taking care of keyboards

[owex]

Hi. As a gigging musician sometimes one has to face really extreme conditions, especially when we talk about playing outside. It is rather often that it is rainy and cold and wet. After a few attempts of playing in such conditions I realised that it can be really dangerous for my Korg as after a few minutes of playing it is whole covered with water. I started to play it without taking out of bag (it is a bit bigger than my Korg so I can insert all the necessary cables ) and it is kinda better cause I can close the bag when I dont need to use my Korg
Just want to know- how you take care of your keyboards (both during playing and at home)?

[roblabs]

Well I often have to store things away - either in the original box or somewhere else - because I have cats that love to climb up on my keys. You can call them synth cats, I guess. For instance I have a minibrute and I always put it back in the box...so they can't get to it. ha.

[axxim]

Hi. As a gigging musician sometimes one has to face really extreme conditions, especially when we talk about playing outside. It is rather often that it is rainy and cold and wet. After a few attempts of playing in such conditions I realised that it can be really dangerous for my Korg as after a few minutes of playing it is whole covered with water. I started to play it without taking out of bag (it is a bit bigger than my Korg so I can insert all the necessary cables ) and it is kinda better cause I can close the bag when I dont need to use my Korg
Just want to know- how you take care of your keyboards (both during playing and at home)?

As you tell, getting your instruments covered with water would make me very angry since one well placed water drop may result in a serious damage to it and/or to its operator. Even since your instrument still works, it could start having problems in the future due electrolytic effects that may produce oxidation and/or short circuits. I wouldnt buy any instrument which I know it has been exposed to excessive moisture since they may be a tickering time bomb (not that it will explode but maybe you will do it)
I would refuse to play a gig in a place that does not provide the necesary environment to operate your instruments without these risks. Even the warranty of an instrument is void if it shows that it has been exposed to such an environment. If you take a look at the users manual (usually the first or the last pages) you will see the advices to what you should NOT expose your instrument and my best advice is to follow them

[michelkeijzers]

I also would not play in a wet environment, not even the chance (like if you play outside, there should be a cover/roof whatever that does not let rain through.

The same btw is for the sun. One time I played outside without a cover but it was really hot and the plastic of the synth I had at that time (Kawak K4) became really hot ... I don't know how Korg's mostly black plastic handles the sun heat.

[roblabs]

I also would not play in a wet environment, not even the chance (like if you play outside, there should be a cover/roof whatever that does not let rain through.

The same btw is for the sun. One time I played outside without a cover but it was really hot and the plastic of the synth I had at that time (Kawak K4) became really hot ... I don't know how Korg's mostly black plastic handles the sun heat.

Not just for synths and keys but pretty much any device. A friend had his ipad out in the sun and said it got super hot. I know on the iphones the system actually suspends itself when the temp rises too high - a very nice feature to prevent meltdown but of course synths and other gear do not usually have this. So watch out for those extremes!

[Bald Eagle]

Check the Operation Guides for the recommended operating temperatures. Kronos for example is listed as +5 to +35 Celsius. That is generally measured as the temperature taken in the shade. If playing in direct sunlight the temperature will be higher.

[Happy Jack]

post deleted by member

[billbaker]

For those wet days you might want to check the availability of silica desicants -- they're those little white sandbag thingies that you find boxed in with new electronics. In an enclosed space (like a keyboard case) they can help compensate for moisture and humidity. They are also available in a variety of sizes.

I'm always amazed at the stubborn stupidity of people who have no qualms about the comfort or safety of musicians or the longevity of their gear beyond the couple of hours that they've hired them to play.

As in....

Despite what your iPad shows in the live doppler radar from weather.com I, master of my domain, KNOW that this thunderstorm will pass over soon, just move your rear to the center of this inadequate open-sided tent and stand over it so the drips from the roof don't come in and then afterward you can stand on the rain soaked carpet and play your electric instruments. That puddle the drums are sitting in won't be a problem will it? [that is a very condensed and not-at-all exaggerated conversation from a job this summer that everyone (band and facility) except the "boss" agreed could have been cancelled and rescheduled, and should have been - based on the 1000% chance of rain shown on the aforementioned radar 24 hours before.]

Sheesh!


BB