Letting someone borrow a horn

chipster55 · Post by **chipster55** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:51 pm

I put enough dings & scratches on my horn, why let anyone else? Anyway, I learned the hard way when I loaned my cornet to a co-worker who let their kid take it to school. When I got it back, the bell looked like wadded up foil and the mouthpiece was stuck in the leadpipe.

Never again!!

tubatom91 · Post by **tubatom91** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:42 pm

I originally started this topic because I want to learn CC on a borrowed horn. But seeing that alot of you out there are just as/More paranoid then me, I don't think I'm getting anywhere!

sticking to my original question. I actually got a free horn from my orthodontist (old mirafone 3 valve) he got for his son. Well the kid hadn't played it in YEARS it was sitting in a corner of a basement. When I picked it up I noticed a sticky valve but didn't say anything (I was thinking FREE!!!) I took it to a repairman and learned that it had a bent valve casing. I figure that's why he stopped playing!

bububassboner · Post by **bububassboner** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:21 am

The only reason I was able to play tuba for a year was that I was able to borrow a horn. My secret for getting people to loan me horns, I return them IN BETTER CONDITION than I got them in. Like when I borrowed a guys F tuba for a week I had all the slides pulled and had a strap on the case fixed before I gave it back. And now most people are cool with me using there stuff.

TubaSteve · Post by **TubaSteve** » Fri May 18, 2007 2:57 pm

I am faced with a situation where the band I play in is going to have a tune at the next concert where they want half the band on tuba. They want me to loan others in the band by Lyons BBb upright and my pair of Reynolds Sousaphones. I have already loaned the Lyons to a trombone player that is very responsible, but my sousaphones are easily abused. I have to admit that I am reluctant to just hand them off without any kind of security. These are well used horns, but still play very well and I like them. Finally, they are MINE. As long as they are careful with them, it's OK, but I draw the line, and would not loan out my Meinl Weston.

Steve

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Fri May 18, 2007 3:52 pm

TubaSteve wrote:I am faced with a situation where the band I play in is going to have a tune at the next concert where they want half the band on tuba. They want me to loan others in the band by Lyons BBb upright and my pair of Reynolds Sousaphones. I have already loaned the Lyons to a trombone player that is very responsible, but my sousaphones are easily abused. I have to admit that I am reluctant to just hand them off without any kind of security. These are well used horns, but still play very well and I like them. Finally, they are MINE. As long as they are careful with them, it's OK, but I draw the line, and would not loan out my Meinl Weston.

Steve

Funny how others are so quick to expect you to loan out your equipment, isn't it? If you want to, fine, but don't let the manipulating #$%^&* guilt you into it.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:06 pm

TubaSteve wrote:I am faced with a situation where the band I play in is going to have a tune at the next concert where they want half the band on tuba. They want me to loan others in the band by Lyons BBb upright and my pair of Reynolds Sousaphones. I have already loaned the Lyons to a trombone player that is very responsible, but my sousaphones are easily abused. I have to admit that I am reluctant to just hand them off without any kind of security. These are well used horns, but still play very well and I like them. Finally, they are MINE. As long as they are careful with them, it's OK, but I draw the line, and would not loan out my Meinl Weston. Steve

It's quite easy, actually. Simply ask the band to post a deposit equal to the value of the instruments you're loaning them. Or have the band management fill out a standard rental contract that specifically calls out responsibility for loss or damage.

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Fri May 18, 2007 4:23 pm

TubaSteve wrote:I am faced with a situation where the band I play in is going to have a tune at the next concert where they want half the band on tuba. They want me to loan others in the band by Lyons BBb upright and my pair of Reynolds Sousaphones. I have already loaned the Lyons to a trombone player that is very responsible, but my sousaphones are easily abused. I have to admit that I am reluctant to just hand them off without any kind of security. These are well used horns, but still play very well and I like them. Finally, they are MINE. As long as they are careful with them, it's OK, but I draw the line, and would not loan out my Meinl Weston.

Steve

What tune is this? I have never heard of such a piece where half the band plays tuba.

Unless I missed something...?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:55 pm

Having half the band play tubas? Seems OK, since tuba is so easy you don't have to be an actual tuba player to play tuba as well as someone who has spent years at it.

Seriously, I'd tell them that the whole concept is insulting, and that I wouldn't participate in that concert in any way. See if you can get the other tubists to join you in that action.

Cheers,
Allen

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Fri May 18, 2007 5:56 pm

djwesp · Post by **djwesp** » Fri May 18, 2007 6:03 pm

Allen wrote:Having half the band play tubas? Seems OK, since tuba is so easy you don't have to be an actual tuba player to play tuba as well as someone who has spent years at it.

Seriously, I'd tell them that the whole concept is insulting, and that I wouldn't participate in that concert in any way. See if you can get the other tubists to join you in that action.

Cheers,
Allen

OH SNAP!

Someone had the balls to say what most of us were thinking.

I bet if someone came up with the idea of the entire ensemble playing trumpets or violins, there would be an outrage.

Tubas are easy to play, tuba players are dumb, overweight, and can't read music very well. Or so think most with the sticks... or those that think "they can hear the grass grow". Charlie vernon's mythological letter comes to mind right now

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:06 pm

tofu wrote:Don't you think most non-tuba folks expect dents in tubas/sousaphones as a matter of course and thus he would have a hard time collecting on a rental contract. For him to enforce it, if they refuse to pay for actual damage, he is going to have to go to court, prove and win his case, get a judgement that is high enough to pay to fix the instruments and then actually collect on the judgement. Not to mention the hostile feelings that all parties to the agreement will probably end up with. Personally I would just politely decline.

I was attempting to show an alternate way of doing the same thing. No band who wants to "borrow" your tubas is going to pony up a deposit equal to the value of the instruments, nor are they going to sign a contract making them responsible for anything that happens.

After all, that's why they want to borrow them--they want you to assume all of the risk.

The other posters have it right--I'd be insulted.

Leland · Post by **Leland** » Sat May 19, 2007 1:00 am

It hasn't happened often, but yes, I've lent out my tubas before. Like others have posted, the borrowers were trusted people that I could count on to handle them properly.

Biggs · Post by **Biggs** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:36 pm

grahamfw wrote: I'd be willing to bet that most of you that would NEVER loan out your horns ever or again are the same type of person who would never loan out one's car.

With the exception of my parents borrowing my vehicle to move furniture, lumber, elephants, etc., I would loan a hundred tubas before I even once considered lending a car to anyone.

tubeast · Post by **tubeast** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:49 pm

As most of you already know, I started playing the flugelhorn.
My trouble was, I was the ONLY person in band who actually OWNED a flugelhorn. So I was forced to play the flgh-part on TRUMPET, like everybody else, so my different voice wouldnÂ´t stick out of the crowd.
Later, I switched to the tuba, and other kids took over the flugelhorn part on the trumpet.
I gladly lent out my flugelhorn to one of the more considerate of these kids. To the effect, that finally the band has a FLUGELHORN section, simply because there were several kids whose parents wanted to buy them a new horn (trumpet or whatever) and listened to their kids (who wished to form that non-trumpet section)
I got my horn back several years later. No harm done other than the type of things that I myself would have done to it, so I never looked back.

TubaingAgain · Post by **TubaingAgain** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:31 pm

Many MANY years ago 1974 to be exact, while still in high school my parents bought me a new King 2341 2 piece tuba. It was my pride and joy. I took better care of it than my car. Well I made the mistake of letting a fellow tuba borrow it for Easter Sunday Mass. The story goes the tube was stolen from the back of the church after Midnight Mass and before sunrise mass sunday morning ( which I was suppose to play). The tuba was found 3 month later in a pawn shop in Philadelphia, 30 miles away. Of course it was all dented and banged up. Luckly my parents home owners insurance covered the cost of the tuba. However I ended up spending the last year in high school playing a beat up out school horn.

So with that said

Dont even think it ask to borrow my tuba.

NO WAY
NO HOW
ABSOLF??KLIN NOT

dkrahl · Post by **dkrahl** » Tue May 22, 2007 7:27 pm

grahamfw wrote:Very interesting thread.

I'd be willing to bet that most of you that would NEVER loan out your horns ever or again are the same type of person who would never loan out one's car. That being said, I've never had the opportunity to loan out my horn to anyone but been lucky enough to have borrowed a number of horns in my time.

There are a lot more people out there that I would loan my car to than I would loan my tuba to.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Tue May 22, 2007 11:34 pm

dkrahl wrote: There are a lot more people out there that I would loan my car to than I would loan my tuba to.

I share this attitude.

Paul Scott · Post by **Paul Scott** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:35 pm

I have a nice old 3-valve Besson compensating tuba (BBb) that I bought new back in 1981. Over the years I've loaned it out to at least 5 students who used the horn long term and happily the horn hardly has a ding on it. It also helped that the old Bessons were built like tanks! But I must say that I had quite a run of good luck in lending out that horn-no real damage and it never "disappeared". I even had one person insist on giving me money to have it cleaned and serviced.

I've had similar good luck with sousaphone loans, so there are some decent folks out there.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Wed May 23, 2007 10:51 pm

My horn is an E-Bay cheapo but it works and I have no idea where I could find one if mine bit the dirt. I hope no one asks to borrow it, or my car, or my wife.
I lent a guitar amp to a guy I considered a friend. I never saw it again and he refused to tell me what happened.

My motorcycle mechanic wrote a safety book and in it stated that lending a motorcycle should be a criminal offense. What ever altruistic motives drive a rider to share the thrill, a lawsuit and/or death are possible outcomes.

TubaingAgain · Post by **TubaingAgain** » Wed May 23, 2007 11:01 pm

Have not heard anyone say "Loan my wife or girlfriend before loaning my horn" !!! So I will !!!!!!!!