Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 I've been anxiously awaiting for the turn of Fall in Orlando after a long, hot and humid summer. Well, Fall has arrived. Yesterday was in the mid 70s, and it's now 55 degrees outside and in my house. I don't turn on the heat until I absolutely can't stand it anymore. But today is a reminder of just how drastically temperature affects musical instruments and electronics. My Memory Boy has a shortened delay time range today. So I guess temperature is affecting the components, much like it does with Germanium transistors? My guitar strings sound icy and brittle. The HOG really sounds like {censored} today I can't get the same warm and syrupy thick tones I got from it yesterday. Instead, I get these high-pitched metallic overtones that make my skin crawl. When my gear is warm, it sounds heavenly. So what's my point? When searching for the perfect tone and critiquing gear, temperature is the variable we often overlook, yet it's impact is tremendous. Before you decide that something is crap, try it in the sultry heat of Florida and YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cleverbastid Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 Too true, some people like their stuff cold though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members companyman Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 did the Memory Boy warm up and get the full 550ms eventually? This unpredictability factor his making me hesitant to replace my DMM with the MB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted October 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 did the Memory Boy warm up and get the full 550ms eventually? No, it didn't. I had it on for about 30 minutes, and the delay time still maxxed out around 400 ms. Normally I get more than that. I wouldn't replace DMM, but I love having a Memory Boy in addition to the DMM. Despite the inconsistency, it's a marvelous pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted October 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 Too true, some people like their stuff cold though. Yes, I guess Germanium transistors are an example of that. I don't think I ever like my guitar strings cold, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members companyman Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 No, it didn't. I had it on for about 30 minutes, and the delay time still maxxed out around 400 ms. Normally I get more than that. I wouldn't replace DMM, but I love having a Memory Boy in addition to the DMM. Despite the inconsistency, it's a marvelous pedal. hmmmm......I just picked up the MB on Friday and am loving it...the fact that it doesn't have the ugly overload problem with humbuckers alone is making me giddy! The modulation is fantastic, so much fun! The sound quality of the repeats isn't as smooth as the DMM, but that is a small complaint when all of the factors are considered. Money is very tight these days so I'm considering selling the DMM...not sure though, could be a honeymoon thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 My Memory Boy has a shortened delay time range today. So I guess temperature is affecting the components, much like it does with Germanium transistors? :confused:at something is crap, try it in the sultry heat of Florida and YMMV with the memory boy everyone was talking about the voltage but I thought it did almost seem temperature related... interesting that you bring that up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 hmmmm......I just picked up the MB on Friday and am loving it...the fact that it doesn't have the ugly overload problem with humbuckers alone is making me giddy! The modulation is fantastic, so much fun! The sound quality of the repeats isn't as smooth as the DMM, but that is a small complaint when all of the factors are considered. Money is very tight these days so I'm considering selling the DMM...not sure though, could be a honeymoon thing. it does handle hot signals pretty well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members companyman Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 has a nice clarity with pick attack at noon and lower as well, seems like it gives a presence boost on my neck pickup....fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members driverhasabomb Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 Don't you guys have air conditioners? The outside temperature shouldn't be affecting things that much. Maybe it's more extreme where you live though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted October 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 Don't you guys have air conditioners? The outside temperature shouldn't be affecting things that much. Maybe it's more extreme where you live though. Today was definitely extreme. Three days ago it was in the 90s. Today is in the 50s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Parah Salin Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 You need to redo the insulation in your house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted October 18, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 You need to redo the insulation in your house. I rent. And yes, the insulation really sucks in this house. But my living standards are not the point of this thread And the comfort of your own home is not always the place where gear is used or demoed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JorisBlack Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 I think you're right. I really hate playing in a cold room, my hands get cold and things don't seem to sound good (could also partially be a mental thing?)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MathiasWilliam Posted October 18, 2009 Members Share Posted October 18, 2009 i prefer cold gear i think. Especially when its raining Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted December 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 So the lowering temps are affecting my gear again First of all, my Memory Boy has less delay time now that it's cold in the house. This is no joke. The components in it must be temp sensitive. Also, my Octave Multiplexer treadle is on the fritz ever since the temp dropped. My VibroChamp is also having issues. AAAAAAAAAAGGHHHHH!!!!!!!! Thank heavens I'm not actually gigging with this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members driverhasabomb Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 lol you need a new place to live dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted December 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 lol you need a new place to live dude Well, that's true, and I have a bid on a house right now. But I live in Orlando where the temperature is relatively stable to other parts of the world. It just amazes me how sensitive electronics are to temperature changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Josh33 Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 idk.. i guess im just used to the cold. i usually have to haul my gear to my basment in the winter and i have played some gigs where the temp outside was in the negatives. last january/feburary we had a 2 or 3 gigs really close to each other and the temperature was defintily in the negatives. it absolutley sucked. on the gear and especially on me and my drummer... idk if it has anything to do with the temp but my OM has been supringly good since i left in the the cold basement.. i usually take everything up but the tracking has been better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members d4rk0 Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 Well, that's true, and I have a bid on a house right now. But I live in Orlando where the temperature is relatively stable to other parts of the world. It just amazes me how sensitive electronics are to temperature changes. it's currently 20 degrees F here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fender&EHX4ever Posted December 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 it's currently 20 degrees F here... Yep, that sucks. About half of my gear would quit working at that temp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members d4rk0 Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 Yep, that sucks. About half of my gear would quit working at that temp. yeah, we had to turn the heat on... luckily, my gear room is in the same room as the furnace in the basement, so it stays pretty warm. We have our thermostat set on a balmy 64 too so that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kidgloves Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 As a native Texas, I don't have much problems in this area. But ball soup? That's a constant war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members whiteop Posted December 6, 2009 Members Share Posted December 6, 2009 temp affects everything. Strings on the guitar sound more sterile and dont' bend as easy; intonation goes out, tuning instability issues start up. Lately I've had to adjust my intonation several times a month for some reason. I've lubed up the nut, stretched the strings out, stabilized the trem and it still keeps going sharp. Also made sure the neck was bolted on tight. It's a pain. If anybody has any other ideas let me know. It's a Strat... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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