Did humidity affect your basses?

[Tylerrr51]

I'm suffering humidity issues on my basses, and am curious to how many others are dealing with it.

If you are, post a reply saying how you are dealing with it, or working around it.

If you arent, post a reply saying how you are avoiding it.

If this is in the wrong forum I apologize.

[JTE]

Well of course. It's wood, and the wood gives up or takes on humidity. It happens every fall and spring enough to require some truss rod tweaking. I've done that and expected it for 30+ years.

John

[NKUSigEp]

I had a bass a few years ago that if I had in the air conditioned house, it's playability was excellent (as well as its sound). Then going to band practice on a hot and humid summer day, the action would be all out of wack (practice space was not air conditioned, just had a few fans). There wasn't anything I could really do so I sold it and got a new bass.

I don't think there's much you can do except get a bass that's less affected by temperature and humidity. I could list off examples I've had luck with (Spector, Warwick, a Warmoth creation...), but I'm sure there's someone around here who could say the opposite.

[Tylerrr51]

Originally Posted by NKUSigEp

I had a bass a few years ago that if I had in the air conditioned house, it's playability was excellent (as well as its sound). Then going to band practice on a hot and humid summer day, the action would be all out of wack (practice space was not air conditioned, just had a few fans). There wasn't anything I could really do so I sold it and got a new bass.

I don't think there's much you can do except get a bass that's less affected by temperature and humidity. I could list off examples I've had luck with (Spector, Warwick, a Warmoth creation...), but I'm sure there's someone around here who could say the opposite.

Thanks man, I had to tweak my action pretty high just to stop the buzzing

[ChrisAlan]

Oh hell yeah.

Especially since I prefer unfinished necks.

I have 3 basses that need truss rod adjustments fairly regularly due to weather/humidity.

The ones with finished necks are more stable but still need occasional tweaks for the same reason.

[duderasta]

Here in Florida my basses need attention pretty often, especially if they spend any amount of time outdoors

edit: lol that is why most of my basses don't have truss rod covers, easier to leave them out till I sell the bass lol, then the screws don't get ratty

[Porkbun]

My hardware is tarnishing
I havent noticed any other changes, all my basses are currently in pieces

[jumbodbassman]

absolutely. some more than others. they all tend to bow in . Imn anticiapation i start set the action higher in the late spring which help prevent "oh sh#t" moments at gigs and rehearsal. Keep an A/c on inmy basement from march - oct....

[jumbodbassman]

it seems to affect speakers too....

[Tylerrr51]

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

it seems to affect speakers too....

I noticed the speakers on my cab started to buzz a little. I cant afford to keep the AC on all the time so i have to deal with it.

[Tylerrr51]

Originally Posted by ChrisAlan

Oh hell yeah.

Especially since I prefer unfinished necks.

I have 3 basses that need truss rod adjustments fairly regularly due to weather/humidity.

The ones with finished necks are more stable but still need occasional tweaks for the same reason.

My classic vibe jazz needs constant tweaking. its such a pain.

[Ric5]

Did humidity affect your basses?

Of course it does. That is why necks are finished and why basses have adjustments at the bridge and truss rods.

Wood expands as it takes on moisture and it contracts as it dries out. If wood gets too dry the wood gets permanently damaged.

[ubado]

Originally Posted by Tylerrr51

My classic vibe jazz needs constant tweaking. its such a pain.

Being so close to the shore ... constant tweeking can expected. A slight truss rod adjustment 2-3 times a year is what I found when living in CT.

If it becomes too bothersome, look into graphite necks, or least a Modulus Genesis series bass if you're wanting to keep the neck mainly wood.

[cassius987]

Not at all really. Not after the first year--the first year meant a handful of adjustments, now several years since absolutely nothing.

I am not doing anything special to avoid adjusting the basses--in fact I find working on them a lot of fun. But I have not done (for example) a truss rod adjustment in over two years, and the last one I did was a tiny tweak. It seems like once the wood acclimated in the first year of ownership, there was no more of the back-and-forth swelling and shrinking that I hear people talk about.

I picked up a 1976 Ric 4001FL and have never adjusted it. It was heavily abused but... the neck came dead straight, the action is super low, and I have not had to do anything to get it set up for playing. I just did some work on the finish and pickups.

[bassbrad]

Yes, My main bass is Koa & I have to do 2 major adjustments and some minor ones each year. The main ones are fall into winter and winter into spring as there are major shifts in both temperature and humidity.

[electracoyote]

I have had basses exposed to high levels of humidity.

In my experience, the better built the bass, the easier it is to tweak it back to its original playability.

Conversely, the worse built or cheaply made the bass, the harder it is to make it play right again.

I had a Peavey Cirrus USA and a Ric 4003 stored in a small area that took water on the floor. I used a hygrometer and it read 100% humidity. They were in there for several days.

I set them out to re-aclimate to normal humidity levels. After a week or so and a little tweaking, they played better than ever.

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by Tylerrr51

If you arent, post a reply saying how you are avoiding it.

I don't know, exactly, other than to continue to do what I've been doing. Among them:

1.) Just playing the dang things whenever I can within reason.
2.) My stuff stays in an air-conditioned basement where the temperature and humidity differentials are lowest in my whole house.
3.) Not EVER leaving my instrument in any vehicle, trailer, or space that is not actively temperature controlled.
4.) Doing some regular wipedowns and cleaning, and where appropriate basic maintenance such as cleaning an exposed grain fretboard (rosewood) with a touch of cologne (slight alcohol) to remove dirt, and some lemon oil on the fretboard (rosewood) to restore moisture and mitigate the drying effects of the alcohol.

[Johnny Crab]

Originally Posted by cassius987

Not at all really. Not after the first year--the first year meant a handful of adjustments, now several years since absolutely nothing.

The Greco's here followed this pattern.

I get more "affects" from a new set of strings or altitude + humidity.
The altitude + humidity was the worst. A bass used normally at outdoor shows needed adjustments after soundcheck 4 days later(Saturday) in a drier and much higher altitude place. The same bass goes from south Texas outdoors(humid, hot) to indoors(72 degrees, 47% humidity) with no problems. Sealed, 12 year old maple necks.

[ridgeback]

only ever had an issue with an 80s fender jazz bass years ago..irish weather is fairly ****** all year around, cold wet winter ,warmish wet summer.but left in a cold van overnight into a warm room to gig and feckin thing would never stay in tune...not exactly humidity!! not by usa standards

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Tylerrr51

Thanks man, I had to tweak my action pretty high just to stop the buzzing

Sounds like EXACTLY the wrong approach.