Am I an IDIOT?
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 |
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 |
Hey Anton,
NO KIDDING! Very good advice!!!!! Kirk |
Following on from Anton's logic, shouldn't one tow a spare car around everywhere?
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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.
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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... |
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.
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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
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