Let's say you are jamming with a friend at his house when a buddy of his drops by. You know this guy's name, maybe you've seen him a couple times and you think he can play guitar but that is about all you know about him. He says, "Nice guitar, can I play it?", what do you say?

I recently read an article in Cycle World (Nov 2012) that addresses the etiquette of touching or asking to ride another person's motorcycle. Basically it's akin to borrowing his toothbrush or girlfriend; you just DON'T ask.

I'm curious to see if the same general sentiment is true with guitar players and their guitars.

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'09 Am Deluxe Ash Strat
'09 Mex Standard Strat
'10 Mex Standard Tele
Champ 600
Blues jr.
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

If it's someone I hardly know, Only in my presence under my supervision, for a limited duration.

It really depends. If its my $300 acoustic, sure. If it's a guitar that's special to me then sorry.

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"Music is what feelings sound like"

I love to sit back and hear my instrument played by someone else.

My Strats? Not a problem. There's not much someone could do the them that I haven't done ten times over. They're working instruments, they get beaten, and seem almost better for it. Sometimes it's really educational to hear someone else playing your guitar through your rig.

My Gibsons? A little more cautious about those, I've seen the results of a dropped guitar with a raked back headstock too many times. And a definite no for my 335, I'm still twitchy when even very close friends pick that one up.

Only if I know that they can actually play and will treat my guitar with respect.

This is so true. But anyway, getting back to guitars...



Oh man, it would just be so terrible if the guy started playing some nice guitar for a minute - but then suddenly leaped to his feet, grabbed the Strat by the top of the neck and began swinging it and beating it on the ground, like he'd misunderstood what sort of axe it was and thought he was trying to split logs in half. Lacquer flying off, wood splintering, a big crack developing from the neck pocket, frets popping up at the ends... That would be so upsetting.

...Not very likely, though.

Cheers - C

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i have to know the person fairly well before it happens.

a few years ago we went out to see a friends band play. this was about the third or fourth time for us, and i just started getting to know the lead player. he asked me to sit in, and allowed me to play his nice les paul. i would never think of asking to play it if i didn't know him first

I was doing a multi band concert a few years ago, I was using my Taylor, (just required an acoustic) and there was another guy there I was working with (who also had a Taylor)..

So the band that was up after us, the guitar player, didn't bring a guitar.. ?HUH?...

So this guy asks the other guitar player (Charlie) player if he can use his, and this clown points to me and says "No, but he will let you use yours"...

I have never seen this guy before in my life... But for what ever reason, he didn't have an axe to play... so reluctantly I told him, "one song, and then I have to leave so you're out of luck"

He was very careful with it however, and was a decent player. But it was true, I had to go, so once he played that one tune, he thanked me and I was out of there. I've no idea how they proceeded, and I honestly didn't care.

who shows up to play a set, and doesn't bring an axe?

I never worked with Charlie again, that really p---ed me off.

"Umm...I guess it's ok" but it depends on who the "acquaintance" is and which guitar.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Sure, if he's sober enough not to drop it or do something stupid with it while I'm sitting there, why not?

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Guitars For Vets

This has happened to me a few times.
The first time was my sisters friend and my MIA Tele. He didn't so much ask as he just picked it up off the stand. I had a big waterbed with the wood sides. Well, when he picked it up and he smacked it against the side of the bed. All he said was "these guitars are tough, they can take it." I took it away.

The second time was at an open mic jam. A guy who I have seen play before, but never knew asked if he could play my guitar and amp. I said to him, "but you play left handed." He said "thats alright". I let him use it and he flipped that guitar left handed and proceeded to play with no problem.

Another time I went to an open mic night and the girl running it asked if everybody could use my guitar. I explained it was my brother's (it kind of was both of ours, I had free access to it) and I couldn't let others use it. It took me forever to get on stage that night.

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i always let people play my guitar - i might find somebody worse than me one day !

stop Mr.Ceri. i just blew chili thru my nostrils.

if i had any friends i would let them play my guitars.

I get annoyed if someone even tries to go into the music room. Touching one of my guitars would definitely upset me.