Does "stage fog" reduce string life?

[jaywa]

Two guys in my band are having a running battle over this question. We use one of those fog machines you plug in and fill with this liquid stuff, click the remote every now and then and voila, fog. One guy hates it and says the fog makes your strings go dead before they should, and refuses to have the machine anywhere near him onstage. The other guy says he's full of it.

What's the real story?

[LaughingGroove]

I'm not a scientist but I'm guessing he is full of it.

[Jaco who?]

Well, all that liquid has to go someplace, and high humidity does kill strings. whether it shortens life by 10% or 75% is hard to say, but I'm sure it's not good.

[jaywa]

I know singers used to bitch about all the time about dry ice affecting their voice, but we're not using dry ice. In fact it's the singer that's pushing for the fog in the first place.

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by jaywa

Two guys in my band are having a running battle over this question. We use one of those fog machines you plug in and fill with this liquid stuff, click the remote every now and then and voila, fog. One guy hates it and says the fog makes your strings go dead before they should, and refuses to have the machine anywhere near him onstage. The other guy says he's full of it.

What's the real story?

It's a little known fact that stage fog uses the same compounds that form chemtrails.

[omnimutant]

As a Patron of Many a show I can attest that People in general don't really care for the "fog effect". It smells horrible and it's really gimmicky at best. I'd ditch it if I were you. One less thing to worry about.

[5StringBlues]

Originally Posted by okcrum

It's a little known fact that stage fog uses the same compounds that form chemtrails.

sigged

[popinfresh]

Originally Posted by okcrum

It's a little known fact that stage fog uses the same compounds that form chemtrails.

Chemtrails are real, get over it

As for the fog, really? I mean, come on.. I can imagine some moisture having the tinniest effect, but let's use common sense! Your fingers are going to have more moisture from oil and sweat going onto the strings than a fog machine, for starters.
Answer; guy in band saying that his strings are going to get killed by the fog machine is paranoid and spends too much time thinking and being picky than playing music

[FunkMetalBass]

Taking a stab in the dark, I'm guessing that the effect is minimal.

As a fan, I wont stand anywhere near a stage with fog on it. It makes it hard to breathe.

[John Wentzien]

Its the same technolegy that is used for "Bug-Fog" without the Bug killer in it!

[Scottgun]

Sounds like this person has a subjective dislike of fog machines and has concocted a flimsy objective rationalization to bolster his opinion.

[I<34080]

Ugh I've played gigs where the stage had fog and bubbles. Me and my bass never felt dirtier.

[testing1two]

Remember there are two kinds of fog effects commonly used, fog and haze and they use two different solutions to generate the effect. Most singers will not tolerate either of them but the haze machines produce a less dense effect that still appeases the lighting directors. In terms of string life, one might be able to argue that the fog/haze makes the player sweat more and therefore has an indirect effect on strings.

That said arguing in favor of a fog machine is like arguing in favor of spandex or syphilis.

[Eminentbass]

It definitely shortens the lifespan of strings. The fogger liquid is oil based and that residue gets in everywhere including between string windings and even inside the pots on my pre. I play for a production company that does theatre/cabaret/ corporate work and there is always a fogger on stage and I notice my strings losing tone within a few days and being completely dead after a two week run of about ten performances. And then there's the inside of my amp. I have to open it up periodically to clean it and end up with a mound of black, greasy paper towels.

As much as I hate the stuff, when used correctly it is not intended to be a visible smoke effect onstage but a reflective substance to add texture and depth to the lighting rig.

[darkstorm]

Unless your fogging to make it look like a really foggy London morning, and for a real long time, like most of the show. No, wont have a serious affect on string life. In this case, at the worse, its similiar to playing outdoor show during very humid weather. So nope isnt really an issue except seldom if done quite often lotsa shows in short time etc.Are you running lasers or something like that and trying to get maximum visibility of the beams? If so pm me and I'll giver you some tips for that since Ive done aerial lasers as a hobby and for parties etc for bit more then 5 yrs now.

[omnimutant]

That said arguing in favor of a fog machine is like arguing in favor of spandex or syphilis.

Best line ever!

[Jimbob Jones]

Fog works really well if you have a cool light show; it acts like a 3D canvas for the lights, and makes the whole stage look way more dynamic.

OTOH, with static (or no) lighting, smoke looks gimmicky and 80's.

[varunkapahi]

it makes you look cooler so you get more gigs then you can get more strings

[Eminentbass]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

it makes you look cooler so you get more gigs then you can get more strings

Or if the tech guy forgets to switch it off it makes the drummer and the bassist at the back invisible

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by Eminentbass

Or if the tech guy forgets to switch it off it makes the drummer and the bassist at the back invisible

yeah then you can play all the notes you want to, just play them up high and everyone will throw them tomatoes at the guitard