How much will a smoke-filled club effect a Fantom?

[jmcdaniel_ee]

I originally posted this in an unrelated message, so I figure I'll post it on it's own topic:

Does anyone have reservations about using their Fantom live due to smokey atmospheres? Some clubs I've been to can get real smokey. I've had an old Yamaha bug-out one time while rehearsing in a room with a wood burning stove. I've been skiddish about smoke ever since. Am I being too overprotective?

[magikroom]

Smoke will affect all electronic equipment, but only over a period of time. I smoke myself, but do not in my studio as it can cause problems with pots, slider etc, but only as a build up over time...same as dust really.

Anyway, I gigged for over 10 years and the didn't have any problems taking my keyboards out...in fact the only problem I had was a bit of rust on my mixer/lighting from using the smoke machine too much and not wiping it off.

I guess the real danger for gigging/using it live is the knocks and bangs that can happen...Oh, I did drop my cigarette once on one of my keyboards and melted one of the keys...but it was a naff keyboard anyway...don't worry too much If I were you.

[jblock]

Smoke in clubs tends to rise and make a big cloud near the ceiling so as long as no one is puffing smoke right at the synth you should be ok.

www.synthblock.com

[alistairc]

We have had smoke related issues to gear that has been in clubs with cigarette smoke for a long time, but so far no problmes with dry ice if thats anyhelp?

-Alistair Clark / Roland UK / 01792 702 701

[Echo]

This thread makes me happy that I gig in New York where there is no smoking allowed in bars.

[mrcpro]

Mine is in smoke filled bars all the time and has been unaffected. So was my XP-60 before it, and my JV-80 before it. I've never exposed them to anything extreme though... fog machines and their associated humidity are another matter.

If you are gigging with a Fantom, protect those knobs! They are very vulnerable to any downward pressure, so make sure there's no foam or anything else touching them in their case. And make it a hard case!

[jmcdaniel_ee]

Good advice. Thanks everyone.