It's been extremely hot here in Italy this last month and I've been doing a lot of outdoor concerts with high temperatures and very high humidity, which is really very difficult to play. It seems to me that my Chorda Carlos Henriquez, the G and the D, are ruined because of this. Over the last month they have become very rough, wrinkled, they have started to lose some "hairs" (which didn't happen before) that I cut with a nail clipper. I lubricate them with almond oil every ten days or so, but now they suddenly seem very deteriorated. Is it possible that it was the intense heat and the truly unbearable humidity? Has anyone had the same experience? What to do? I've been playing this set for two and a half years...
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Double Bass Pirastro Chorda ruined?
- Thread starter tito mangialajo
- Start date
Send an email to pirastro and ask for advice or guidance!! Their customer service is good.
I don't think the problem is the oil. I have been using oil in the same way and frequently for two and a half years and also with the set I had before. Nothing had ever happened.
Gut's crazy hygroscopic, big swings in humidity are gonna wreak havoc on it. All those little hairs showing up is generally the beginning of the end of a string, so they may be on their way out. Two and a half years isn't a terrible run, though.
I've had that happen to raw gut here in the American South. They might be toast, but if you clip all the little hairs and sand em back smooth they might be salvageable. If varnishing ain't an option Sno-Seal can help raw gut survive tobacco humidity.
Earl
Supporting Member
Sand with 800 grit sandpaper, then apply Sno Seal as Ben said. I actually use something called Leather Better. This has saved my raw gut.
Earl
Supporting Member
I used to do twice a year, summer and winter. I stopped using gut during the pandemic because all of my gigs were outside (in the hot, humid NJ summer, and in the cold). Gut became more than I wanted to deal with.
I use mineral oil and my strings last for years. Good luck!
just any old mineral oil that you get at the pharmacy. It's def the best thing I've found after years of playing guts
Mine typically last for 7 or 8 years…long enough that I'm not really sure. I oil with a product I got from Upton, probably just mineral oil, once every couple of years. Trim with nail clippers and lightly sand only when the hair is buzzing too much. I really think sanding might make more hairs, ultimately.
Anyway, it's a shame to lose a set of Chordas. I have instruments that cost less.
Anyway, it's a shame to lose a set of Chordas. I have instruments that cost less.
I don't get it. Memphis and St. Louis are pretty close in geography and climate... I have no problems whatsoever with my unvarnished Gamut Pistoy G. Do you have air conditioning? Play outside a lot?
For me, it's yes and no to those questions. My basses ride in a car from an air-conditioned house to air-conditioned venues. I can see @tito mangialajo having a problem in Italy, as I hear that AC is not commonly used in Europe... but it seems that would be a concern for the bass itself, not just the strings.
My problem was caused, I think, by the fact that I've been playing a lot of outdoor concerts lately in really exceptional heat and humidity, almost impossible to play...And yes, I don't have air conditioning in the house. I'm thinking of installing it next year...
