Off-topic: Knocked-over guitar=Band fight

[lovechick]

I've never posted off-topic here before, hope it's ok, but I'm looking for neutral musicians opinions. Following a gig a few weeks back, my band's drummer knocked over our guitarist's 60s Guild hollowbody, resulting in a cracked headstock. It had, apparently, been broken before. The guitarist kept it as cool as possible and says, "Hey man, it's on your dime, should be about $40-$50." The guitarist reports to our gig this weekend and tells the drummer it was a $75 fix. The drummer gives him $40 after the gig (and presumbaly promises to pay the rest.) Today, the drummer sends this e-mail to the guitarist: "Let this email serve as confirmation that I am not giving you any more money towards the guitar fix. I think that $40 was even a generous amount. It was an ACCIDENT and I apologize and you should at least be willing to meet me halfway with it. Furthermore, you also told me at the gig the night it happened that it was a forty or fifty dollar fix....not $75! I told you I would give you some money TOWARDS it, not all of it out of my pocket! I will resume my normal, fair, deserving, pay like the rest of the band at the next gig." For the record, no EBs were injured and we have money in the band fund to cover the rest. What do you folks think?

 

[patpark]

chalk it up to "stuff that happens on the gig" and move on. if you all get along and if the guitar was repaired and all is well, let it go and ask everyone to be more careful next time.

certainly not anything to fight about or kick anybody out (especially if you all play well and get along). sure it was not intentional.

 

[Jimmyb]

I'd keep out of it personally, let them work it out between them.

 

[lovechick]

Well patpark, these two don't necessarily get along so well. Jimmy, your feedback is dead on the money., but I got asked by the guitar player what I thought and decided to consult the Jedi counsel here on the forums.

 

[jbiscuti]

It sounds like an honest mistake to me. $40 is fair, and chalk up the rest to road wear 'n' tear costs.

 

[adouglas]

If I damaged someone else's instrument, even by accident, I'd pay for 100 percent of the repair. Period. No questions, no hassles, even if the owner offered to split it.

You break it, you pay for it.

'cause that's how I roll.

I CERTAINLY wouldn't cause band drama over a measly $35. Drama sucks and is not worth anyone's time.

 

[Powman]

I concur with above. I would not make a big deal out of the final $35...

This is why I purchased a velcro "bass keeper" from Markbass. It attaches to the amp and then I can secure my bass to it so "accidents" don't happen.

 

[five7]

Drummer should have went for it and broke it properly.

 

[Aussie Mark]

Sounds like a way cheap price to fix a cracked headstock on a vintage guitar. But I agree that $35 is a petty amount to be arguing about. What's that, 5 or 6 beers in a club?

 

[Steve-O]

adouglas nails it. People should take full responsibility for their actions, accidental or otherwise.

 

[RaginRog]

Mr. Met!!

It sounds like an honest mistake to me. $40 is fair, and chalk up the rest to road wear 'n' tear costs.

Love the Avatar....I have that same cartoon tattoo'd on my wrist!


I hope the Mets have a better season- Vegas has 'em winning 77 games...

 

[RaginRog]

If I damaged someone else's instrument, even by accident, I'd pay for 100 percent of the repair. Period. No questions, no hassles, even if the owner offered to split it.

You break it, you pay for it.

'cause that's how I roll.

I CERTAINLY wouldn't cause band drama over a measly $35. Drama sucks and is not worth anyone's time.

I'm with you on that one. If not....guess what would happen to the drummers' snare at the following show...

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I am not sure I'd get worked up over $35 either, but I agree with adouglas, I would have personally paid the full amount if I was at fault.

Now, if the guitar was left in a position where it was an accident waiting to happen (trip wire patch cord, laying flat on the floor or balancing atop of a stool, etc...), then the guitar player might want to assume some of the cost.

 

[lovechick]

I agree, adouglas. I'd rather know that I was above-board with how I handled the situation. Aussiemark, the guitarist is having the headstock glued as opposed to the more costly (and undoubtedly more structurally sound) practice of having the break reset, fortified with fresh wood, and so on.

 

[mfallmann]

I'm with you on that one. If not....guess what would happen to the drummers' snare at the following show...

+1 ... There ain't much more to say ...

 

[kevins]

theres usually more than one cause to anything. for example a car crash, one person was driving badly the other person didnt apply good enough evasive manuevers to get out of the way.

likewise when my stingray is out of use it is in a case on the floor not just propped up against anything or on one of those 10$ stands that have a nice habbit of falling over. both of those methoids are frankly asking for trouble.

honestly unless you guys are completely uttery broke and have no jobs 35$ should never be an arguing point. i play drums in band im in and my guitarist chipped in 100$ to buy a set. we gave him 2 guitars and an amplifier when he was starting out to practice on. we're not busting down his door demanding a 15 watt amp back.

i think paying for half of it is more than fair for the drummer. you cant leave your stuff lying around like that like the guitarist did and you cant be so careless around something that valuable like the drummer was.

but if the drummer said he'd pay for all of it, why the heck not its 35 bucks. and if the guitarist is grilling the drummer over the extra 35$ why the heck not say "pshhhhh ill get that 35$?"

sounds like those two have a lot more between them they dont like eachother for. no one gets angry over small amounts unless they really dont like someone in my opinion.



im assuming you're the bassplayer. we're always the calmest...

 

[Big Poppa]

Is there more to the story? History? Is either the guitarist or drummer replacable? If you all chip in 7.50 to pay the guitarists out of picket will things be rosy?

I with Ad but I also think its the guitarists responsibility to keep a guitar so it cant be knocked down or damaged.

THe guitarist learned to treat his guitar in a safer manner and you learned that the drummer will only always at best be 50% reesponsible

 

[adouglas]

I have special inside knowledge about knocking instruments over.

 

[sitonmybass]

... resulting in a cracked headstock. It had, apparently, been broken before.

Hmmm...

If the original damage was somehow directly or indirectly caused by the guitar's current owner, then the above statement speaks volumes. And I don't mean decibels, either.

 

[TheAntMan]

If I damaged someone else's instrument, even by accident, I'd pay for 100 percent of the repair. Period. No questions, no hassles, even if the owner offered to split it.

You break it, you pay for it.

'cause that's how I roll.

I CERTAINLY wouldn't cause band drama over a measly $35. Drama sucks and is not worth anyone's time.

I agree. If I caused the damage, no matter that it was an accident, then I will pay for it. It is the respectable thing to do. If the guitarist had accidentally punched a hole in the bass drum, I have a feeling that the drummer would want it fixed. As for the $40-$50 quote at the bar, well, that was a guess and the actual bill is what it is.

Anyway, good luck with that. I have seen family members become enemies over less. I hope this does not happen to your band mates.

--Ant