Other people playing your guitars...

[bern1]

I remember one time in the late 70’s, I brought a ‘58 ES-335 I had just bought to a jam session at a party. A guy on roller skates rolled up and asked me if he could play the guitar. I just looked at him and said, dude, you’re on roller skates.…..

 

[LeonC]

Friends and people I know can always play my guitars and in fact, I really enjoy hearing them do so. People who approach me at gigs and want to play? Unless I have pretty good evidence that they're not ding-dongs, no, they don't get to touch them. But every now and then I've had someone approach me at a gig who clearly is not a ding dong and knows what he's doing; yes, he gets to try my guitar. (I have yet to be approached by a female guitarist I didn't already know...)

 

[NYCBURST]

I had a well known member on this forum send me a nice guitar to try out for a couple of weeks, it inspired me to always share my guitars and I learned when you free yourself from attachment to material things such as a guitar you can enjoy them plenty more...

 

[65Firebird]

I've always let players try my guitars and never had a problem.

When I was in my early teens I had been playing for a few years and only had acheap acoustic, my uncle lent me his early '60's Gretsch Country Club and a practice amp for months. I'm now in my mid fifties and to this day I'm gratefull for that opportunity, it really helped nurture a love of playing and a fascination of the guitar.

 

[CyFan]

I keep a nice playing and sounding guest guitar around. Anyone can play it. Only family get to play the LPs.

 

[NYCBURST]

I even got meself on the cover of one of the 'Burst Believers books by Vic and David, holding other peoples guitars!!!

I'd get where gas couldn't. Infamy at last.

Mick Taylors and The Procol Harum 'Bursts.

View attachment 16748

Two beautiful bursts and those Onitsuka tiger sneakers are awesome !!! lol

 

[mjross]

mine are all upside down and backwards, so no takers...

Same here, lefty strung righty! Have many right handed guitars. My righty friends love it! However, I’m pretty picky about who plays what guitars.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

Im totally comfortable not allowing anyone at all play my guitars -Like I want someone to get sounds out my guitars beyond my capabilities - you may think of this as selfish, Im in self esteem mode when it comes to guitar !

 

[mjross]

I remember one time in the late 70’s, I brought a ‘58 ES-335 I had just bought to a jam session at a party. A guy on roller skates rolled up and asked me if he could play the guitar. I just looked at him and said, dude, you’re on roller skates.…..

To finish for you…and out of your fucking mind!

 

[jb_abides]

Im totally comfortable not allowing anyone at all play my guitars -Like I want someone to get sounds out my guitars beyond my capabilities - you may think of this as selfish, Im in self esteem mode when it comes to guitar !

I can respect this position.

 

[ajtonly1]

i've offered guitars, amps, and pedals to recoreding musicians and youtubers, free no charge...........

I play the guitar, i am not a musician........... the gear I have been lucky enough to gather and enjoy was also meant for others to hear. If it is creating music for people, what good is it? just expensive junk IMO if it isn't being used to create art and inspire others

but that's my 2 cents
to each their own, it's your stuff

 

[bobalu]

Another thought is players with acidic sweat that etch your chrome or gold hardware. If you don’t know the player, you could end up with permanent damage that you will regret….

There is a person I know quite well with this problem. His sweat is like chemistry lab acid. His guitar pickup covers, tuners and bridges look like they've been soaked in salt water. I feel so bad for him, he refuses to play anyone else's guitar (when they offer) which is very polite and up front of him. He explained that he's had this issue ever since he started playing as a kid. Back then, no coated strings and he said his dad was always having to buy him new sets of strings after only days of playing! He says coated strings help now, but metal parts on his guitar just get so relic'd after he plays for a while.

 

[mjross]

There is a person I know quite well with this problem. His sweat is like chemistry lab acid. His guitar pickup covers, tuners and bridges look like they've been soaked in salt water. I feel so bad for him, he refuses to play anyone else's guitar (when they offer) which is very polite and up front of him. He explained that he's had this issue ever since he started playing as a kid. Back then, no coated strings and he said his dad was always having to buy him new sets of strings after only days of playing! He says coated strings help now, but metal parts on his guitar just get so relic'd after he plays for a while.

Not trying to be funny cause I feel for the guy but anything he pulls off his guitar would probably go for big money these days. People are diggin good reliced parts more than ever, I’m one of them!

 

[Toby Boy]

Depends on who they are. I have only one friend who I would truly trust.
In fact, he's to be willed all my guitars, amps, etc.
And the same for me.

But never at a live situation. Exception made for Jim.
Wait until we're finished, and come back stage.
With all due respect of course.....

 

[Iguana]

I’ve got a bunch of decent guitars that I would be willing to let someone else play. My ‘13 Standard and my ‘17 SRV Strat are both off limits though. If anything happened to either of them there would be hell to pay. Both are very special to me. Fortunately, I don’t have any close friends who play. I respect the hell out of those of you who will let people play your guitars but I’ve seen way too many people do stupid stuff with other people’s property.

 

[torren61]

If I don't know you and you haven't played so I can see you know what you're doing or if you're sweaty or if your hands are dirty or if you don't have the means to replace what you've broken... you're not touching my gear.

 

[metropolis]

Coming back to this thread after saying I am more than happy to hand guitars over to people I know well and trust, I did just that at a rehearsal last weekend. I'd taken my new (but old) ES-335 and handed it straight to the other guitarist in the group to play through my rig. It was actually a pleasure because I could stand back and listen to my rig and my new guitar (and it sounded fucking great!) Very pleased I did that.

 

[golfnut]

Back in 80's when I toured the club scene full time we'd always play those Saturday afternoon matinees that were mostly meant to get guest musicians up on stage. I was always uncomfortable lending my guitar to anyone wanting to get up to play lead. I did though. Back then I played full time and my whole rig didn't cost what one of my guitars cost that I currently own.
I would never lend my guitars to anyone to take out of the house. As for friends coming in to the house I don't mind letting them play my electrics but I'm more squeamish about my Martin authentic acoustics, (and my soon to be hummingbird historic). I think acoustics are a little more delicate and easier to damage. Its not that I care about dings on acoustics or electrics I just don't want to incur damage that I'll have to pay to have fixed. I do have a couple close friends that I wouldn't hesitate to let play any of my guitars. Only 2.

 

[Doc Sausage]

I bought an ‘86 Jap Strat that same year. I let my then teenage nephew play it while I was at work. To this day, he’s still the one that put the biggest gash in it. Lesson learned.

 

[guitarbob123]

I have my R0 insured for full retail replacement value so that it's covered when I take it out with me.

I wouldn't let just anyone use it but the other guys there who have re-issues and vintage stuff I don't mind too much.
They have experience handling these things and I'm always in the room while they play, one of them was a tech for a quite a few big names in the USA for a number of years too, if they trust him with bursts and Korina Vs then I figure I don't need to sweat too much.
Generally, I hand them the guitar on the stage and I have it back off them before they even step off.

I use the rubber Grolsch style locks for the strap so there's no chance of it being dropped and it goes straight back to its case from my hands, no leaning, no time hanging/resting in a stand.