Getting an instrument wet.

jarrhead · #1 10-26-2009, 05:38 PM

I've seen it in music videos all the time. Of course I know they're music videos but..

How much effect does running the warehouse sprinklers over your set for a music video have on your gear?

On a side note, what is a truss rod? :P

VroomVroom · #2 10-26-2009, 05:52 PM

I believe a truss rod is used to straighten the spine of the idiot who turned on the sprinklers...after the bass player folds him in half for the transgression.

electracoyote · #3 10-26-2009, 05:56 PM

Considering the sometimes dramatic effect a simple change in humidity has, I would imagine those instruments are pretty tweaked after the final shot. They probably use stunt doubles instead of their prized posessions.

Rickett Customs · #4 10-26-2009, 06:06 PM

I think the process is slowed down by having a nice (poly/acrylic ..etc)finish. Unless were talking about the equivalent of being submerged that is

MNAirHead · #5 10-26-2009, 06:31 PM

Long story how I saw it...

The guys had wet hair.. the gear was waxed then spritzed with water to get the droplet look.

The "rain" was a veil between the players and camera.

For most gear (not organic finishes) sweat and chemcials will be worse than a temporarily damp guitar.

=========

I shipped a bass to a Florida guy that had Fedex leave a box outside is door for a week during tropical rain season.. Took some cleaning up.. he wouldn't send it back as had no real deep issues.

Tim

jarrhead · #6 10-26-2009, 06:39 PM

Well it's pretty legit. You see the drops moving around on it and splashing when they hit drums and frets.

electracoyote · #7 10-26-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Long story how I saw it...

The guys had wet hair.. the gear was waxed then spritzed with water to get the droplet look.

The "rain" was a veil between the players and camera.

For most gear (not organic finishes) sweat and chemcials will be worse than a temporarily damp guitar.

=========

I shipped a bass to a Florida guy that had Fedex leave a box outside is door for a week during tropical rain season.. Took some cleaning up.. he wouldn't send it back as had no real deep issues.

Tim

Some guys have all the luck. I had a couple of guitars in hardshells sitting in a furnace room when the condensation pan backed up spilling water on the floor. The cases didn't get wet, but the humidity shot up from like 30% to around 80%. All the guitars were tweaked including a Ric 4003 and a CIJ Jazz, both really nice well-made guitars. I'm still waiting to see if the necks are going to return to their original shape.

Pilgrim · #8 10-26-2009, 08:43 PM

If a solid body bass wasn't soaked, I don't think there would be much effect. The finish on the body and neck would prevent them from absorbing any significant amount of water. The electronics might be affected, but it seems to me that a passive bass wouldn't be bothered much unless you got enough water into the control cavity to short it out.

Humidity can affect instruments, but it takes time. The wood has to absorb the moisture for it to have an effect. Of course water coming in contact with it would affect any unfinished surface areas, but it would take time for the humidity to transfer into the wood. The neck would be most potentially subject to warping, I guess...but not from a couple of sprays. 2-3 hours of sprays would be more serious.

Let's face it - these are pretty rugged instruments. I'm not saying this would be neutral or good for them, but I don't think it would damage them unless they got very wet and stayed that way for a while.

Revvv · #9 10-26-2009, 09:25 PM

You can intentionally wet you instruments all you want, but I'm not going to. I don't even like to play outdoor shows if it's damp out.

Let me add, you play an "ELECTRIC" bass. Water and electronics do not go hand in hand.

Do you see musicians in music vids playing in a downpour. Sure. You see a faux drum kit with cheap heads being beat on, and likely replicas of the gear being used on the guitar front. That is unless the musicians have enough money or sponsorships / endorsments to use the actual gear.

Will the instruments be good when the water dries. It's possible, and very likely. However, I don't plan on chancing it.

SpamBot · #10 10-26-2009, 09:28 PM

Answer = $90 SX.

ProfGumby · #11 10-27-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

I believe a truss rod is used to straighten the spine of the idiot who turned on the sprinklers...after the bass player folds him in half for the transgression.

EPIC!

ProfGumby · #12 10-27-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvv

....

Let me add, you play an "ELECTRIC" bass. Water and electronics do not go hand in hand.
....

Oh, don't be such a wuss....

And if you lick a live mic when it's wet, it tastes like Strawberry!

Revvv · #13 10-27-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

Oh, don't be such a wuss....

And if you lick a live mic when it's wet, it tastes like Strawberry!

Sadly my lips have touched a wet / damp mic w grounding issues. It definitely grabs your attention.

ProfGumby · #14 10-30-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

I believe a truss rod is used to straighten the spine of the idiot who turned on the sprinklers...after the bass player folds him in half for the transgression.

And BTW, the more I think about the more I find that is so quotable! HA Ha HA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvv

Sadly my lips have touched a wet / damp mic w grounding issues. It definitely grabs your attention.

Just like when you touch your guitarists strings while you are both plugged in and find out there is a rather serious ground problem....

irishpride28 · #15 11-01-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

And BTW, the more I think about the more I find that is so quotable! HA Ha HA

Just like when you touch your guitarists strings while you are both plugged in and find out there is a rather serious ground problem....

That is no fun!!!!!

billhilly66 · #16 11-02-2009, 03:08 PM

Mine's had whiskey dripping off my moustache onto it for 20 years. Doesn't seem to affect it.

fenderx55 · #17 11-02-2009, 03:23 PM

Sadly youtube is blocked for me at work now (though not talkbass, go nerdery!), but I know what the OP's talking about. If you would all be so kind as to search youtube for Against Me!'s Thrash Unreal, there's a pretty good example of a band getting soaked.

I always assumed stunt instruments were used, but Andrew Seward's bass is pretty identifiable. If I remember the BP interview correctly, it's a late 70s pbass that's gone through varying degrees of black paint being rubbed off. In the video before this one, I think it was Stop! from the last album, it was all black with a little bit of wear. Then the wear got accelerated. In that video I believe it's about half-bare wood. I saw them at MSG last February (no... 2 years ago. wow) right after that video and there was basically no paint on the top.

Just food for thought.

SpacemanHoliday · #18 11-06-2009, 10:42 AM

With regards to the electronics (or any electronics), its not water that ruins them, but the water allowing electricity to jump between points it shouldnt (a short circuit). You could, in theory, submerge a laptop in the tub, and as long as it was completely dry before you tried to turn it back on, it shouldn't suffer any major damage.

I would imagine most music videos are shot with the instruments off, since the final product is overdubbed with a studio recording anyway?