Question High Humidity Outside Gig

[oddjob]

Have a festival gig Friday. Will be the first outside gig I've done in years during the summer. Humidity here in Cincinnati is expected to be high... REAL HIGH (they are talking 80-90%). I haven't done the humidity thing in over a decade (and didn't care too much about the bass I was playing back then). Anyway, any of you have any tips for keeping the bass in good shape as the night rolls on?

 

[bovinehost]

It was the summer of 2006. It was hot. Africa hot. Old people and northerners were dropping like proverbial flies, which are the meanest flies imaginable, really. Prolly a hundred degrees, maybe more. An afternoon outdoor gig was just the ticket. Some festival. There were balloons - hot air balloons. I amused myself by doing all the stage banter in Spanish.

Anyway. Get there early. Don't pop the case right away. Let it acclimate. Keep a little screwdriver (or ice pick) handy in case the truss needs a minor tweak. Honest to God, I had that Bongo in the photo and a Sterling and I played them both and never had the slightest problem. Just let 'em acclimate before going nuts, that's my advice.

 

[toomanyslurpees]

Don't leave your case sitting on the stage in the sun (stock plasticy musicman case), bass in it or not, I did this a couple weeks ago, was sitting by the side and noticed the top was starting to warp outwards, I chucked it under the stage face down and it went back to normal thankfully...

 

[Aussie Mark]

 

[tommixx]

Good advice so far! I play in Myrtle Beach, SC a LOT this time of year and it is 100 degrees with 200% humidity right now...

1. Shade is crucial! As mentioned do not leave the bass or the case in direct sunlight.

2. Take a fan of some kind that will blow sufficiently to keep a constant breeze on you!

3. Take 2 Hand towels and 2 Beach Towels. More on why in a minute...

4. Take your own water and/or Gatorade!!! Better to lug around than try to forage for it later!! HYDRATE regularly and in copious amounts....

The 2 Hand towels are for you to wipe off the sweat as the day goes on. Leave 1 IN THE CASE and use it AFTER you have wet the first one..LOL (it WILL happen!! I usually actually take a third for my drummer who either uses his to the point of saturation or loses his...). Leave the first beach towel in your bag and use the first to place over your bass stand (in the shade) after you take it out of the case.

As day becomes night and the dew forms make sure that you keep the towel over the bass when you are not playing it. Eventually this towel will become wet..(try and put it somewhere it can stay as dry as possible between sets. Use the fan as you play to help keep the dew off you and the bass as you are playing. I like to put the fan beside me so that it blows both at me and across the bass lengthwise. This helps to not only blow the dew away from the bass but to also help keep it dry as you go along.

Once you finish the gig take the second (dry because you left it in your bag!!) beach towel out and wipe off the bass VERY thoroughly IMMEDIATELY. The first thing I do is put my strap/belt pack in my drawer, grab my gig bag and wipe down my basses as soon as I hit the last note of the night. MOST of the time I play only one bass the last set and I will wipe down the other bass at the break and go ahead and put my second bass in the case before I start my last set. IF you have a wipe down cloth LEAVE it in your case until the end of the night!!! If it gets dew on it you will just spread moisture all over the bass. I keep several with me just in case. Do everything possible to keep them dry before you use them to wipe your bass...

Hope that helps...Good luck and enjoy the gig! For what it's worth I take my 25th out to gigs like this all the time...I have 2 outside gigs this week and the heat will be about 95 to 105 and the humidity will be insane...I did 3 outside gigs just last week with no worries. Preparation and attention to detail is the key. Be conscious about your conditions and take all precautions you can to ensure that you AND your bass(es) survive the day. It is VERY easy to get too hot so again, make sure you drink plenty of fluids and do everything you can to stay cool. I usually make sure that I find the coldest water available and then personally give every other guy on the stage 2 bottles of water before we start a set when it is hot out...be smart, be safe, ROCK ON!!!

Peace,

T

 

[DTG]

that is some advice wow !!

in Ireland out door gigs seem much easier......just try to stay out of the rain !!

 

[JayDawg]

It was the summer of 2006. It was hot. Africa hot. Old people and northerners were dropping like proverbial flies, which are the meanest flies imaginable, really. Prolly a hundred degrees, maybe more. An afternoon outdoor gig was just the ticket. Some festival. There were balloons - hot air balloons. I amused myself by doing all the stage banter in Spanish.

Anyway. Get there early. Don't pop the case right away. Let it acclimate. Keep a little screwdriver (or ice pick) handy in case the truss needs a minor tweak. Honest to God, I had that Bongo in the photo and a Sterling and I played them both and never had the slightest problem. Just let 'em acclimate before going nuts, that's my advice.

I have nothing to add other than that Bongo is gorgeous looking! Oh, and tell the guy to your right I voted the same as him.

 

[Jim C]

+1 to all the above
Might also consider trying to minimize other severe temperature changes like coming from / going into air conditioned spaces as well as previously mentioned direct sunlight
Since you can't change the weather or the temp/humidity for the stage and rooms you will be in, all you can do is adjust how quickly the instrument gets acclimated

 

[kylierider]

As a fellow Cincinnatian I know what you mean, but honestly I would not worry about it. Threw the years I've played in a lot of non air conditioned places and outdoor shows. Like the others have said adjustments are easy. I've done it between songs. Thats the beauty of the MM truss rod system. No pickguard to remove. Just a little turn and bam your done. Quick retune and your ready.


With the Cincinnati weather I usually make 2 adjustments in a years time. Once in the summer and once in the winter.

My SR travels with me up north to WI once a year to do a Johnny Cash tribute show as a companion to my trusty upright. The bass rides in an air conditioned car the way up. Then sits in an air conditioned hotel room. The next day I play it for two outside shows. One at high noon and the other at 6:00. The bass sits on the stage in a gig bag between shows. Last year no adjustment was needed until I got back to Cincinnati. So it's pretty stable and if not adjustments are easy.

BTW what festival are you playing and what is the group name?

 

[oddjob]

It is one of those strange things... I have probably 200+ shows under my belt but have maybe 3 outside shows total in 15 years, so I appreciate all of the advice.

Mike, I am now playing with The Barcodes (70-90's covers - this will be my 3rd show with them) - this after ending a 5 year stint with Equalibrium.

 

[jadams]

Oh man this thread came at just the right time, i am playing all next week in Birmingham, AL. to boot, i just picked up a Classic Stingray 5 (haven't even had the chance to show you guys some pics yet) and am loving it! i'm looking forward to these gigs (starting in New York, ending in Alabama for 4 days) but am certainly not looking forward to the humidity.

great advice guys

 

[threeminutesboy]

My bongo is facing outside gig with really minor issues. Just have to tune more often a bit of truss rod adjustment could be necessary but really a bit

Enjoy that show, and make sure you will clean your bass properly before you bring it back to its case after the show

 

[Psycho Ward]

My little outdoor rant...

I have documented over 1000 outdoor shows, I quit counting after that. Many were two shows at the same venue on the same day, state fairs, rodeos and such. I've witnessed three people die at these shows and I've hated every single outdoor gig I've ever played.

The hottest was 112 degrees and the coldest was 29 degrees, I had to duct tape a hair dryer to a boom stand over my hands just to be able to play at all (these were all keyboard gigs). Promoters will always set the stage to face the sun so they can get away with less lights.

So now that I don't have to, I will not play outside. Gig limiting granted, but I will not subject me or my gear to that environment!

Aside from that, they're great!

 

[five7]

I have documented over 1000 outdoor shows, I quit counting after that. Many were two shows at the same venue on the same day, state fairs, rodeos and such. I've witnessed three people die at these shows and I've hated every single outdoor gig I've ever played.

The hottest was 112 degrees and the coldest was 29 degrees, I had to duct tape a hair dryer to a boom stand over my hands just to be able to play at all (these were all keyboard gigs). Promoters will always set the stage to face the sun so they can get away with less lights.

So now that I don't have to, I will not play outside. Gig limiting granted, but I will not subject me or my gear to that environment!

Aside from that, they're great!

You forgot to mention the wind and rain! And all the dust at a rodeo.

 

[oli@bass]

......just try to stay out of the rain !!

That's the way I know it as well ... or atually:

I have documented over 1000 outdoor shows, [...] and I've hated every single outdoor gig I've ever played.

That's a lot of hatred... I'd love to have played a thousand gigs...

 

[Kirby]

I agree with Jack. I have had my share of miserable outside gigs. I wear armbands to help with the sweat in these cases also have a spare towel as mentioned above. Check your tuning often, you will be surprised how much it can change even after allowing it to acclimate before opening the case.

Above all, have fun!

 

[ZiggyDude]

The Tommix points are good. In many ways worry about your human self and not just the guitar.

- Pickup up a gallon of water at the grocery store (distilled for me) and take that along.

- I bring a LARGE fan - one of those things you can feel far away and set that up. That is what really makes the difference. Do not underestimate that.

- Avoid the direct sun for you and your gear

- The towels are good advice

- WIth the humidity that high, you might get rain. So a tarp is good. Some people like to set up there amp on a skid so the water will run under the amp.

I normally dread outdoor jobs. I seem to attract thunderstorms. Luckily the wireless prevents me from getting grounded to the amp and makes things a lot safer.

 

[AnthonyD]

Not much different from summers in Jersey. Funny thing is I played an INDOOR gig last night - with no A/C...

"Just leave the doors open - you'll get some cross-ventilation"...

We have an outdoor party on a farm tonight - more hot and humid.

Anyway, lot's of good advice here - few worth repeating:

1. Stay hydrated - lot's of water
2. Get there early and acclimate your instrument
3. The wheel is your friend (if you need it)

and I will add:

4. Wristbands/sweatbands - especially on your picking hand.

Have fun - it's all good!

 

[Dr Stankface]

No matter how good of a gig shirt it is, do not wear anything long sleeved, rolled up or not. Back in Alabama it wasn't that bad but I've realized that here in Florida that it's not the best idea.

 

[lorino]

outdoors

This was Thursday 7/1:

There was good shade on the stage - we were on the shores of Lake Michigan and the breeze was wonderful. Crowd was worse off than us!

I wore long sleeves and wrist bands. Everything started mucking up towards the end, but we only did one 1.5 hour set.

I always plan (and have the supplies available) to wipe down the neck and strings as we go, but there's never enough time, nor do I remember to actually do it. It would help!