: :shock: :lol:

I wish I could be 'relaxed' about potential dings and dents, CA-35. But, I do worry. Dang it! Guess that's why I park my Audi in the back 40 at any store or shop - willing to walk the mile(s) to try and prevent dings. Go figure, huh? :shock:

Don't feel lonesome, I park my '97 Buick in the back 40 also. The car is far from pristine, but I'd rather wreck it myself. The walk doesn't hurt me, nor do I miss doing battle for the choice parking spots.

I usually let folks play my guitar as long as they show no signs of intoxication or severe mental illness. If they do something stupid I take it back.

I don't let children touch guitars, or even get real close. They are coated in food, boogers, remains of dead insects and can have animals in their pockets. They don't all grow out of that at the same age. The child that can actually play guitar knows the drill and will comply with a mandatory inspection and cleansing.[/quote:1kzanpba]

I was at a bluegrass festival with my grand kids in northern Cali last summer and my youngest (9 year old) picked up a custom made uke from a local luthier and started playing his favorite songs. So I ask the owner how much and he says $900. The uke went back on display faster then a speeding bullet.
I let my friends and family play my guitars but my family doesn't live nearby and I have very few friends. I feel guilty about every damned nick that I've caused so I don't know how I'de feel if somebody else put a pimple on my play toy.

 

[Alan_M]

I do lots of cardio to stay in shape. When the requester bolts for the door with my axe in hand, I can chase them down. I've perfected my tackling-while-cushioning-the-guitar technique through years of rigorous training in my dojo. I carry handy wipes and have them clean up while filling out my long form "May I Play Your Guitar" data sheet. I have a handy little photocopier for their driver's license and SS card. I then have them don a velvet padded robe and remove all jewelry. Finally, I have a box of wrestling mats in my car and place them underneath a specially designed chair that causes major discomfort after about 2 minutes, causing them to cease playing and return said instrument. Overkill? I think not. :wink:

I usually let people play, but hover like a helicopter.

Can you imagine the stress of working in a vintage guitar shop and having people pulling grand instruments of high value off the walls all day while their kids run around screaming? Or how about working at a place like GC while some teen attempts the Crazy Train solo out of tune for four hours while another pounds away in the drum department, all the while the phone rings incessantly. I'd go insane.

 

[chazmo]

This is a great subject, and one that I've seen come up frequently over on the Taylor forum (when there used to be one) on AGF. Taylor owners are, by and large, rather high on the anal scale when it comes to their axes. Many of these folks don't let others play their instruments. I can appreciate that since part of the Taylor thing is a reputation for exceptionally beautiful wood creations -- at least on their higher-end models. And, they're Taylors so, of course, actually playing them to hear what they sound like is clearly not as important as what they look like.

[ OK, that was a little tongue-in-cheek, people. I'm not a hater... I actually own a Taylor! ]

Seriously, though, while many Taylor owners are handling fairly new, pristine instruments, I think that's a huge contrast with the good folks here on LTG. Many/most of us here are no strangers to older, vintage axes that have weathered with time. The patina of age -- not to mention the effect of poor treatment occasionally over the many years of a vintage instrument's life -- is its own beauty, and I think we recognize that.

Along those lines, the question for us here is more like what are the odds that this person will actually damage my axe? Not so much will they put fingerprints on my finish. Some of our axes are literally unreplaceable, and that speaks to Jazzy's point that "it depends." But, for the most part, our vintage axes can be fixed and perhaps not worse for the wear.

For me, the overriding thing is to share the joy of Guild's sound/tone with anyone who's interested. At any setting where I can keep an eye on my guitar, I am willing to let someone play.

Someone else mentioned loaning/borrowing an axe. That would be a no-no for a stranger, and definitely a serious discussion with a friend/colleague before doing that.

 

[Geo]

[ OK, that was a little tongue-in-cheek, people. I'm not a hater... I actually own a Taylor! ]

Oh, if it was a Taylor, I'd toss it to them and say think fast. :lol:

George

 

[Bill Ashton]

On the opposite end of the scale...

Some years ago I brought my barely teenage son to a local tavern/restaurant to see Jim Weider (telecaster player extrodinaire/ex-The Band member). I knew the promoter and we were there early. I had brought along a tele pickguard that I used to collect autographs and he (the promoter) brought us into the tavern section where Wieder was having supper to see him. I hesitated, but was told "Com'on, he'll want to see you..."

So in we go, and Jim is having supper with another fellow, his ancient telecaster by his side.
Introductions, little small talk, very gracious guy. He answers if my son plays and he says yes...asked what kind of guitar he has, he replies a telecaster (~2000 Standard), to which Jim jumps up grabs his tele, thrusts it into Tom's hands and says "Hey, then try this one out!" Speechless...and priceless moment. Tom still talks about it... :lol: