Skeeter Juice Blues

The "Skeeter Juice" Blues

By Jon Labrum

Jon is a longtime member of SWBA who has been on the Board of Directors, including Board President. This article originally appeared in the SWBA newsletter, The Bluegrass Soundboard, in August of 2004.

It was a blustery day in June. I was enjoying my second Huck Finn's Jubilee Bluegrass Festival [in Victorville, CA], as I walked at twilight from campsite to campsite, looking for a jam that I felt I could keep up with. As the mosquitoes started to come out, potentially carrying the West Nile Virus, I was glad that I had put bug spray over my hands, arms and face. I didn't want to be the evening's buffet like last year. As I played my cherished Gison F-5G mandolin, I could tell that the bug spray had left a less than slippery surface on my hands, but that wouldn't hamper my enjoyment. How wrong I was.

When I took my mandolin out of its case the next morning, I noticed a few marks on its deeply polished exterior. In an attempt to wipe off the marks, I was shocked to find the finish rubbing off, too. The chemicals from the bug repellent had softened the finish on the instrument to the point that fingerprints were left on it as if the varnish was butter, and everywhere my arm and hand had touched my beautiful F-5, the finish was soft and lusterless.

Now that the festival season is again up us, do take some time to consider your "skeepter" protection methods. Heavy clothing is best, usually to hot in our So. Cal. climate. The new citronella patches (Skeeter Patch, available online) are the best way to go, as they give you your own personal bubble of bug repellent. Wash your hands after using them.

Some of the polymer finishes on today's instruments are pretty durable and impervious to most chemicals, but lacquers and varnishes are easily dissolved by some bug repellents. Don't take a chance on your favorite music maker. Don't let a simple thing like inset repellent ruin your good time.