Laminated bass and 30 degree sunshine???

[RIKODRIKO]

HI

not sure where to put this thread, but ill just stick it in here...

I have a laminated Czech bass. I am going to be playing it in direct sunshine in 30 degree heat this weekend with no shade. Obviously, ill only have it in the sun for the time that ill be playing (about an hour).... Should i be worried?

I know with carved tops they dont like extreme weather, but if its super hot, will my laminate suffer at all? what should i be most scared of (aside from playing the wring notes!)

thanks.

Richard.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by RIKODRIKO

HI

not sure where to put this thread, but ill just stick it in here...

I have a laminated Czech bass. I am going to be playing it in direct sunshine in 30 degree heat this weekend with no shade. Obviously, ill only have it in the sun for the time that ill be playing (about an hour).... Should i be worried?

I know with carved tops they dont like extreme weather, but if its super hot, will my laminate suffer at all? what should i be most scared of (aside from playing the wring notes!)

thanks.

Richard.

Being in Colorado, that sounds not too bad. What heats up really bad is glue, varnish and their reflections.
Cheap Mothers....can't pop for a piece of shade???? Toss a blanket over it if you're worried. It may be laminated, but it's still your baby!!!

[mje]

I just had a brilliant idea... Bass parasols! Perfect for open sun playing as well as inclement weather.

I throw the idea open to luthiers and accessory manufacturers, asking only a modest 65% comission on each sale.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by mje

I just had a brilliant idea... Bass parasols! Perfect for open sun playing as well as inclement weather.

I throw the idea open to luthiers and accessory manufacturers, asking only a modest 65% comission on each sale.

You do that, and i'll do the parasol quiver stand that attaches to the other side of the tail piece...it, of course, matches the bow quiver. Of course, it adjusts automatically for: rain, sun and hail.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by mje

I just had a brilliant idea... Bass parasols! Perfect for open sun playing as well as inclement weather.

I throw the idea open to luthiers and accessory manufacturers, asking only a modest 65% comission on each sale.

BRILLIANT!

[Marcus Johnson]

I've had both situations; I used to take my old laminate Meisel outdoors on sunny gigs and never had any problems at all, even here in Maui. But that bass was built like a tank; I had another bass, an Epiphone, pop the back right off when I left it overnight in a club. So it's kind of dicey. I'd never consider it with my current bass. I'd try to arrange for some kind of shade for that hour.

[glivanos]

I'd bring a solid body EUB if you have one.

[Dave Martin]

You know, I remember seeing some street buskers in New Orleans that efectively had white cotton bags around the body of their uprights, with only the neck and strings down to the bridge visible. At least it kept the sun from shining directly onto the bass.... Looked kinda goofy, though...

[Jeff Bollbach]

30 degrees? Brrrrrrr....

[Jeremy Allen]

Originally Posted by glivanos

I'd bring a solid body EUB if you have one.

That would be my suggestion as well. The last time I played in full sun on a double bass, my Spirocore G string had some sort of internal melt-down: it suddenly went completely slack in the middle of a tune, and as I turned the tuning peg to bring it back up it just kept stretching and staying at the flabby tension it had fallen to. I took it out of the sun and within a few minutes I could tune it back up, and I used it for another six months--Spirocores rock! But it was a freaky experience.

[Dave Whitla]

If you can't avoid direct sun or bring an EUB, maybe you can be standing between the bass and the sun as much as possible. Also, make sure there's no rosin on the top (or anywhere else) as it will get cooked into the finish of the bass and be really, REALLY hard to get off. Voice of experience on that one, unfortunately, albeit a long time ago.

[farmerdude]

Just get you a BIG cowboy hat....

[IotaNet]

Originally Posted by Jeff Bollbach

30 degrees? Brrrrrrr....

I'm sure he's talking about 30 degrees celsius. (86 Degrees F)

[Jeremy Allen]

Originally Posted by IotaNet

I'm sure he's talking about 30 degrees celsius. (86 Degrees F)

Hey Jeff, I didn't know you had acquired a straight-man for your act!

[nicklloyd]

Originally Posted by RIKODRIKO

I have a laminated Czech bass. I am going to be playing it in direct sunshine in 30 degree heat this weekend with no shade. Obviously, ill only have it in the sun for the time that ill be playing (about an hour).... Should i be worried?

No, you shouldn't be worried about these conditions. Plywood basses are used for just this scenario. (I'm assuming 30 degree Celsius.)

[Peaceful]

30 degrees? Why do you hold it at that angle? Try holding it vertical. It is, after all, an upright bass.