Ever Kill a set of strings on one gig?

**MAJOR METAL** · #1 05-17-2005, 07:45 PM

I did a few times playing outdoor summer gigs, how about you?.

mwm70 · #2 05-18-2005, 07:03 AM

Yup. Played in a metal band. Summer gigs + No AC = Dead Strings.

jja412 · #3 05-18-2005, 07:31 AM

110 degree car show, no shade, no fan. Dead. Dead. Dead.

**BurningSkies** · #4 05-18-2005, 11:55 AM

Yup. I kill them fast.

We also play 3+ hours on any given night.

Dave Siff · #5 05-18-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

I did a few times playing outdoor summer gigs, how about you?.

That's the only time I ever killed a brand new set, at an outdoor summer gig. 95 degrees.

Bassic83 · #6 05-18-2005, 02:18 PM

How about in one set? I've done that a few times here in the Texas heat and humidity. Gone from "fresh outta the box zing and sparkle" to "what'd you do- boil them in lard and dip them in a cow pattie?" in exactly 5.3 songs. Wouldn't even stay in tune for a whole song! Now I use Elixirs and don't have that problem...

**MAJOR METAL** · #7 05-18-2005, 04:38 PM

Sweat is deadly to strings.

Robman · #8 05-19-2005, 03:08 PM

Yep, sure did. Had my Spector Legend 4 for one week - brand new. I assume that the strings were Spector nickels. Sounded great at home practicing. But after my first gig with this bass and it's factory strings, I noticed they were dead the very next day. Hmmmm.

BassikLee · #9 05-19-2005, 05:40 PM

For some reason, I kill Smith strings like the Orkin man. Love the feel, sound, balance, etc out of the pack, and within a set or so, they're gone. This isn't a "wipe them down after playing" deal. I'll put new ones on, and they die before an hour of playing. I must have uber-corrosive "people oil" as it were....

LoveThatBass · #10 05-20-2005, 10:24 AM

At the suggestion of Trina, I use Purell Hand sanitizer. Removes the oils and chemicals that kill strings. Works very well. It is waterless and just wipe off with clean rag.

tplyons · #11 05-23-2005, 04:16 PM

I shot a pack of Slinkies once.

**MAJOR METAL** · #12 05-24-2005, 11:26 AM

Would you guys say it is easier to kill a set of steels then nickels in one gig?.

**bassman314** · #13 05-24-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

Would you guys say it is easier to kill a set of steels then nickels in one gig?.

I'll caveat my post. I've never killed a set in one day, but I have experience the "fine at beginning of set, dead at end" before.

My Lakland came with Lakland steels, which apparently are GHS. First set was dead in a week or 2 after I got it.. They gave me a free set when I bought the bass. Second set went dead in less than a month.

ProSteels seem to last... I haven't played any gigs in 110 heat and humidity, but I do play in a small meeting room filled with anywhere from 40-80 sweaty Jr High kids with bad ventilation (the room... most of the kids have excellent ventilation, being Jr. High kids) *L* ProSteels seem to last.

My experience with Nickel Steel (Slinkys, Slowounds, XL's) has been they don't last as long as ProSteels, and have a much different tone.

Dell · #14 05-24-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I shot a pack of Slinkies once.

Same here, but they were free so I dont care too much

bazzanderson · #15 05-24-2005, 01:23 PM

Yup...4 hour recording session (no ac btw) with new Fender 8250s. Dead (noticed it on the last song) at the end of the session.

wildsponge · #16 05-26-2005, 05:40 PM

Yuppers. Slapped on a set of Everly B-52's on my bass before an outdoor gig and by end of practice I had to put down the pick and play with my fingers cause it sounded so bad.

Gardner · #17 05-27-2005, 07:23 AM

I play fingerstyle, and not that heavily, but I once snapped the E and A string at the same time during a gig, does that count? That was the last time I ever used Rotosounds, and I've never snapped any strings since. I now use GHS or D'Addario.