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08-27-2009, 07:13 PM
| | | | Upright bass care kit?
Hey guys, I just got my first upright bass today and i was wondering if you could tell me what are the necessities to taking care of an upright bass? Its all wood (maple and spruce) no laminates if that helps at all
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08-27-2009, 07:45 PM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by CTbassist  Hey guys, I just got my first upright bass today and i was wondering if you could tell me what are the necessities to taking care of an upright bass? Its all wood (maple and spruce) no laminates if that helps at all | Oh, where to begin?! 
Where do you live?
Is the bass new or old?
What kind of bass is it?
There are the usual humidity and temperature concerns. You can read tons of that information here. Put very simply, you want to avoid extremes and rapid swings.
Wipe off the strings after each use (at a minimum).
Use polish sparingly, if at all.
Use a good, padded case.
Never bump the bridge.
Winter/summer sound-post? Maybe-- maybe not.
Watch for open seams (or have your luthier check).
Don't lay the bass on it's back without supporting the neck block.
I'll let others take over now...
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier. |
08-27-2009, 08:59 PM
| | | | actually i live in connecticut (litchfield county) i htink the bass is 10-15 years old, and i think it some german made bass, design is fromt he 50s |
08-27-2009, 09:31 PM
|  | Registered User
Maker of HPF-Pre upright bass preamp | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Madison WI | | Play the living hell out of it.  |
08-27-2009, 10:37 PM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by CTbassist actually i live in connecticut (litchfield county) i htink the bass is 10-15 years old, and i think it some german made bass, design is fromt he 50s | Pictures? Hey, we're practically neighbors. 
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier. |
08-28-2009, 05:34 AM
| | Registered User
bass luthier, johnson string inst. | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: waltham, mass. | | | Drurb and Fdeck said it all
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no one will be watching us...why dont we do it in the road
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08-28-2009, 08:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Chicago | | | Don't worry so much. We talk around here about all kinds of care related issues ('cause we've got time to kill on the interweb) but the truth is they are not as fragile as they seem. Take some common sense measures like not letting your dog chew on the wood (I've heard of that) or your kids decorate it with markers, paint, and stickers. Maybe humidify in the winter. That's really about it though. Otherwise just play. |
08-31-2009, 12:11 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Westminster, Maryland | | | Worthwhile question
Quote:
Originally Posted by CTbassist Hey guys, I just got my first upright bass today and i was wondering if you could tell me what are the necessities to taking care of an upright bass? Its all wood (maple and spruce) no laminates if that helps at all | Here are a few not-so-obvious things.
- Careful how you store it. Park it on the floor on it's side - kicked is better than knocked over. Standing - in a corner face-in with shoulders touching. Be wary of stands, kids, balls, dogs, and drunks.
- Avoid temperature and humidity extremes.
- Careful how you carry it - don't lift it with the ff-hole or fingerboard end. Grab about a bout. Do not share the burden, you and your well-intentioned friend can go different ways to disastrous result.
- Avoid: http://www.wvculture.org/stringband/...band_0157.html
Have fun.
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Never try this at home.
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08-31-2009, 07:58 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by gbaker Be wary of stands... | Gotta disagree with this one. I have a sturdy stand in a corner. Placing your bass face-in to a corner may be relatively safe, but, over time, you'll mar the finish where the bouts hit the wall.
Now, at a gig a stand could be far more dangerous than laying the bass down. Either way, you gotta watch out for clumsy folks who may find a way to knock it over.
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier. |
08-31-2009, 08:52 PM
|  | needs a new day job | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The Rockies (close to Denver) | | Quote:
Originally Posted by drurb you'll mar the finish where the bouts hit the wall | Yep. This finish transfers to your wall...and I thought my painting was finished. |
08-31-2009, 11:25 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: emmitsburg, maryland | | also to be avoided:
a)belt buckle...
b)greasy hands/fingers
c)the old "litchfield county two step" and faceplant when the bag hangs up on the scroll and endpin.
d)nest it on it's side never lean it on the sofa,chair etc even if it's just to answer the phone.( now you can expect calls since you have a dblbass )
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