Gut care in dry, dry Canada

The Efrano gut string (sold through Lemur as "European Gut") is a nice affordable string. They can be cleaned with a little 0000 Steel Wool (sounds familiar) and then lemon oil. Do you use any kind of humidifier in your home? Is this a plywood bass your are playing?

 

Yeah, the Efranos are affordable plain guts, but a plain gut G might not match well to the Spiros. One of the wrapped guts, as you had intended, would be a better candidate. On the other hand, a plain gut G or G+D paired with Dominant A&E might work out well, and then you have the luxury of buying more affordable plain guts. This would be a darker-sounding setup, however.

Anyway, back on topic - Nick's pretty much got it covered, though I usually push the mineral oil for guts, AKA baby oil. Cheap, won't get funky and is readily available just about anywhere.

 

Yeah, I use mineral oil too.

Look in the laxitive section at your drugstore for unscented mineral oil.

Don't get baby oil unless you want mineral oil scented with a horrible perfume...

 

Aaron. For what it's worth, I don't think you're going to find the Golden Spiral G to be a very good match with the Spiros. There will be way too much of a contrast between the D and the G. As for humidity, etc., etc. If you take care of the environmental issues for the whole instrument, then you will be fine. I've been using guts (wound and unwound) for many years here in Ottawa. However my bass is always in reasonable conditions. In winter it might be as low as 20% relative humidity but I generally don't even bother with a humidifier or dampits, etc. However I don't have any dry heat in my house as it's all radiant floor heating.

 

Not to be nagging, but 20% relative humidity is a very dangerous level for a carved instrument. Radiant heat/dry heat/whatever heat... anything below 30% and you are asking for trouble.

.02$ (I think that might be .03$CAN)

 

any idea what the best way to clean/ care for Eudoxas is?

 

I have a question as to this dryness. Where I live, the dryness is due to the proximity to the desert (About 30-50 miles away) and the Santa ana winds. The effect is this: Your skin chaps, your lips chap, everything feels dry and dusty, and when you touch things, you get shocked....

How is canada, with plenty of tall trees, snow, rain, etc...as dry as this? You have no desert anywhere near (except the north pole, which has plenty of water) so how can it be so dry? 20% humidity is very dry. Recently, we had some days with 11% humidity. That's why my string exploded!

Where I live in southern california, there is no green vegetation except where there are sprinklers. The natural state of nature around here is low, dry, brown scrub brush with cactus here and there. I have never thought of Canada as being like that!

Please explain! I have often wanted to move up north because I hate the dryness down here, but if just as bad up there, what's the use?

 

Lucas,
He's prolly talking about only the winter monthes when it's like a Tundra...

 

Cold polar air can be just as dry as hot desert air. I've got my Junior Weatherman patch to prove it!!!

You've heard people talk about "The Hawk". It's the North's version of a "Santa Ana" wind.

 

I live close to Aaron (down in Bloomfield). And the humidity has recently dropped down to almost nothing. I have a big roasting pan full of water sitting on my woodstove trying to get some moisture in the air during the cold months. Of course after all that rain yesterday, my sump pump somehow tipped over. I went into the basement to find over an inch of water down there this morning. :scowl:

I would like to try guts sometime, but I can't afford them right now. I'll be sticking with the weed whackers for a while. At least until I win the lottery..

 

I may have misquoted on the 20%. I think perhaps the minimum might be more like 35%. It's been a while since the last winter and I don't recall exactly. It's been raining outside here in the last couple of days so it's 51% in my house right now.

All I know is that I used to be paranoid about this stuff but I've since learned that my bass and yes my guts, have no problems with the winter. I am still careful about but not as paranoid as I used to be.

I just asked my wife and she does think that it does get down as low as 20% in the winter in our house but that it's very rare. If I remember, I will report back here in a few months time.

 

Very interesting, all of this! Down here, we get an extended fall wind season, that starts in october, and goes clear to january (more even)! There is no white christmas for us. I remember having santa ana winds along with 80 degree temps even on christmas day. I really, really hate it!

It's funny, but I have been to the east coast, and when it got to that sticky, swampy humid time, I actually liked it! Big, fat greasy raindrops that don't even cool you down! Loved it!

With my guts, I screwed up only once, but that was all it took. One night in my storage facility where the humidity probably dropped to the 11% level.

It had not rained down here in a long time! Horrible!

 

While I appreciate the distinct seasons we get here in Michigan (hot summers, COLD winters and about 2 weeks each of spring and fall), I really don't feel bad for you. If you ever want to swap places January - March, just let me know.

 

How many rooms in your house?

 

do you guys oil wrapped guts like eudoxa and oliv also?

how about if the winters aren't bad in your climate?