Carelessness

[chordbanger]

I decided yesterday that I will not try to save anyone's instrument again. If they do not care, why should I? I jumped up yesterday to save a violin that was teetering on the edge of the refreshment stand at our jam session after the player propped it up against the coffee maker. It would have crashed to the concrete floor if I did not race to save it. I saw a guitar crash to the floor after it was propped against a chair, saw a violin and bow on a chair in danger of being knocked over. I am going to sit on my butt, play my music, and not care anymore about what happens to anyone's instruments. I DO NOT CARE ANYMORE. Break the necks off them, scratch them up, and let them fall to the floor, and don't use a case either. Drag them through the parking lot for all I care. :whistling:

[Poener]

Some folks have different values about their instruments. "Oh it's a ding in my old fiddle, big deal, it's character". I love musical istruments but I wouldn't risk personal injury trying to save someone else's.

[Tom C]

Geez, where'd this come from?

[LKN2MYIS]

Little harsh to me.

[Tim2723]

I know how he feels. Despite my own propensity to disaster, all my instruments had been lovingly cared for until the moment they met their doom.

[Santiago]

I think that if I value the instrument, I try to save it anyway. That gives me the right to then say something to its owner rather than swallow my emotions.

[MikeEdgerton]

...until the moment they met their doom.

Perfect. :cool:

[Skip Kelley]

Some folks are careless about their instruments! Thats their own problem!

[AlanN]

Whoa, Nellie.

Can't recall how many times, in a small setting, I have grabbed an instrument (not mine) to take it out of harm's way. Just seems like the natchul thing to do. If mine is looking like it's about to meet its maker, I would *hope* some kindred soul would do the same.

Remind me not to sit near you.

[James P]

I caught a violin once. It wasn't the most valuable violin, but still one of a kind and worth a sizable chunk of change. A careless someone had put it back on a stand, and as they walked away it started teetering toward a three foot drop to concrete. I took a couple of steps, caught it in midair by the neck and carefully put it back on the stand. Three luthiers saw the catch - their looks of shock and relief and approval were priceless.

[sgarrity]

I've caught or moved lots of instruments and will continue to do so!!

[chordbanger]

Whoa, Nellie.

Can't recall how many times, in a small setting, I have grabbed an instrument (not mine) to take it out of harm's way. Just seems like the natchul thing to do. If mine is looking like it's about to meet its maker, I would *hope* some kindred soul would do the same.

Remind me not to sit near you.
You do not know me, so how could you say you would not want to sit by me? I am well liked by everyone, and a nice person. I am just tired of saving instruments when the owners do not care about them, or have any respect for them. I nearly broke my neck racing to the refreshment stand to save a violin, without a thank you from the owner. I do not care anymore what happens to his instruments, because I told him over and over again, that he should not put them on the chairs, and other dangerous places. I will be nice enough to refer him to my violin repairman, who will be able to put the neck back on the violin when it snaps off, which is what is going to happen to it eventually. I am an honest person, and will voice my opinion, and if you think that is being harsh, well, that is your opinion too.

[sgarrity]

I agree that you shouldn't put yourself in harm's way to save an instrument but on the other hand, acoustic musicians are generally nice, good people and we need to stick together and look out for each other. We've all done stupid things with our instruments in the past!

[Randi Gormley]

I was going to say that it looked like Chordbanger saved the violin and then got reamed out by the owner or something, but without data it's hard to judge whether the reaction was perfectly understandable or typed in the heat of an emotion that has since cooled down. I see the set-up now, and can sympathize with the feeling. We had an employee who was walking into the office when her phone rang, and she lunged to grab it, tripped over a chair and broke her foot. She vowed never to grab for her phone again. Eventually, though, her sense of responsibility overcame her vow. I'm thinking Chordbanger is the sort of person who has a lot of respect for instruments, whether or not that respect extends to the owners, and eventually that may triumph over a bad experience.

[AlanN]

Never did I say or imply that are or are not a nice person, those are your words. In the context of the thread (which you started), I chose to say that I would not want to sit next to you *in the event that my instrument needs a helping hand to prevent damage in the event of a fall*, because, as you plainly state

"I decided yesterday that I will not try to save anyone's instrument again."

That is your choice, so be it. And my choice, so be it. Whether or not you are nice has little to do with the thread discussion, IMO.

[Tim2723]

Years ago I had a band mate that played a beautiful old B&D tenor banjo. It was about 80 years old at that time and had belonged to one of his dear friends who died in a tragic accident. It was, by all accounts, one of his most cherished possessions. Yet he treated it like an old duffel bag. He'd plop it down anywhere, including the concrete. He didn't mind it getting wet. He never cleaned it, and he carried it in a case so badly worn that the instrument literally fell out of it more than once.

I never could understand that dichotomy. He would show it proudly to anyone who asked. He clearly and honestly considered it valuable. Yet he treated it with utterly negligent disregard. I Never understood it.

[yankees1]

I decided yesterday that I will not try to save anyone's instrument again. If they do not care, why should I? I jumped up yesterday to save a violin that was teetering on the edge of the refreshment stand at our jam session after the player propped it up against the coffee maker. It would have crashed to the concrete floor if I did not race to save it. I saw a guitar crash to the floor after it was propped against a chair, saw a violin and bow on a chair in danger of being knocked over. I am going to sit on my butt, play my music, and not care anymore about what happens to anyone's instruments. I DO NOT CARE ANYMORE. Break the necks off them, scratch them up, and let them fall to the floor, and don't use a case either. Drag them through the parking lot for all I care. :whistling: Did Santa skip your house this Christmas?;)

[EarlG]

Hey chordbanger, always help people if you can. I bet you still will.:)

[Poener]

I'm a little sensitive when it comes to caring for instruments and I've seen some real damage created by owners and others on people's instruments. Some shrug it off as normal, and other get upset. I saw a nice HD-28 get dinged the other day by some numbskull. People are different. If I owned a high end mandolin or something else I would be real paranoid. Imagine having a Gilchrist or old Gibson F5 and getting it bashed into by some drunk?

[Chuck Naill]

I decided yesterday that I will not try to save anyone's instrument again. If they do not care, why should I? I jumped up yesterday to save a violin that was teetering on the edge of the refreshment stand at our jam session after the player propped it up against the coffee maker. It would have crashed to the concrete floor if I did not race to save it. I saw a guitar crash to the floor after it was propped against a chair, saw a violin and bow on a chair in danger of being knocked over. I am going to sit on my butt, play my music, and not care anymore about what happens to anyone's instruments. I DO NOT CARE ANYMORE. Break the necks off them, scratch them up, and let them fall to the floor, and don't use a case either. Drag them through the parking lot for all I care. :whistling:

I would always do all I could to prevent damage. That's just seems to the be the right and neighborly thing to do. :)

[Poener]

I would always do all I could to prevent damage. That's just seems to the be the right and neighborly thing to do. :)

I think she feels the same way but is fed up with careless/valueless people.

[chordbanger]

I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period.

[Poener]

I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period.


Right! End of thread.

[KCrook]

I bring multiple instruments to the jams I attend. I found that leaving the instrument that I wasn't playing at that moment in its case was inconvenient, as the cases can take up a lot of space on the ground, so I started bringing an instrument stand with me to hold the instrument I am not playing at the moment.

I have seen careless treatment of instruments at jams, and I have interceded if an instrument was in imminent danger of harm. Each time the person whose instument was saved has always thanked me.

But, that is me. I would not expect anyone to save my instrument if I was dumb enough to put it in harms way, but if they did, I would thank them!:mandosmiley:

[mandopete]

Right! End of thread.

I doubt it. Like others have said, I would hope that if my mandolin was in peril, even if it was from my own carelessness, that someone would step up and save it. I think a simple "thank-you" would go a long way in acknowledgement of the kindness.

[Rob Gerety]

I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period.

Nonsense! Instruments should be out in the air and available to pick up and play when the mood strikes you.

[chordbanger]

Nonsense! Instruments should be out in the air and available to pick up and play when the mood strikes you.
Our jam session is too crowded, that stuff gets knocked over all the time. I would NEVER use a music stand at our jam session. A music stand will not protect my instrument when someone bumps into it. My violin or my mandolin is put back into the case when I am not playing it. Chairs, tables, refreshment stands, and airplane wings, are not places to put instruments, yet that is where alot of instruments are placed when people leave to go outside to smoke, use the bathroom, and take a break.

[catmandu2]

...airplane wings, are not places to put instruments

I'd have to agree with you, here.

[JEStanek]

"High end" isntrument or not, I try and take care of my stuff. It's in my nature to try and protect other people's stuff (instruments, kids, valuables, left behind coat or gloves even). I bet Ms. Chordbanger is just venting some frustration at people with different values. Sorry your jam is so harrowing. Is it otherwise worthwhile? If not, maybe you need a change of scenery. If it is, take a breath and drive on.

Jamie

[Ivan Kelsall]

Quote from AlanN :- "Can't recall how many times, in a small setting, I have grabbed an instrument (not mine) to take it out of harm's way. Just seems like the natchul thing to do."
Right on Alan ! - That's what we should all do.We don't expect a medal for it,but we'd hope that maybe somebody would do the same for us one day. I'd couldn't sit by & watch somebody's instrument get damaged in any way,that's not my way of doing things. I don't expect a commendation from the Prime Minister (read President), or anything,maybe an appreciation of simple decency.At least i'd know i'd done a decent thing,if nothing else,
Ivan

[Goodin]

The way I see it we are not just the 'owner' of an instrument we are it's caretaker at that point in time. Instruments come and go and I feel it is our obligation to keep them in the best condition not only for ourselves but whoever becomes their caretaker in the future. So if I see an instrument about to meet it's doom then I feel obligated to take it out of harms way.

That being said though, some situations doom is an instrument's fate. For example...a friend of mine sat his guitar down on the floor seemingly out of harms way and took a seat on the couch next to it . He forgot he put it there then got up off the couch and stepped on it putting his foot through the box and breaking off the neck. Some people are just careless!

[Dan Hoover]

what if it's a banjo??:whistling:

[allenhopkins]

The way I see it we are not just the 'owner' of an instrument we are it's caretaker at that point in time. Instruments come and go and I feel it is our obligation to keep them in the best condition not only for ourselves but whoever becomes their caretaker in the future.

Actually, it's we who come and go. My F-2 is from 1907 or thereabouts. It's a decade older than my late father would be, had he not died about nine years ago. I hope someone will be playing it when it's 200 years old, and I'm a faded memory, if that.

Seems Ms. Chordbanger's had a tough holiday season, with her teacher's cat "marking" her leather jacket, and hairbreadth instrument rescues at her jam session. Not quite sure why all of us are jumping in. I would guess that most musicians instinctively act to protect others' instruments when they're in danger of damage. Probably what I'd do, if the situation presented itself. I'm an inveterate multi-instrumentalist, bringing three or four to almost any jam or sing-around, and I'm not always super-careful in managing them. But I know the chance I'm taking, and I do appreciate it if someone rescues one of mine from a fall or a knock-over.

My singing partner Bonnie loaned her Martin M-36, a really nice guitar, to a professional performer who was visiting Rochester. That woman knocked it off the stand, and now it needs a neck reset and reattachment, as well as binding repair and a top crack glued. The performer went on her merry way back to Israel without an offer to make good on the damage. There are as many indifferent and inconsiderate people out there, as there are good Samaritans who step in to help out. And I know the people I'd rather play music with!

[JGWoods]

what if it's a banjo??:whistling:

Banjos cannot be destroyed.
I would also watch out for grand pianos falling...

[James P]

Whether or not you get a "thanks" seems secondary to the act of being a the type of person who'll make the effort to help. If the violin could thank you, it would! :)

The other thing is that somebody other than the owner might've seen your save and thought well of you even if they didn't say anything about it. Reverse that and think what they'd think if they saw you stand by and let an instrument you could have saved get damaged.

Heck, I'll thank you for saving that fiddle.
"Thanks! Way ta go! You're the tops!"
Keep it up.

[Dan Hoover]

Banjos cannot be destroyed.
I would also watch out for grand pianos falling...

a piano??wish i would have thought that one...missed it, by that much...:grin:

[Goodin]

Actually, it's we who come and go. My F-2 is from 1907 or thereabouts. It's a decade older than my late father would be, had he not died about nine years ago. I hope someone will be playing it when it's 200 years old, and I'm a faded memory, if that.

That's exactly my point too Allen!

I treat my instruments like I would my children so there is some kind of paternal instinct involved when dealing with saving others instruments. I mean, you wouldn't just sit there and watch some kid walk out into the middle of the street without doing something!!?

[Richard Moore]

Last time I saved someones guitar (an expensive Lowden model) from crashing to the floor at a session I hadn't been to before I was sworn at for "touching his guitar" (he had been totally oblivious). Sometimes you cannot win... but it would still be my instinct to try to save a falling instrument (happens occasionally at my regular session). Needless to say, I haven't been back to the first session.

[Rob Gerety]

Our jam session is too crowded, that stuff gets knocked over all the time. I would NEVER use a music stand at our jam session.

Agreed. But at home?? Nope - out in the air on a stand next to my chair ready to go at a moments notice. At a gig? Nope - out on a stand plugged in and ready to grab when needed.

[CES]

Sometimes ya just gotta lay out for it...

[Geoff B]

I think if you are in a reasonable position to save the instrument you ought to, regardless of whether a person thanks you or cusses you out. That's just the right thing to do, in my mind. If we all suffered the full consequence of every single stupid decision we made, we'd all be a lot worse off. Luckily there are folks there who help us out, and we ought to help other folks out too--whether or not they deserve it or appreciate it. Of course, if you can't save it then you shouldn't worry about it--ultimately it's not your responsibility. I understand your frustration and have moments of cold justice myself, but I usually warm up and realize we're all in this thing together. I hope that experience doesn't make you cold, the world's got enough folk like that. :-)

[OldSausage]

There are a lot of misunderstandings at jams, it's best not to dwell on them, most folks don't mean any harm even when it looks like they do.

[barney 59]

I had a mandolin that I had dragged around the world. It had traveled with me across the South Pacific on sailboats and banana boats, motorcycled through the Australian outback, crossed the Himalaya,the steppes of Russia,jungles of Borneo and even 2nd class Indian trains.It was an old L&H and I considered it "my beater". I kept it in a cheap cardboard case that I had glassed so that it was light weight and inside an old duffle so that it just looked like a piece of dirty luggage. Inspite of that and 30 years of ownership it hardly had a scratch on it. Although I had sentimental feelings about it I recently let it go and with in 2 weeks when I saw it again it had a chunk out of the neck that you could drink out of. I was pretty angry at first, until I realized that I didn't own it anymore.
Some people are overly casual about their stuff, others are just dumb. Some people no matter what you do you can't help. I think if I saw an instrument on the "brink" I couldn't help myself and would try and rescue it. I am a true believer in keeping it in the case and once in the habit it is no problem at all, it's just what you do. Your holding it or it is in the case and the lid is snapped --- at least for me there is no other way..

[Mike Bunting]

I had a mandolin that I had dragged around the world. It had traveled with me across the South Pacific on sailboats and banana boats, motorcycled through the Australian outback, crossed the Himalaya,the steppes of Russia,jungles of Borneo and even 2nd class Indian..

So when are you going to settle down and put down some roots? :)

[Bill James]

Which brings up an important question:

If a distressed instrument falls from a chair, does anyone hear it? :confused:

Sorry.. back to lurking....

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm with you on that Bill, it's a valid question :cool:

That does raise a question. If you paid a ton to buy it distressed, and somebody distresses it further for free, did they do you a favor?

[Poener]

Which brings up an important question:

If a distressed instrument falls from a chair, does anyone hear it? :confused:

Sorry.. back to lurking....



.............not if the carpeting is absolutely plush.

[pickinpete]

Whether or not you get a "thanks" seems secondary to the act of being a the type of person who'll make the effort to help. If the violin could thank you, it would! :)



I dunno.......some fiddles are kinda......snooty, ya know?

[jim_n_virginia]

If someones instrument is about to be damaged and I see it I will act.

If I see someone about to hurt themselves through there own carelessness I will say something to them.

I just feel like it is the right thing to do.

[SGraham]

This is a really weird topic.

And as for this...
"I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period."

Don't feed the troll.

[fredfrank]

I might catch an instrument for someone if I can reach it without undue heroics. It would be my luck, I'd lunge to save it, fumble the catch and knock it halfway into the street where an Escalade driven by Tiger Woods would run over it!

[Mattg]

I'll never cease to be amazed

How many times have I seen someone try to balance a big ol drednaught up on a metal folding chair. Like it's going to stay. It drives me absolutely nuts. I usually say something before they walk away. I'm usually one of two or three folks that will put the instrument in a better spot.

[woodwizard]

I'm sure most of us here have had an experience seeing or being around a person that is careless with their instrument. They remind me of the other automobile drivers. The first thing I told my boys when I was teaching them to drive was to watch out for the other driver because they are the ones that will get you. Same with the careless pickers. You really have to watch out for that swingin' around guitar neck. You know... the ones that all of a sudden and without warning make a turn straight at your mando. They really make me nervous to say the least.

[John Flynn]

I'm not going to weigh in on any side of this argument, but I do have two anecdotes. There is a guitar/mandolin instructor in my area who has had the headstock broken OFF his solo-builder-made F-5 not once, not twice, but three times by simply leaning his mandolin against the wall and having it fall over, yet he continues to do it. It has probably fallen over dozens of times, but "only" broken three times! Each time he has had it repaired. I would think the neck/headstock area would be so permeated with glue by now it would be "bullet-proof!"

Also, I play in a church choir with a guy who likes to sling his guitar behind his back, Johnny Cash style, while he is messing with his sheet music. He has an old guitar strap that you can clearly see is barely hanging on to the end pin. One day, that guitar is going to hit the marble floor, headstock first, and a loud "sproinggg" sound will reverberate through the church! If the strap doesn't get him, his guitar stand will. He uses the flimsiest, most beat up, old guitar stand I have ever seen. Plus it is a really, really bad design. I've never seen another one like it and it is no surprise that it is no longer on the market. It seems like something that would fall over if you looked at it wrong. But I just bite my tongue, 'cause he's one of those guys you can't tell anything to.

[Mattg]

Also, I play in a church choir with a guy who likes to sling his guitar behind his back, Johnny Cash style, while he is messing with his sheet music. He has an old guitar strap that you can clearly see is barely hanging on to the end pin. One day, that guitar is going to hit the marble floor, headstock first, and a loud "sproinggg" sound will reverberate through the church!.

That made me laugh. A jam buddy of mine does the same thing and his Martin dred hit head first on the bar room floor and bounced all over the place. Just a few nicks but it was loud. Still makes me cringe

[Ivan Kelsall]

Mattg - It's not just large Guitars i've seen folk try that on. I've seen Banjos,Mandolins & once,even a double bass stretched across a chair. As though there's some invisible force field that will keep the darned things on.These days if i saw that,i'd simply advise the owner to place it in it's case out of harms way.The only time anything like that happened to me was many years ago,when after playing at a local folk club with my band,i leaned my Banjo against a table.Of course,it got knocked over & fell with a heck of a bang,headstock against the floor.Fortunately,apart from going out of tune,it was fine.The person who bumped into the table never even apologised - i've never done it since with any instrument,
Ivan

[journeybear]

I think she feels the same way but is fed up with careless/valueless people.

I was gonna say "frustrated" or "exasperated," but "fed up" works fine.


I would hope that if my mandolin was in peril, even if it was from my own carelessness, that someone would step up and save it. I think a simple "thank-you" would go a long way in acknowledgement of the kindness.

I do too, and I think that's all chordbanger wanted - until she became overwhelmed by witnessing so many acts of carelessness at the same gathering. Part of her post is venting, and she may be overstating her position a bit, but I can't fault her for feeling the way she does. People should be responsible for their instruments, and it's no one else's responsibility. What she's expressing is a form of tough love - careless people are not going to become more conscientious if someone steps in to save their instruments all the time. If something happens to their precious darlings and they have no one to blame but themselves and no choice but to improve themselves or suffer again, they might learn. So it is hoped, anyway. ;)


I play in a church choir with a guy who likes to sling his guitar behind his back, Johnny Cash style, while he is messing with his sheet music. He has an old guitar strap that you can clearly see is barely hanging on to the end pin. One day, that guitar is going to hit the marble floor, headstock first, and a loud "sproinggg" sound will reverberate through the church!

This happened to my late lamented F-12 once - once - while chatting with someone at Mallory Square. The strap came off the tail pin, and though whenever I sling my axe on my back I still cover it with a hand, it moved faster than I thought it would, hitting the bricks like an upside-down rocket. Gravity sucks! Took a chip out of the point and almost snapped the curlicue off. It could have been the next #73987. I have since improved my strap connection technology somewhat and adjusted my attitude to be a lot less casual and trusting where straps are concerned. I still use a floor stand at gigs, though - hate it, worry constantly, and do it anyway. I wish every club would install several wall-mounted instrument hangers. :cool:

[Bertram Henze]

If a falling instrument catches me unawares, I'll try to rescue it subconsciously - no time to think about principles in that situation. It has not happened with a hot electric iron so far... :whistling: But I admit it's kinda running with scissors.

However, if I see someone placing his instrument in a dangerous position and going to the restrooms at one of our sessions, I tend to close my eyes or look away until he comes back. I just cannot watch the end of a tragedy I saw coming. Falling fiddles, gliding guitars, you name it. And I keep my electronic tuner away from tables full of beer glasses, after having seen a mobile phone getting drowned.

[Mike Bromley]

I'm kinda with the OP. I recently rescued a Heiden F5 from a certain fall off a chair and hung it on a wall hook, unbeknownst to the owner who was lurching around half-corked, playing the fiddle. The catty response I got from the owner kinda put me off that strategy.

[jim_n_virginia]

This is a really weird topic.

And as for this...
"I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period."

Don't feed the troll.

Not trolling some people really believe this and I am one of them. Of course others may do what they want with their mandolins but for me personally LITERALLY if my mandolin is not in my arms being played it is in the case latched up.

If I am on stage performing with our band if we take a 15 minute break my instrument goes in the case. When we get back I take it back out.

The reasoning is simple. It's because my mandolin is irreplaceable to me. Even if I get another exactly the same year and model and make it is not the same. I've had too much work done on it I have it set up perfect for what I want.

:mandosmiley:

[jim_n_virginia]

And as for this...
"I think instruments should be in one's hands, or in the case. Period."

Don't feed the troll.

Not trolling some people really believe this and I am one of them. :mandosmiley:

Maybe not at home alone but out in public .... in hand or in the case!

[bratsche]

This thread brings back an unforgettable memory from many years ago, of a situation I witnessed where someone stepped in heroically with the end result of causing some major instrument damage. (That was not precisely the intention, of course, but it was nevertheless definitely the lesser of two evils.)

During an opera rehearsal break, I watched in horror from the front row of seats as a stagehand walked too close to the edge of the stage with a too-heavy speaker teetering precariously on a too-small handtruck. Time stood still as the inevitable began to happen - the speaker slipped off the handtruck out of the stagehand's control, and began to fall toward the orchestra pit, directly above the head of a friend and cello player, who was practicing and completely oblivious to what was happening. Fortunately, a bass player saw it too, and with lightning reflexes, managed to put down his double bass and lunge himself, arms first, toward the speaker, which still fell, but was deflected onto the cello, rather than its player. The bass player strained his back, and the cellist was unable to recover any compensation for the restoration of his instrument from either our employer or the theater, who kept passing the buck back and forth, but at least no lives were lost. :disbelief:

bratsche

[brianf]

Out of the many hundreds of pickers that I have met, there are very few who do not give the utmost care to their instruments. Dings and scratches, among other hashmarks of service, are bound to come, but anyone who treats their instrument carelessly doesn't deserve to have one. (Bill Monroe excluded):grin:

[woodwizard]

I'll just say that I keep mine in the case about "atleast" 90% of the time when not playing. I have a very nice instrument stand that I've had for years. It looks new because it's never been used that much. Guess I'm just paranoid that something might happen while on the stand. Been on so many small cramped stages and crowed jams with people walking and moving around so close that I've never felt comfortable leaving my mando on a stand unprotected. So ... in the case it always goes. I can see & understand the frustration the OP is going through. But in my case I think it would be an uncontrollable instink to try to save any instrument that appears to be in danger of a terrible accident. ... unless ... the owner of that instrument had been saved and warned so many times of the danger and paid no attention to the warnings. You know ... one of those complete Dumb@$$* then in that case the next time I would be like the OP and turn my head as it hit the floor.

[fishtownmike]

Maybe it was a test. And you passed by saving this instrument. And when this guys is a world class fiddle player someday he won't forget you and how you saved his fiddle and he'll shower you with unworldly wealth. Or maybe it was just a budget fiddle and he doesn't give a ####.:)

[Poener]

Not trolling some people really believe this and I am one of them. :mandosmiley:

Maybe not at home alone but out in public .... in hand or in the case!



I'm the same way. I get petrified when someone comes near me when my mandolin is out of the case. I also insist on hardshell cases for all my instruments.

[hank]

A Chordbangers got to do what a Chordbangers got to do. Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'm with jim_n-virginia all the way - that's what i call the 'Bill Monroe method' of ensuring your instrument survives,& exactly what he did when i saw him back in 1966.
OK,i know that all our instruments aren't Loars,Gils.or Dudes.(except for the fortunate few),but i treat my instruments a though they were. For me,they might as well be,i certainly can't fund another one for the foreseeable future,whether it's $5,000 or $50,000 (forget the Loar price !!),
Ivan:cool:

[billkilpatrick]

interesting thread ... where i live in italy, jams are non-existent - always thought i was missing out. from this i gather they're all a bit of a cat fight and should be avoided.

[Mandolin Mick]

If you watch old films of the Beatles like Ed Sullivan and their early concerts you'll notice John, George & Paul taking their guitars & bass and laying them on Ringo's drum riser or the floor! These instruments are worth literally a million now!

My experience is the exact opposite ... in my Beatles tribute band years ago, one of the guitarists treated his instruments like wood & steel gods. I'm not going into detail but physical fights broke out between band members (not me) because a drop of water chanced to fall on his guitar!

I got so annoyed with it that several times I ALMOST took my 1961 Hofner bass and threw it on the floor to make the point of showing him that "we're more important than your stupid vintage instrument." It would have been over reacting of course, but would have had shock value. You had to be there.

He did everything but fall down & worship these guitars, so please don't criticize, because I didn't throw my bass down. But, you had to be there.

[woodwizard]

Cool... you still have the bass?

[leathermarshmallow]

KARMA

What goes around comes around.

Do unto others...

[Mandolin Mick]

My most prized musical possession!

[KristinEliza]

Being a teacher, I spend a lot of time teaching my students how to care for their instruments. I find it most difficult to bite my tongue when I see adults mistreating their instruments or storing them improperly. But if I needed to save someone's instrument due to their own stupidity, I would save it.

I'm more worried about non-musicians around my instruments.

[billkilpatrick]

thanks to this thread, i've begun placing my mandolin in its case, when not in use. it's one of those little "just do it" disciplines which seem a bore at first but soon become second nature. with 5 dogs running around the house - as well many other potential catastrophes lurking about - it just makes sense.

ahhh ... peace of mind - grazie!

[LKN2MYIS]

My instruments - if not being played - are in hard shell cases.

One of my mandos is on a wall hanger, about 6 feet over the other instrument cases. This is in my office (humidity controlled environment). It can't be reached without a bit of effort. And it certainly can't be bumped, spilled on, etc., where it hangs.

It's out of the way of my dogs, children, and friends, yet I can reach it when I want it. The others are safely tucked away.

I guess my way of thinking is not to allow the instrument to be punished because of the stupidity or careless behavior of the owner.

[Dave Schimming]

I brake for squirrels in the road so there is no reason why I would not try and save someone's instrument about to fall. Now if I got some attitude from the owner for touching his instrument while saving it, that would not be nice.