Care and Feeding

[Analogkid]

I was wondering if anyone would share their thoughts on keeping and caring for their equipment. I usally follow the rule of - if im comfortable my equipment should be kept the same and will be fine. I try and cover my rig with some black sheets the wife cut to size for me to keep dust off of them. For some reason they always get dusty but I guess thats the nature of electrical gizmos. I am always worried about my Voyager more than the rest since I cant afford to replace it. Any tricks anyone wants to share? I try and play about an hour every day putting them in cases takes too much time.

[Maximus]

Cool thread

I've got some random ones some of them learned the hard way, others from someone else’s mistakes and some from talking to service repairmen.

1 Any Kind of cover is good, sheets, towels, etc... there are some commercially made for popular sized keyboards (If you have an Oasys, Emu E3, Oberheim OB-Xa or a Prophet-10 you’re shit out of luck) but the best ones are the ones YOU make.

I recommend 2 layers, the top one using a synthetic fabric like the ones used on sports bags, but from a lighter weight fabric, these will keep water, curious hands, and dust out, and the bottom one made from a felp-ish fabric so that it won’t scratch the keyboard.
Make shure that you leave enough room for the back cables or if you prefer don’t put a back lip on the cover so that the keyboards back is always exposed

Covers are a must on large open air gigs when you sound check at noon and play at night.

2 Use angled plugs on all possible connections, (the less stuff sticking directly out of your keyboards the less chance they’ll get run over by a drunk drummer or roadie in a hurry)
Line outs and ins, and pedals, and while you’re at it, change the pedals cable, use a heavier gauge (some of the original cables can’t handle an amp wheel to run over them without failing), make them you’re own personal length when playing standing up, the less excess cable the better they sit.
Power cables are the hardest, if your key uses multipin cable leave it alone, if it uses a 3 pin computer cable there are some angled pre-made but there hard to find.

3 If You have a keyboard with a touchscreen, excess water is their No1 killer because the touch layer (below the top layer) is permeable, and if it filters at the joints its ruined, and there expensive, so use a damp cloth, don’t spray the cleaner directly over it. Rule of thumb no running liquids on top of it (BTW alcohol is more permeable than water so using it on cotton ball, hmm not a good idea)

4 The refresh rate on the tritons touchscreen is way faster better than the trinity’s and there completely compatible, so if the one on your trinity’s is about to die, Upgrade. (The patch changing delay is on the board, so changing the screen won’t help that)

5 Leaving your gear in a case for a long period of time, also not a good idea, because the best ones (Skb, Gator, etc…) don’t let anything get in but also don’t let anything get out so if its moist inside them it can age switches or ruin them, so always put the silicon moist absorbing bag that came in the original keyboard box inside the road case or bag, this helps a lot, but it still is best to let your gear breathe

6 Belt Buckles and Keyboards don’t get along, I’ve seen the lip below the keys of many keyboards raw to the metal because of this, (It also depends on playing styles) but a couple of pieces of electrical tape will solve this, so feel free to put on your bell bottoms and that cowboy belt and tear it up like its 1972.

[Inno]

Use angled plugs on all possible connections, (the less stuff sticking directly out of your keyboards the less chance they’ll get run over by a drunk drummer or roadie in a hurry)

Hahahaha! well put! Yet sadly, so so true.

[Maximus]

too bad Chis McCoy is on tour ill bet he has some really good road and live playing tips

[Analogkid]

Thanks Max- I agree with all of your points. I wonder if its good to have a little humidity in the air say 50% or less or should you try and keep the air as dry as possible?

[Maximus]

Thanks Max- I agree with all of your points. I wonder if its good to have a little humidity in the air say 50% or less or should you try and keep the air as dry as possible?
boy im glad i dont play guitar and have to answer that one.:confused:

the switches are the ones that suffer the most with humidity, nothing extreme and you'll be Ok, no need to try that hard

[Analogkid]

boy im glad i dont play guitar and have to answer that one.:confused:

the switches are the ones that suffer the most with humidity, nothing extreme and you'll be Ok, no need to try that hard

I was told by a guitarist that rule of thumb- if your comfortable your instruments will be too. Am I wrong in assuming that?

[Maximus]

I was told by a guitarist that rule of thumb- if your comfortable your instruments will be too. Am I wrong in assuming that?

Hmmm I have been misunderstood :biggrin:

I was referring to how the weather changes affect a guitar especially tuning and how humidity can ruin the finishes of a guitar, (not to mention all the finishes types that are used on guitars and how different they respond to them) and how over-dryness can make the wood crack,

im telling you it’s a universe of different things with a guitar, and their storage

[Omega Monkey]

One of the most important things to taking care of your instrument(s) and other equipment is to always wash your hands before playing. You dont have to go crazy with the soap, unless you were just chowing down on some fried chicken or ribs, just very warm water should do the trick, and wont excessively dry your skin (you do want it dry, thats the point, but not dried out).

For guitars, always keep them in the case when not in use, and keep the case in a climate controlled environment. Im not sure, but I would guess drastic climate changes are the prime culprits in damaging guitars or any acoustic instrument. "Normal" climates probably arent as bad as long as the instrument is "eased" into them. Still, a good rule of thumb Id say is to keep the room about 60-75 degrees and roughly 40-60% humidity. I try to keep my place as close to 50% as possible. This probably means you'll have to run A/C or a dehumidifier in the summer, and a humidifier in the winter (at least if you live in the northeast or most of europe).

For keys, I usually keep them covered up with sheets when I'm not playing. The ideal is to have them completely shrouded all the way around down to the floor. This will lessen dust getting blown up and around, like underneath the keybed, etc... A soft feather duster is probably a good idea too. If youre intrepid, maybe every 5 years you could take your board apart and individually clean all the keys, wipe down the body, and get at any buttons/small sufraces (a q-tip works well for these small areas). I think in the next year Im going to do that on some of my older equipment, maybe clean some of the internal contacts. Like my D50 which is almost 20 years old, and is getting a thin layer of "grime" on some surfaces (especially the upper ends of keys) and some of the buttons are a bit worn.

And of course when transporting any instrument its best if it has a hard case to move it in. If you dont, then next would be a soft case. And failing that, at least warp keyboards up in a blanket or something. And make sure the instrument is securley positioned in the vehicle, and without too much stuff stacked on top of it (maybe < 2x the weight of the instrument in its case would be a good guideline, so in other words, you could stack guitars in hard cases flat maybe 3 high.

[stealth]

I've detailed cars on the side for a while now and found a product that works great for keeping instruments clean:

http://www.fk1usa.com/products-consumer.htm#425

It's called FK1 #425 - it's an anti-static quick detail spray that you can use on car exteriors and interiors to clean and repel dust. It's perfectly safe on any surface other than unfinished wood, and actually dresses plastics very well. Works best combined with a good Microfiber towel like:

http://www.fk1usa.com/products-accessories.htm#86862

I use 425 on pretty much everything in the studio, from guitars to amps to keyboards, etc. Just spritz it on the cloth and wipe down, then turn to a fresh dry side and give another wipe.

MF cloths are also great (with or without the 425) for picking up dust without inducing scratches since they're so plush. If you don't want to order MF's, stop by your local Kragen/Checker or Toyota dealer and get some Meguiars Supreme Shine MF cloths.

[Analogkid]

I saw Steve Howe a few months back and in the middle of his set he bitched at the management for turning on the AC :biggrin: Poor Steve spent the next 20 minutes trying to tune every guitar he had.

[Cary]

Is it true you're supposed to keep pianos away from outside walls for similar reasons?
Slightly OT but can you imagine the Blue Man Group's Tubulums? They have to be wicked sensitive to air temperature and to some extent barometric changes. I can't see how they are possibly kept in tune.

[ChrisMcCoy]

Cool thread

I've got some random ones some of them learned the hard way, others from someone else’s mistakes and some from talking to service repairmen.

1 Any Kind of cover is good, sheets, towels, etc... there are some commercially made for popular sized keyboards (If you have an Oasys, Emu E3, Oberheim OB-Xa or a Prophet-10 you’re shit out of luck) but the best ones are the ones YOU make.

I recommend 2 layers, the top one using a synthetic fabric like the ones used on sports bags, but from a lighter weight fabric, these will keep water, curious hands, and dust out, and the bottom one made from a felp-ish fabric so that it won’t scratch the keyboard.
Make shure that you leave enough room for the back cables or if you prefer don’t put a back lip on the cover so that the keyboards back is always exposed

Covers are a must on large open air gigs when you sound check at noon and play at night.

2 Use angled plugs on all possible connections, (the less stuff sticking directly out of your keyboards the less chance they’ll get run over by a drunk drummer or roadie in a hurry)
Line outs and ins, and pedals, and while you’re at it, change the pedals cable, use a heavier gauge (some of the original cables can’t handle an amp wheel to run over them without failing), make them you’re own personal length when playing standing up, the less excess cable the better they sit.
Power cables are the hardest, if your key uses multipin cable leave it alone, if it uses a 3 pin computer cable there are some angled pre-made but there hard to find.

3 If You have a keyboard with a touchscreen, excess water is their No1 killer because the touch layer (below the top layer) is permeable, and if it filters at the joints its ruined, and there expensive, so use a damp cloth, don’t spray the cleaner directly over it. Rule of thumb no running liquids on top of it (BTW alcohol is more permeable than water so using it on cotton ball, hmm not a good idea)

4 The refresh rate on the tritons touchscreen is way faster better than the trinity’s and there completely compatible, so if the one on your trinity’s is about to die, Upgrade. (The patch changing delay is on the board, so changing the screen won’t help that)

5 Leaving your gear in a case for a long period of time, also not a good idea, because the best ones (Skb, Gator, etc…) don’t let anything get in but also don’t let anything get out so if its moist inside them it can age switches or ruin them, so always put the silicon moist absorbing bag that came in the original keyboard box inside the road case or bag, this helps a lot, but it still is best to let your gear breathe

6 Belt Buckles and Keyboards don’t get along, I’ve seen the lip below the keys of many keyboards raw to the metal because of this, (It also depends on playing styles) but a couple of pieces of electrical tape will solve this, so feel free to put on your bell bottoms and that cowboy belt and tear it up like its 1972.


These are excellent suggestions. Over the years, you'll find that there are a lot of lessons learned along the way playing shows. Here are some I've come to learn along the way..

1. Keep spares with you as much as possible: Spare audio cables, spare power cords, adapters, etc. Anything that you can replicate that might break easily (except for probably your keyboards and amps) It's a good idea to have extras. I keep an extra bag with spare cables and extra parts 'just in case I need them'.

2. Have a plan B for equipment failure. Know your patches on all you boards/modules, etc, and be ready to find them quickly if one of your keyboards dies in the middle of the show. For example, if you're using a 2 keyboard rig and your Piano dies, be able to find your piano sounds on your second board. Likewise, if your synth goes out, be able to find your 'synth' sounds on your primary board (piano).

3. Don't assume the venue will have everything you need. In fact, better to assume the opposite; they will have nothing at all. For this reason I carry my own microphone, stand, amplification, and DI box (from my rack I send 1 channel mono to the Front of House mix), because I play through different PA systems and work with different venues and production on a regular basis. Though most sound men carry spare DI's, I like to be self sufficient and provide my own. That way I'm consisitent in my own setup every time.

4. This one isn't so obvious, but it may be the best advice I can offer you as someone who has made this very mistake...don't consume alchohol when you play. Thinking about a beer, shot, or martini before or during the show ?....think again ! Here are four good reasons never to drink alchohol at your gig:
- Dehydration takes a nasty toll on your health, especially your kidneys. Under the hot lights, or in an outdoor summer show, that drink will dry you out fast, and by the end of your set you'll be feeling dizzy and dehydrated. Not good. Could cost you a night in the hospital tied to an IV bag if it's severe enough. Try bottled water instead. It's much better for you, and you'll feel better throughout your show. Keep a sports beverage near by, such as Gatorade. This will help restore fluids and electrolytes that you will lose naturally under those same conditions without alchohol.
- If you're driving home, you're already tired from playing and packing up. Now you have to worry about getting pulled over by the police. Not a good way to end a gig. Don't take the risk. Without a license you'll have to bum a ride to your gig. With my setup (and probably with yours) that's never an option.
- Most of all, alchohol impairs hearing. If you are drinking on stage, you are not hearing what is truly coming through the monitors. You'll end up turning yourself up to hear what you're playing, and this will: kill your hearing and your singing voice.
- Alchohol can also impair your accuracy landing the 'correct' notes on your keyboard. If your audience paid to get in, they deserve your best performance possible from you and everyone else on stage. That's only fair....When someone buys the band a 'round', I always put mine off stage and give it away later.

5. If you are singing lead or backing vocals, take your time and warm up your voice. Get yourself a vocal warm up exercise CD from your local music retailer, or online. Google it, you're sure to find one. A lot of times, we keyboardists get too hung up on playing our keyboards, but when it comes time to sing, we're not ready because our focus is just on the gear itself. Remember that your voice is an instrument too. Sit out in your car and take your time, warm up your voice. That's time better spent than sitting in a smoke filled bar, filling your lungs up with second hand smoke.

6. Finally, enjoy every minute you can while playing your show. It's funny how fast 20 years goes by as you get older. I'm married now with 2 kids. I'm lucky to get out of my house to play a gig, and when I do, I count it as a blessing. Do what you love and enjoy it. Music is a gift and we are all blessed to be able to do it.

Those are the 6 I can think of. If you guys have more specific questions, send me a PM. I played most of the east coast bar circuit in my 20's. Some things have changed, some are the same. Hope this helps...
C.
C.

[Maximus]

thanks for sharing your experience with us chris :smile:

[ChrisMcCoy]

Thanks Max- I agree with all of your points. I wonder if its good to have a little humidity in the air say 50% or less or should you try and keep the air as dry as possible?

Guys, funny this same subject came up at my day job...I'm an I.T. guy.
Our server room is being redesigned. In the process of looking at our HVAC, we discovered a flaw in the venting system, where some of the 'comfort air' (mixed with humidity) from the building was mixed with the Air Conditioning in our server area (low or no humidity). The short answer is, electronic equipment (synths too) takes damage over time in humid conditions. Probably better to avoid a humid area when possible. Of course, if you've played outdoor shows in humid conditions, you know this isn't always possible. Yes, less than 50% would probably be better if you're able to achieve it within the environment.