Letting someone borrow a horn

[Chuck(G)]

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]

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]

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]

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[djwesp]

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)]

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]

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]

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]

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 wouldn´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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Lew]

I would never loan anyone one of my "money" horns (although in reality I make very little money with them) or any of the rare horns into which I have a lot of repair money sunk. I do have many other horns that I have loaned out and would to someone I know that I know to be responsible.

A trumpet player in one band routinely borrowed my fluegelhorn for pieces that called for it and I never had any problems. I have also loaned Bb and Eb cornets, a valve trombone, a euphonium, and a sousaphone. The borrowers were all adults who I have known for a number of years from groups in which I play. There are some people to whom I would never lend an instrument no matter what the need. They are people whose own instruments show obvious lack of respect or whose attitudes or actions show them to not be trustworthy. On the other hand people have asked to borrow a helicon or my double bell euphonium and the answer is always no, no matter how well I know them.

[greggu]

One of my personal rules: I don't loan money unless I would be willing to give it away. So, if it's a lot of money, that person has to be important to me. If it's a little money...not so important. My horn is worth more than money to me. You'd have to be pretty important...my children, yes, but very few friends are held in that high esteem. Money is easier to come by, and cars will come in and out of your life. Your horn is typically held close, like an important heirloom.

[jjelwood]

I was playing a shrine band gig and left my horn sitting next to my chair. An older gentleman was going to his seat and saw my horn. He said "boy, that's a nice horn!" and grabbed it and scooted it across the concrete to move it out of his way. As my jaw hung open I had to keep the older tuba player next to me from jumping up and belting him one. He acted like it was a garbage can that he could just scoot out of the way. I hate outdoor gigs sometimes. He didn't mean any harm, but damn!

[LoyalTubist]

You should have clobbered him.

Here in Vietnam, I use my tuba at work on Thursdays. The children know NEVER to touch my tuba. However, the Vietnamese adults somehow seem privileged... Now, I don't want to lose my job BUT I can act like a basic training drill sergeant and help them realize what a shameful thing it is they have done (in a nice way...)

[tbn.al]

I got the old fragile Bielefelder back last week without any new dents.

Well!.... I just reset the slides to my tuning and guess what? The whole first valve slide wrap has been pushed in, the brace to the top bow crushed in a bit and the 1st slide still works fine but hits on the 3rd valve slide when pulled. Guess I wasn't so smart after all. No more loaners for me.