Members LittleBrother Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Played a last minute fill in gig for a friend tonight. 6-10pm outdoors on a huge covered patio. Humid and hot Georgia weather. Brought my rock solid Gibson semi-hollow electric 335 and my nicest acoustic. I planned on playing both and working with the Baggs M1 and ParaDI some more. After 1 set I realized that myself and the bass player were having horrible luck staying in tune. I dont mean a little bit either. Wildy out of tune from song to song. Continuous all evening. I left the acoustic in the case. No way in hell I am pulling out a fine acoustic in this swamp. Can you imagine how that would have been? The wildly inaccurate Intellitouch didn't help matters. Killer convenience tho. I've played in many outdoor events and never had that much trouble. It was sticky sweaty hot and humid. At least now I can understand why having a 3" thick overbuilt acoustic can be a blessing. I was really thinking about the merits of a composite CA guitar tonite. I've never had that much trouble tuning. My freaking wrists are sore from correcting tuners for 4 hours. How in the heck do people play live in Florida??? Lordy!
Members Prozak Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Indoors and air conditioned I would imagine!
Members Cams Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 You did right to keep the SC in the case bro! The humidity is down by September though, right?
Members frankentele Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Cams--kinda. Atlanta is a lot like Montgomery, albeit without a frickin' SWAMP surrounding the city on all sides. It's still sticky here through September.....darn it. Today was a perfect day to go sit in the park with my acoustic and strum around, but there's no way....NOOOOOO WAAAAYYYY...that I'm gonna subject it to the humidity here.
Members madog99 Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 I was up a someones cottage on sunday ,blazing hot sun and we were down on the dock. I tried my best to stay under the patio umbrella as my poor old skin just can't take it. But I took a 12 , a 6 and a mando with me ! I tuned in the house before going down to the dock. But as you can imagine it was a losing battle , if you got out in the sun with an instrument the tuning wouldn't last long and the only shade was under the umbrella. I can imagine what it would be like if you were doing something like that as a gig instead if just friends !
Members desaljs Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Little Bro, In central Illinois, we can have some killer humidity, but not as bad as what you describe. I go outside with my Seagull Grand, but at max for an hour or so, not 4 hours. It does OK in terms of staying in tune. Do you think that it might be better to have some laminate wood for this type of environmental stress, rather than all solid?? As for your comment about the CA guitars, I have played the Bluegrass Performer model in my local music store. It is a sweet sounding piece, with some nice bass response. It sounds like you do a lot of gigging outside, and this might be the answer for you. We all love fine wood, but it can be a PIA at times. Think about it, a guitar that you can leave out all year, never worry about heat, humidity, cold, rain etc............................. Regards,
Members kwakatak Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Yeah - don't write off laminated acoustics either. I have no qualms about picking up my guitar and going outside with it. Inside my house yesterday the RH was as low as 39% (thanks to the AC) and outside it's over 60%.
Members fingerpicker Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Now you guys understand why I praise the Adamas guitars!!!! Florida is one of the most humid states, and you just have to have an inline tuner so you can make quick adjustments. You did right to keep the SC in the case bro! The humidity is down by September though, right? Actually, leaving it in the case then taking it out to play is when you will alter the tuning the most... For the record, I used to perform with a Taylor in the Florida outdoors and as long as i brought it back home and left the case open in my A/C 'd house--all was fine. What I do: http://www.vinnyjacobs.com
Members MikeH Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Hi Folks - Brand new here. I've been reading these posts for awhile, and this one really sparked me. I've been doing the southeast coast for years (20+) and had the same problems with heat & humidity affecting tuning on old martins, guilds. 3 years ago I found one of those fender telecoustics at a pawn shop for $150. I picked it up and took it home did a quick set-up on it. I run it to a sansamp acoustic di then direct to the board. Believe it or not I can make this sucker sound almost like my d-28. The heat & humidity don't affect it at all. It's like playing a telecaster (my elec of choice). Then after the gig I can paddle my canoe home with it. Just kidding, but seriously though, they do work well. The pick-up system is fishman. The silver sparkle is pretty wild also.
Members takeout Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 I remember a gig in Chapel Hill one time... the air in the case was from Richmond, VA; when I popped the lid, the surface of my bass instantly fogged over. Damndest thing I ever saw.
Members TaylorFishin' Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Originally posted by fingerpicker Actually, leaving it in the case then taking it out to play is when you will alter the tuning the most... That's what I was thinking Fingerpicker. I play outside quite often, not paying gigs, but just informal jams with a few buddies or even by myself. I've noticed when first taking the guitar outdoors from the cool A/C of the house or truck, that it will become damp. Like its been held over steam or something. I just wipe the guitar off with a soft towel and keep it out of the case. After this first initial dampness, no additional dampness occurrs. It sometimes takes an hour or so before the guitar will stay in tune. I've seen major Bluegrass bands get their instruments out of the cases hours before they are scheduled to go on stage to let them acclimate to the different temps and humidity of the outdoor shows. I'm talking fine guitars such as Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Vintage Martins and such. Some of these guys have owned the same guitars for decades, take them everywhere inside and out. Now, I know these guys see their instruments as a tool for the job and a way to make their living, but I think it proves that fine guitars are much tougher than we think. I'm still not ready to take my new Breedlove out by the campfire though! Scott
Members WGH Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Originally posted by desaljs As for your comment about the CA guitars, I have played the Bluegrass Performer model in my local music store. It is a sweet sounding piece, with some nice bass response. It sounds like you do a lot of gigging outside, and this might be the answer for you. We all love fine wood, but it can be a PIA at times. Think about it, a guitar that you can leave out all year, never worry about heat, humidity, cold, rain etc............................. Regards, I have the Legacy A/E and have been playing inside and out all summer. Now everyone tunes to me.
Members LittleBrother Posted July 21, 2004 Author Members Posted July 21, 2004 Originally posted by Cams You did right to keep the SC in the case bro! The humidity is down by September though, right? Great responses! Yeah Cams I cant wait until this July August heat is gone. September will be a welcome time for sure! If CA guitars ever makes a good small body blues model I will probably jump all over it. I would buy a Rainsong but all they have is a parlor and I really like the CAs better. I really wish they would come out with a composite small body slot head. Geez I would buy it on the spot. Thanks,
Members TaylorFishin' Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Originally posted by LittleBrother If CA guitars ever makes a good small body blues model I will probably jump all over it. I would buy a Rainsong but all they have is a parlor and I really like the CAs better. I really wish they would come out with a composite small body slot head. Geez I would buy it on the spot. Thanks, For some reason LB, I can't see you playing those fine traditional blues licks on a composite guitar! It just don't seem right! I'm just kiddin with ya'. I think the Rainsongs and CA Guitars definitely have their place as a worry free stage guitar. Many grow to love the tone and have them as their main guitar. Scott
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted July 21, 2004 Members Posted July 21, 2004 Yep, just another reason I love my Rainsong. I live in New Mexico and it's exactly opposite hot and DRY. Played an outdoor gig last week, facing west from 5:30 to 9:00. With the sun beating against the top, the black graphite was almost hot to the touch. There was some minor tuning needed, but it was probably more the strings expanding than the dimensional stability of the guitar. My bass player, though, was having fits!
Members orsino Posted July 22, 2004 Members Posted July 22, 2004 Originally posted by LittleBrother How in the heck do people play live in Florida??? Lordy! We gave up toonin dem dang tings years ago. Gators and crickets don't seems ta mind much!
Members Matt McGriff Posted July 22, 2004 Members Posted July 22, 2004 I am currently shopping for a primary stage guitar in the $1500-$2000 range. It was down to a CA Legacy or COT or a Breedlove Focus. I live in Florida, and I think I have now made up my mind. CA! Now, which one? One has Fishman, the other Baggs. It will be nice to not worry (paranoia) about the heat and humidity all of the time.
Members LittleBrother Posted July 22, 2004 Author Members Posted July 22, 2004 Lol Orsino, Thanks Scott. Matt sounds like a CA is just right for you. I like the bband a little better but I've also owned Fishmans that sounded great. The Clay Shim Trick on my website (tips section) is dirt cheap, harmless and works miracles on the sound of any UST but especially the Fishman. I like the fact you can leave a CA guitar in your car TRUNK! What a riot ! No unloading at home!
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted July 22, 2004 Members Posted July 22, 2004 Originally posted by Matt McGriff [my mind. CA! Now, which one? One has Fishman, the other Baggs. I'm not sure w/ Baggs comes in the CA. If it's either the imix or element I'd say the Baggs. If it's the ibeam I'd say the Fishman premium Blender. I had a Fishman Blender in my Rainsong when I bought it. At the recommendation of other Rainsong owners who tried both the Fishman and Baggs ELement, I retrofitted it with the Element System. The only plus I found the Fishman had over the Element was that it's notch filter was more effective. I read that the Fishman notched out 10db whereas the Element only notched out 6db. Other than that Ca mileage may vary!
Members derivicus Posted July 23, 2004 Members Posted July 23, 2004 I live in South Florida, but I lived in Illinois for 4 years. The dry cold is far worse on my acoustics than the hot humidity, which is actually good for your acoustics when in moderation. I don't have any trouble at all in the outdoors.
Members UGB Posted July 24, 2004 Members Posted July 24, 2004 you're a busy man Vinny. I sure like your gig hours; you can have a family w/that schedule!
Members Matt McGriff Posted July 24, 2004 Members Posted July 24, 2004 Originally posted by RainsongDR1000 Originally posted by Matt McGriff [my mind. CA! Now, which one? One has Fishman, the other Baggs. I'm not sure w/ Baggs comes in the CA. If it's either the imix or element I'd say the Baggs. If it's the ibeam I'd say the Fishman premium Blender. Comes with the IMix, which has an Element and a IBeam with a blender. I think I am going to go with the Legacy AE with the Fishman.
Members mj3 Posted July 24, 2004 Members Posted July 24, 2004 Originally posted by LittleBrother How in the heck do people play live in Florida??? Lordy! I played in Florida for years. Fenders are about the only thing that can withstand that kind of constant abuse. Think about it: what did all those Southern Rock bands from Florida play? It's all that maple and alder. Gibsons would melt in the sun. Import guitars would just suck up the humidity. Acoustics? Try indoors, as they're just too delicate. All my guitars endured the heat and humidity and sound just fantastic-- really aged the wood-- but it's a fine line; they either age well or they rot. If you ever come across an old Florida Tele or Strat that looks as it it was buried in the Mississippi Delta for ten years, that's an old player guitar; pay homage to it.
Members fingerpicker Posted July 24, 2004 Members Posted July 24, 2004 you're a busy man Vinny. I sure like your gig hours; you can have a family w/that schedule! I am actually a bit burnt out because of those doubles on Thursday and Saturday. I am pretty lucky in that I am friends with many of the food and beverage people on the beach and could even pick up more gigs. Eight is enough, though! http://www.vinnyjacobs.com Vinny
Members guitarplayer Posted July 24, 2004 Members Posted July 24, 2004 Ovation? Just can't see LB with an Ovation.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.