Lately in New Jersey

PaulMacCnj · #1 03-20-2007, 10:38 AM

I live in central New Jersey and this has been one odd Winter. The temperature and humidity swings have been brutal. We go from beautiful, Spring-like days to cold and damp. This seems to be doing a number on the setups of my Spector Euro 5 LX (through-neck) and Fender American Precision basses. I just setup both of them up 2-3 weeks ago when the temp was in the 50's and humidity was low. Now, it's cold and damp. Both basses have some fret buzz and the one has the symptom of a truss rod needing tightening (buzzing on frets above the 12th).

Are there other bassists here in the central New Jersey area that are experiencing setup problems recently? With Spring starting today, should I just leave the adjustments alone until the weather changes for the season?

Paul Mac

PauperBoy · #2 03-20-2007, 11:09 AM

I live at the jersey shore also known as 'downa shawah'.

Does your HVAC have a humidifier? This will keep the indoor humidity constant in the colder months.

If you store your bass in a case it will help lessen the effects of the temp/humidity swings.

I dont keep mine in their cases, and I see a little variation from time to time, but I dont make any adjustments unless the action stays too high or low for a week or two.

My PBass neck is fairly steady, but I see some fluctuations in the TBird in the last couple of weeks.

pointbass · #3 03-20-2007, 11:33 AM

It's been a strange NJ winter season, that's for sure. I gig a lot, so my basses are always being subjected to climate changes, regardless of the season. They don't really change too much, but the one thing I have noticed is that the natural wood basses (unpainted) have some fret sprout this winter ....

I usually leave them alone for a bit and see if things settle back down. It seems like my FBB 7 is going to require a minor fret dressing, but I figure I'll wait a few weeks until the temperature moderates a bit.

IMO, part of the bass playing routine is to regularly check my set-up and make minor adjustments when needed, usually once a month or so. It only takes a few minutes to set everything back in proper order .....

edit: BTW, you Shore area guys should give some thought to the GTG scheduled for May 20th

billbass1 · #4 03-20-2007, 05:58 PM

I live in North Jersey.
Screwy Winter for sure.
The basses...hmmmmmmm,

I don't notice to much diffrence.
Of course I am not happy unless I am tweaking
something though..

BadMonk · #5 03-20-2007, 08:44 PM

I'm in Central NJ. My basses hang in my bedroom and a humidifier runs constantly during the winter to keep everything from drying out. Once the winter's over the humidifier goes packing to the attic. Can't say I've noticed much change to the basses.

musicman5string · #6 03-20-2007, 09:01 PM

I live in North Jersey. I have a few bass guitars and a 100 year old upright. Back in January, the frets on my bass guitars went nuts and humidity set in the neck above the 12th fret, so I needed a fret job/setup. I had been leaving them out on stands but now I keep them in the cases.
My upright faired better, but I always leave it in it's soft case when not practicing.
But yeah......the weather here has been stupid this winter.

I hope this summer is "normal" and not a draught followed by flood like usual.

James Hart · #7 03-20-2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

edit: BTW, you Shore area guys should give some thought to the GTG scheduled for May 20th

Please, the more the merrier!!!

I tweaked my flatwound strung 5 string yesterday... the other 2 have been stable but the one has an Acrylized finger board and the other has both Acrylized neck and board.

PaulMacCnj · #8 03-21-2007, 10:18 AM

Thanks for the responses. I keep all my equipment in a finished, heated and dry basement. The temperature and humidity can vary depending on if the heat is cycling on a particular day, warm or cold. The temperature swing is from around a low in the mid 60's (F) to a high in the low 70's. Add to this, taking the basses out of the house to play once or twice a week. They are kept in hard-shell cases.

My issues with the setups could just very well just be a case of the basses settling in with the new strings. I went from Dean Markley SR2000's on the Spector and the NickelSteels on the Fender to the Fender Super Bass TW strings on both. However, I've changed brand/type of strings before and it only took 2-3 days for the basses to adapt to the differences in tension. Maybe there's a more pronounced difference this time around.

For now, I'll just make some tweaks on the bridge/saddles to eliminate the buzz. If the buzzing comes back, I'll work on the trussrods. Incidentally, I don't mind working on basses/guitars. I've been doing it for years.

Paul Mac

tkozal · #9 03-21-2007, 11:08 AM

Manhattan, newer basses, yes they have changed...

the old 64 P, and the 65 J, not one sign of anything..

its the wood, ya know....

xshawnxearthx · #10 03-21-2007, 11:49 AM

i havent noticed a change on my precision at all. but im sure it has changed ver so slightly

HMZ · #11 03-22-2007, 05:18 AM

I live on Long Island and I had some fret sprout problems this year as well. First off I bought a small file from Stewart-McDonald and second I got a humidifier from Sears and ever thing seems to be fine now.