bedminster - Posted - 08/19/2024:  04:23:47

I have encountered this problem playing outdoors in a humid climate. The neck and strings become sticky and smooth motion up and down the neck is impossible. Just finished a rather frustrating performance and wondering if there is a strategy or product that could help. My strings are not coated with anything.
Thanks

Nic Pennsylvania - Posted - 08/19/2024:  04:28:23

Good question! I always keep a rag in the back pocket when the climate calls for it. Every few songs I'll wipe the string down. Keeping your hands dry is another thing. I have a fiddler who recommended talcum powder, which did the trick for a while, but was no good once hands were sweaty.

I'm curious as to others' tips.

GS - Posted - 08/19/2024:  05:07:34

I have been 'advised' not to perform outside. This applies to inside as well!

calicoplayer - Posted - 08/19/2024:  06:46:03

Performing outside, especially when it is humid (or very cold or very hot or raining) is a universal problem. Keeping your hands dry is certainly worthwhile, but that's not always easy. Over the decades I've developed a few approaches to heat and humidity; none of them are dramatic or life-changing,but in the aggregate they may make a slight difference. Here they are:

Use Fast Fret on fingerboard and neck.
Use coated strings; they might delay the deterioration of sound caused by sweat and gunk getting on strings
Use a plastic head; skin heads are a real pain in wet, damp or humid weather.
Use a banjo that has a speed neck, or have your neck made into a speed neck; simply remove the finish on the neck, or have a luthier do it for you; you'll move up and down the neck a bit faster this way, even when you are in a humid situation
On hot days make sure you only play where there is shade; playing in direct sunshine is really difficult for both banjo and musician
Just make a policy of not accepting gigs where there isn't some assurance of protection from weather and humidity.

jdeluke137 - Posted - 08/19/2024:  10:39:01

We played outside every Saturday last summer. We were in shade, but it was in the high 80s and even over 90 a number of evenings when we started. I found a fan helped. My daughter gave me an 18 volt Rigid fan from Home Depot that made a big difference.  It’s really quiet and with it blowing directly on me I didn’t have the sticking problem even though it was still hot. Here’s a link to it:

homedepot.com/s/battery%20powe...an?NCNI-5

 

Texasbanjo - Posted - 08/19/2024:  11:08:44

Our group used to perform outside in the summer. In West Texas, the weather is always hot, hot, hot, and we performed at times in temps well over 90. Most all our performances were on a stage that had a roof or awning or some sort of overhead covering for shade and all had electrical hookups available for box type fans. That helped keep it almost comfortable to pick and sing.

We tried baby powder on our hands and on the necks of our instruments and that helped some especially if we could keep a fan going that kept our hands from sweating.

I remember going off stage after a 30-45 minute gig and having the front of my shirt just soaking wet and perspiration dripping off my face onto my clothing. Not fun, but we did it because that's what we had.