Am I an IDIOT?

[Kirk P Brosius]

Hello all,

The answer to the posted "Q" must be; YEP!

I have been using Ken Smith Compressors on my BSR5MW, for a couple of years, with very good results. I replace them about once a year and to prolong their life I've taken them off and cleaned them with de-natured alcohol on more than a few occasions with good results, again. This is until last week when my masterplan went wrong!

I was invited to play at the Grand Junction Art & Jazz Festival, with the Jason Runnells Trio, opening for the great Hazel Miller who is a true R&B icon fom the Denver, CO area. Jason plays some very tastey jazz'ish originals and covers. On Tuesday before the gig off the strings for a quick cleaning and during the re-install phase I porceeded to break the "A" and "D" strings!!???!!! I am usually very careful when doing this and was shocked when it happened. I "NEVER" break strings!! I will have to admit that I was a bit rushed and most likely crossed the windings.

The solution? PLAN AHEAD.

I put on a spare set of RockMasters (40-120) and just put up with the "zingy-ness" for the 1 1/2 hour set.

I have a new set of Compressors coming from PA, thanks Noel.

Lesson learned: PLAN AHEAD
WORK SLOWLY
BE PREPARED

Thanks for a moment of your time, Kirk

[Anton Hasias]

Hi Kirk,

It is also a second lesson to be learned;

Take with you a back-up bass.
S--t happens and to quote Mel Brooks: "A double in case of trouble"

Best regards

[Kirk P Brosius]

Hey Anton,

NO KIDDING!

Very good advice!!!!!

Kirk

[Bin Hire]

Following on from Anton's logic, shouldn't one tow a spare car around everywhere?

[Scott Pope]

Yes, the "new string zing" can be annoying. For that reason, I always keep the last set I pulled off, so that if one does break, especially if it's after a gig or two, it's easier to match tone with an older string than a brand new string. Then if that one breaks, well, I don't recall ever having broken two of the same string at a gig, but there's always a first, so spares, spares, spares.

[Jason Mendelson]

Really once a year?

When I was gigging full time I would change strings the longest once a month on 3 different basses.

Every time you remove and reinstall strings they are going to get weaker... I'm not a fan of this.

Hopefully doesn't happen to you again though...

[johnadamcotter]

back up bass is a good idea. people were getting upset we were going on late, since I was the frontman, I drug a table up on the stage, set the bass down, got out a soldering iron and multimeter and went to work. Everyone was into waching my frantic work, and didn't mind the 45 minute late start. God i miss California. <Maybe they thought it was preformance art. I'd have gladly played the show with a washtub if I had one, ended up tearing out all my electronics and wiring the pickups straight to a DI box.

[johnadamcotter]

PS, I change strings before every gig or at least weekly. $$$$$ but i have spares. helps my brother owns a music store too. or you slappers, if you haven't figured it out yet, fresher =brighter cleaner