Forget electrocution death, here is the real reason why you should wear shoes on stage.
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Norway's power supply is 96% hydroelectric.Naaaah... in Scandinavia it's equal split by nuclear and hydrogenic, very little, if any from coal. If so, then it's gas. Maybe Norway gets some from oill. Iceland from the ground up due to (or really thanks to) volcanic activity.
I do a lot of work in Casinos. I never used to think about it, but once I clued in, I realized there's some gross carpet! I'm pretty sure my immune system is stronger from dealing with it though... Glad I'm not on the tools much anymore.Electrocution aside, there's a place we play that has a carpeted stage that is sticky from all of the beer and other crap that's been spilled on it. It's so gross I don't even want to pick things up from it. No way I'm barefoot on that stage.
That my friend is not a ground lift. It is two prong adapter. see that loop, the screw that holds the recpticle plate on is supposed to pass through the loop and tightened. It still doesn't grantee the the recpt is properly wired.Strings and bridges are grounded though the output jack through the instrument cable to the amplifier case to the power cord to the electrical outlet. At least that is how it SHOULD go. Test for yourself. Set a multimeter on the continuity (beep) function and touch a string and touch the (unplugged from the wall) 3rd prong of the power cord. You should hear a beep.
Many years ago when I was starting to play bass I had a 2 prong (ungrounded) plug on my cheap amplifier. Sometimes I felt a tickling sensation on the inside of my forearm when I played.
All modern amps are properly and safely grounded. There should not be problems using that equipment. That is unless someone used this ground lift plug.
View attachment 2802578
When I was a teenager my band's rhythm guitarist had a kickass old Fender tube head and a 4x10 Celestion cab. I'm pretty sure it had a 2-prong plug. Playing through it one day in the concrete-floored basement of the practice building I noticed that the strings would give me a fair to midland tingling sensation, and that was with shoes on! At the time I was too dumb to know how dangerous that was, lost touch with that guy a looong time ago, but I hope he's okay and that that awesome amp got a proper repair.
Coal, nuclear, gas, etc. all use heated water to make the 'trons go zoom.
I was stupid enough to play barefooted on a concrete floor through a tube amp. Very unpleasant. The owner removed the gfi so his son could have a garage band. Let's see we have magnets wrapped in wire. Then we disturb the flux and create electricity. Let's say, your instrument grounded the bridge and and your strings are metal. No wonder the energizer bunny plays a bass drum.Serious questions. Has anybody ever gotten shocked from their bass? My understanding was that powered microphones can be very dangerous if you have a ground issue and it touches your lips. Also, filter caps in an amplifier can be lethal if they don't bleed and discharge properly. How would you create a loop with your guitar or bass though?
When I was young I'd go wherever I could barefoot. I'd ride all the way to the pool w/o shoes on a rat-trap pedal* bike (10 miles away).
Then one night I stepped on an axe in the dark & that cured me of going barefoot & brought me around to boots with safety toes.
No one has worn them for years, but I've still got a couple pairs of tall boots with safety toes.
Heck, I have have some sneakers (trainers) with safety toes
*This is a rat-trap pedal:
I had a little trick where I'd use the ball of my foot on the spline.
I still bike barefoot, and I dont drive a car. Sure enough I cut open my toe on the pavement two weeks ago! Its healing up nicely though. I should be able to ditch the shoes again in a week or soWhen I was young I'd go wherever I could barefoot. I'd ride all the way to the pool w/o shoes on a rat-trap pedal* bike (10 miles away).
Then one night I stepped on an axe in the dark & that cured me of going barefoot & brought me around to boots with safety toes.
No one has worn them for years, but I've still got a couple pairs of tall boots with safety toes.
Heck, I have have some sneakers (trainers) with safety toes
*This is a rat-trap pedal:
View attachment 2802442
I had a little trick where I'd use the ball of my foot on the spline.
Actually, if there's a passenger air bag, they'll get folded up like a busted accordion.
and if it's this vehicle, you'll have cactus in your face:
View attachment 2802795
Get an inline GFCI.