I have to let a little kid down the street borrow my only acoustic this summer

I just handed it to him and down the street he went. I saw him and his mom at guitar center last week and the mom had the brilliant idea of letting him borrow one of my guitars.

She just does not get it. but you can't expect her to. I kind of got backed into one of those situations where I couldn't just say no.

I wouldn't mind if I had more than one acoustic. Its a cheap fender acoustic but its my only one.
I guess I'll just be playing my tele this summer.

I am worried about it though because this kid is a spazz and he has broke many things in the past. Thank goodness for fender 1 inch thick laminate or I'd be even more worried.

Has anyone else had to give a guitar to someone aganst their will?

Uh, just how hot is this kid's mom? You had to lend this known-to-be-rough kid your only acoustic? What part of this aren't you telling us?

She'd better be worth it... :wink:

Oh, and you know you'll never see that guitar again don't you?

uh...Its the....uh.....the whole story.... .......I promise. JK

Huh???

:confused:

Lol seriously, I didn't mean for it to sound that way.
When I said I couldn't just say no, I mean I am a person who can't just say "no I won't let your kid borrow it" I guess I could have come up with an excuse but hey, thats part of life

The one thing I have learned with age, is to say "No" immediately to things I really don't want to do. Just like ripping a band-aid off. It may seem unpleasant, but if this is the whole story, I think you have to call her on the phone, or stop by and say "I'm sorry, but I've had a change of heart, and I can't be without my only acoustic guitar." Good luck either way.

If you want to be diplomatic about it (and willing to lie), tell her you have an acoustic gig coming up and need it back.

You'd be better off spending a hundred bucks to buy him one those cheap epiphones, and just write it off.

RIP Fender:cry:


Glad your only acoustic wasn't a Martin HD28...I'm sure Stefan will back me up on this...

If you liked that guitar, it may be time to buy another like it, or upgrade.

i would of said no...
i'm not tight with my things but i've said no to lending people things if i know in the past they've damaged my stuff. one guy borrowed a whole heaps of music cds years ago, i got them back half didn't work no more so i refuse to lend him anything of mine these days.

Man , i've lent things to pro players and regretted it , nevermind kids .
Gots ta get it back asap :wink:

In my house I let everyone play everything, I enjoy having this stuff used.

Outside my house, including practice, gigs, whatever, I don't let anyone play my instruments. I have had people ask to borrow stuff and I have never said yes.

I loaned my semi-brand new Chiquita guitar to a single mom for her kid (ok, in a bar). It was just to be a loan to see if the kid liked it and wanted to possibly buy it. Fifteen years ago.

She moved away (though still has relatives around here) and I never heard another word about it.

Now my son is 10 and guitar crazy. Go figger...
I don't loan anything if I'm not prepared to give it away.

Well I was in the market for a new acoustic anyway. I will just let the kid play around on it for a few weeks. He will eventually get bored( he has severe adhd) and I will just ask for it back. But I have learned a valuable lesson about making decisions in the heat of the moment. I guess I need to be a little more firm with my decisions regarding people borrowing my things.

oops...

I'm not a good example, but my wife is one of the kindest people you'll ever meet, adopts cats off the street, is nice to everyone, always tries to find the positive side of people and sticks up for the underdog, catches and releases bugs in the house rather than harm them.

Even she would have said no!

This thread begs for what I call some Hall and Oates Existentialism.

it is my theory that every really bad idea needs and equally faulty lyric to accompany it....... so... here you go...

Do what you want, be what you are
Do what you want, be what you are
Do what you want girl, but be what you are
There aint no right er wrong way
Just a play from the heart
It aint a sign of weakness to give yourself away

Because the strong give up and move on,
While the weak, weak give up and stay

Chorus:
So do what you want to do
But be what you are ...
Do you believe in hot cars,
Leather bars, or movie stars
Is that whats real
Payin dues, earth shoes, chicago blues
Is that how you feel?

You can change, but you cant conceal
Whats deep inside you
Lts your game, lts your deal

Chorus:

So do what you want to do
But be what you are ...

This thread begs for what I call some Hall and Oates Existentialism.

it is my theory that every really bad idea needs and equally faulty lyric to accompany it....... so... here you go...

Do what you want, be what you are
Do what you want, be what you are
Do what you want girl, but be what you are
There aint no right er wrong way
Just a play from the heart
It aint a sign of weakness to give yourself away

Because the strong give up and move on,
While the weak, weak give up and stay

Chorus:
So do what you want to do
But be what you are ...
Do you believe in hot cars,
Leather bars, or movie stars
Is that whats real
Payin dues, earth shoes, chicago blues
Is that how you feel?

You can change, but you cant conceal
Whats deep inside you
Lts your game, lts your deal

Chorus:

So do what you want to do
But be what you are ...

I appreciate the faulty lyrics
That make me want to march over to their house, take my acoustic and come up with a chord progression to go with the lyrics.
Then I could preform it and put it on twanger central for the whole forum to see me play it.

oh man, the actual song is pretty good. kinda blue eyed soul!
it would be cool to learn if you haven't!

btw, to be clear... what I'm saying is it doesn't matter whether you lend it or not... it is how YOU feel about it and how you create your rationale that will determine your happiness... we're just sitting trackside watching really cool, really fast cars go by... and occasionally wreck in amazing HD and technicolor...

Your kwan is good. hwa!

Well I was in the market for a new acoustic anyway. I will just let the kid play around on it for a few weeks. He will eventually get bored( he has severe adhd) and I will just ask for it back. But I have learned a valuable lesson about making decisions in the heat of the moment. I guess I need to be a little more firm with my decisions regarding people borrowing my things.

we just want to know what "the heat of the moment" was!:wink:

pics of his mum or it didn't happen!

sorry immature post :P

we just want to know what "the heat of the moment" was!:wink:

The heat of the moment was when I agreed to let him borrow it and I asked and got NOTHING in return.

Lol I just can't seem to say anything that dosen't sound perverted or dirty in some way.

I'd either get the guitar back or buy the kid a cheap one. Actually, I'd probably do the later. Then the next time I'm "in the heat of the moment," I can tell myself Self, the last time you didn't say "no," it cost you $100. That'd likely be enough inspiration to keep me saying "no" for a long time. I think this is called "learning from experience," iirc.

In my house I let everyone play everything, I enjoy having this stuff used.



+1 I love hearing real "players" wail on my gear!

Whatever you do, DO NOT let him borrow a DVD of the Who Live at Leeds..:}

The heat of the moment was when I agreed to let him borrow it and I asked and got NOTHING in return.

Lol I just can't seem to say anything that dosen't sound perverted or dirty in some way.

sorry! but my dirty mind is about my only source of excitement these days! :lol: carry on

WOw....No way would I even think of allowing some kid to take my guitar home...sure sit on the couch and strum it..and here let me show you how to put it on the stand right ..so you dont scratch it or drop it...oh and look here..this is an A chord...... I think that his Mother is out of line even asking..you should have said no...and SHE should buy HER son a learner guitar, not you ...there must be more to this story it just doesnt make any sense to me. If its simply that you cannot say no, than why dont you have 25 credit cards, and spend 10 hours a week talking with telemarketers?

there must be more to this story it just doesnt make any sense to me. If its simply that you cannot say no, than why dont you have 25 credit cards, and spend 10 hours a week talking with telemarketers?

Thats the whole story. Have said no to a million telemarketers. I have a bit of trouble saying no to neighbors and family. That dosen't mean I say no to everything. At the time I was thinking I didn't play it much. so I guess made a foolish decision.

I would feel like a jerk If I went over there and said I wanted it back. I feel like I have made a comittment.
They are our neighbors and we have borrowed stuff from them before.


I am NOT doing this because I am getting anything in return. I don't owe her money or any kind of drugs, etc.

You've done it, you don't feel like you should go get it back, so relax.

You might think about how you and they define "borrow" in this case--to me it assumes they will have it for a time and then return it. I don't think it would unreasonable to get some agreement on this with them as concerns how long he might have it. I think you might also look in on his progress to make sure that he's actually using it--it would all be kind of a waste if it's just sitting around his bedroom.

When you say no and his mom asks why, this is what you tell her:


this kid is a spazz and he has broke many things in the past.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

It seems like this affect your peace of mind. And it doesn't have to be this way. You were a nice guy letting this kid borrow your guitar (which I would never have done knowing how I'd become a nervous wreck worrying over it). The kid has the chance to play it for a while (I had to cut the lawn and do various work for a summer to pay for my first guitar : some kids have it easy nowadays). Now, if I were you, I would call her mom, make small talk, inquire about her son's progress, and then tell her you need the guitar back and propose some advice for her to buy him a guitar and offer to give him guitar lessons. Only then you will get your peace of mind back.

You've done it, you don't feel like you should go get it back, so relax.

You might think about how you and they define "borrow" in this case--to me it assumes they will have it for a time and then return it. I don't think it would unreasonable to get some agreement on this with them as concerns how long he might have it. I think you might also look in on his progress to make sure that he's actually using it--it would all be kind of a waste if it's just sitting around his bedroom.

That sounds like a good Idea. I think I will drop by every once in a while to see if he has made any progress and set a time in which I will come and get it back.

Thats the whole story. Have said no to a million telemarketers. I have a bit of trouble saying no to neighbors and family. That dosen't mean I say no to everything. At the time I was thinking I didn't play it much. so I guess made a foolish decision.

I would feel like a jerk If I went over there and said I wanted it back. I feel like I have made a comittment.
They are our neighbors and we have borrowed stuff from them before.


I am NOT doing this because I am getting anything in return. I don't owe her money or any kind of drugs, etc.

Yeah, your just gonna have to let it ride for a bit then eh?:mrgreen: Give it like a few days and then go retrieve it. If there turns out she thought it was a longer "loan"..just explain that this is your only acoustic, and maybe tell her you would be glad to help him pick out an affordable beginner guitar....

if it were a Martin or the like, i'd be freaked out at your decision. but it's a cheapie you say you rarely played, and it might bring something good into this kid's life.

i lent my stepson (living out of state at the time) my little Mustang bass when he was in his early teens ... i figured he'd get bored and bring it back when he came home for Christmas. he did, but not because he was bored -- he'd sold his impressive baseball card collection and bought a full-size bass of his own! right now, he's gigging and doing studio work in LA with some of the remnants of the old Sly Stone crew. ya never know with kids -- doesn't hurt to give 'em a chance if you can!

Here's your way out.

Buy this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-JTJ-Playmate-HalfSize-Steel-String-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=519898

And buy you some stuff for another $70, (stupid deal today is a fishman sound hole P/U, $29) so you can qualify for free shipping. So, boom, now you get some new gear, the kid gets his own guitar to tear up and you get the Fender back.....:cool:

Hey, you basically did a good thing man, it might help to calm the little sucker down. Don't mean to keep bustin' yo b*lls... just funnin' wit ya man.:grin:

Here's your way out.

Buy this:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-JTJ-Playmate-HalfSize-Steel-String-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=519898

And buy you some stuff for another $70, (stupid deal today is a fishman sound hole P/U, $29) so you can qualify for free shipping. So, boom, now you get some new gear, the kid gets his own guitar to tear up and you get the Fender back.....:cool:

Hey, you basically did a good thing man, it might help to calm the little sucker down. Don't mean to keep bustin' yo b*lls... just funnin' wit ya man.:grin:

That sounds like a good Idea too. I will consider that.

if it were a Martin or the like, i'd be freaked out at your decision. but it's a cheapie you say you rarely played, and it might bring something good into this kid's life.

i lent my stepson (living out of state at the time) my little Mustang bass when he was in his early teens ... i figured he'd get bored and bring it back when he came home for Christmas. he did, but not because he was bored -- he'd sold his impressive baseball card collection and bought a full-size bass of his own! right now, he's gigging and doing studio work in LA with some of the remnants of the old Sly Stone crew. ya never know with kids -- doesn't hurt to give 'em a chance if you can!

cool post woodman. thanks.

Man, you're a nice guy, but....
I'd go over after a few days and after watching the kid try to play for a little while why not offer to help him pick out an acoustic more suited to his hands, or easier to play etc..
In my case when I'm learning new tunes I always do it acoustically before going to my strats.
It's not really an excuse since the acoustic is a good learning tool. Why not just tell her you've got quite a bit of new material you've got to learn and your acoustic is what you use. You wouldn't bother but you really need it etc..
Again, offer to go to the music store with them so she can get him started properly. She'll probably hesitate at first but being an adult it wasn't right for her to put you on the spot like that and it sounds like she was taking advantage of what she probably knows to be your good nature.

( he has severe adhd)
err..
i can't help but imagine what he'll do to it when he can't play amazing like straight away

I picked up a nice Jay Turser cutaway acoustic for $40.00 plus shipping from Ebay. It's for camping and fishing trips, and if work sends me out of town, it tags along.
If a kid wanted to borrow a guitar, that's the one I'd loan him. If he's a good kid and his Momma's good lookin', I'd probably buy him one. No, I'd definitely buy him one.