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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2003.0. "Outdoor Gigs - Problems & Solutions" by FSTTOO::GALLO (Blues Before and After) Mon Oct 22 1990 11:12

    
    
    	The last two gigs my band played were outdoors, one in
    damp kind of overcast weather and the other in 60 degree 
    or so but dry. At both gigs, everyone had problems staying
    in tune that did *not* seem to get better after the guitars
    got accustomed to the temperature. 
    
    	Since we're 0 for 2 on this I'd like some advice, help,
    or whatever on how to solve this problem. 
    
    -T
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
2003.1GSRC::COOPERMIDI Rack PukeMon Oct 22 1990 14:0016
    How about:
    
    -Don't use brand new strings.  At least have a couple of hours on them.
    
    -Get the guitar out of the trunk and onto a stand as long before a
     gig as possible (Alan? ;).
    
    -Spend some warm up time tuning/stretching/tuning.
    
    -When you string up the guit, make sure the non-locking type guitars
     (Fender...Gibson?) have PLENTY of windings on the pegs, and that they
     are nice and tight.  Sloppy winding on non-lockers won't last a
     second.
    
    Anyone else got some ideas ?
    jc
2003.2ADS::STARRSRV.....I can't believe you're gone.......Mon Oct 22 1990 14:3112
As most of you knew or guessed, I was one of the victims that Tom was 
referring to. I thought I had done as much as I could to take precautions.
The strings were months old. I took the guitar out of its case over
half and hour before we played. 

We never have tuning problems when we play indoors, but always seem to 
outside. Any tricks? Or is it just one of those things you gotta live with???

Coop - definite good basics. However, most of the were covered, and it still
didn't really help! Argh!!!!

alan
2003.3environmental problems?HAMER::KRONI'm the Amoral Minority!Mon Oct 22 1990 15:312
     was you out in the direct sunlight???or was it breezy???
    temperature changes will throw tuning out the window!!
2003.4ADS::STARRSRV.....I can't believe you're gone.......Mon Oct 22 1990 16:238
>     was you out in the direct sunlight???or was it breezy???
>     temperature changes will throw tuning out the window!!

I think that was a basic problem. Yes, we were in direct sunlight. It was
also a little chilly, with a cool breeze coming off the water. I imagine
that these are not ideal conditions! 8^)

alan
2003.5Well....CSC32::MOLLERGive me Portability, not excusesMon Oct 22 1990 17:2912
Last winter we played a party & were set up right by a door. Every time
it opened, within a minute, my guitar was out of tune. 5 minutes later, 
it came back. It was quite frustrating to say the least.

Outside, I find that staying out of the sun light (ie, play under a tarp)
seems to have the most effect. It's very dry here (Colorado Springs
is a near desert), so I've not had many problems with humidity. When I
lived in Chicago, it made quite a mess out things on my 12 string, but
didn't cause problems with my 6 strings. Maybe your guitar neck has need
of more finish on it (ie paint) to keep it a bit more stable.

								Jens