Advice needed on storing/transporting bass

[JDM]

Is there a thread out there that looks at best ways to store your bass at home and advice on how best to carry it and transport it? Thanks, Jonny

[drurb]

Originally Posted by JDM

Is there a thread out there that looks at best ways to store your bass at home and advice on how best to carry it and transport it? Thanks, Jonny

Indeed, there are many such threads. I'm not sure if a basic answer is what you are after, but I'll go with that:

Storage at home:
I prefer to keep mine in a stand rather than on the floor or wedged in a corner. If it is a carved bass, the environment in which the bass "lives" should be fairly controlled in terms of temperature and humidity. Rapid changes in either are no good. Humidity should be kept in the 40-45% range. Substantially lower is potentially dangerous, higher is okay (as long as it isn't over the edge, e.g., 80% in a barn). All of this is far less crucial if the bass is a laminate. These are just guidelines. YMMV.

Transport:
A good, well-padded protective soft case (bag) is what most prefer. TB has many threads containing excellent suggestions for good cases. Some prefer to use bass wheels to aid in transport. There are many threads in which those are discussed. Techniques for carrying vary. Some like to use shoulder straps, some carry the bass on their backs, others (myself included) use the side handles on the case, placing the ribs of the bass against the shoulder and hips with the bridge facing in for protection. Care should be taken not to expose the instrument to rapid temperature/humidity changes from environment to environment. When there is potential for this, some of us leave the bass in the case for a while (if possible) in the "new" environment. Again, this is more of an issue for a carved bass.

Suggested TB search terms for more detailed information:
bass stand, humidity, bass bag, bass case, bass wheel, storage

I hope this helps. If not, well-- I tried.

[JDM]

Yes, your help as has been fabulous to me and probably to many other too. One thing that occured to me lately to help protect the bass when transporting it in a soft case soft case is to place a car wash sponge over the bridge (one of the big chuncky ones). I have found that it seems to offer so much more protection to the bridge when it's being moved about. That's my one penith's worth....Jon

[drurb]

High quality cases are usually quite well padded over the bridge. I have never felt the need for anything extra. Over the years, I have learned to be EXTREMELY protective of the bridge area when transporting the bass.

[2ndbsn]

Has anyone ever heard of long clear edge protectors?

I would like to put a long length on both sides of bass to prevent small dings, as we transport bass twice weekly - lessons and rehearsals.

The short block protectors will not do for this reason.

I tried some Tygon tubing from the hardware store, slit lengthwise and placed over 4 edges, hoping that friction fit would be enough to keep in place. Mixed results so far.

Is there such a thing as a light-tack glue that I could use on the inside edge that would not damage the finish on the bass?

Any suggestions? Advice?
Thanks!!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by 2ndbsn

Has anyone ever heard of long clear edge protectors?
I would like to put a long length on both sides of bass to prevent small dings, as we transport bass twice weekly - lessons and rehearsals.
The short block protectors will not do for this reason.
I tried some Tygon tubing from the hardware store, slit lengthwise and placed over 4 edges, hoping that friction fit would be enough to keep in place. Mixed results so far.
Is there such a thing as a light-tack glue that I could use on the inside edge that would not damage the finish on the bass?
Any suggestions? Advice?
Thanks!!

Yes, you are lucky today...I just happened by as you asked this question.
Have you not heard of "The Handy Dandy Warburton Bass-Bumpers"?
Yes sir, that's me! IN PERSON!!!!Small lengths of automobile fan belt cut into strips and easily mounted on your bass' ribs or outside liners with hide glue.
Other folks have tried to take credit....but NO.....MY IDEA
Seven years now, I been telling these dorks here, this ****.
Excuse me...i'm getting tired....drurb? please finish for me> thank you very much.

[Chris Symer]

Another thing to do for your bass when/if you lay it down in your car- buy a rolled up camping pad to put under the shoulders of the bass to help support it. Having the bass just laying on its back with the scroll taking the weight puts a lot of stress on the pegbox and the neck/body joint. One good bump and bad things can happen. Don't ask me how I know......

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by 2ndbsn

Has anyone ever heard of long clear edge protectors?

I would like to put a long length on both sides of bass to prevent small dings, as we transport bass twice weekly - lessons and rehearsals.

Twice weekly? I've been knocking around professionally daily for 35 years. Don't worry, just have a good bag for the bass and be careful with it, you'll be fine. You don't need any extra protection. The bumpers are nice though, for laying it down on carpet, as carpet can snag splinters...

[gbaker]

Originally Posted by 2ndbsn

Has anyone ever heard of long clear edge protectors?

I would like to put a long length on both sides of bass to prevent small dings, as we transport bass twice weekly - lessons and rehearsals.

The short block protectors will not do for this reason.

I tried some Tygon tubing from the hardware store, slit lengthwise and placed over 4 edges, hoping that friction fit would be enough to keep in place. Mixed results so far.

Is there such a thing as a light-tack glue that I could use on the inside edge that would not damage the finish on the bass?

Any suggestions? Advice?
Thanks!!

Take a look at clear automotive door edge protectors. I have seen several basses with them, at least I think that is what they were. They are kind of rigid sticks and U-shaped.

Another idea: I put automotive vinyl molding on the ribs of my utility bass. About 2' strips on the lower body and 5" on the upper bout. It works great - non-slip while laying the bass down. I found them on the discount table at an auto parts store about a year ago, unfortunately I think the company stopped making them.

[George700DL]

Originally Posted by Chris Symer

Another thing to do for your bass when/if you lay it down in your car- buy a rolled up camping pad to put under the shoulders of the bass to help support it. Having the bass just laying on its back with the scroll taking the weight puts a lot of stress on the pegbox and the neck/body joint. One good bump and bad things can happen. Don't ask me how I know......

Good call - I usually have dirty gym clothes in my car at all times - I usually just roll them up and put them under the upper bout. I've been meaning to do something more elegant, such as a foam pad, maybe with some velcro that could attach to the bag. I figured anything that supports the upper bout is better than the weight resting on the lower bout edge and the scroll.

George

[gbaker]

Originally Posted by JDM

Is there a thread out there that looks at best ways to store your bass at home and advice on how best to carry it and transport it? Thanks, Jonny

A few more points about physical damage -

Unless you are using a hard case, carry and load your bass independently. People will try to help but bad things easily happen when the effort is shared. As in: "NO! I thought YOU had it!" or "I though we were going left!".

Also be careful with stands in busy places and at home with kids and pets. Face-in in a corner may be the best upright upright storage. Leaning on anything else is toying with disaster.

Lay your bass down on it's side (and facing a wall when possible). Someone on TB once said that a kick is better than a fall anyday. Also remove or retract the end pin when you lay it down because sometimes people step around the bass body but fail to see the end pin.

It is also better to transport on the side than the back.

Straps on cases can break or come un-clipped leaving you with a handful of belting and case full of heartache.

Never leave your bass in a closed automobile in the sun. Hot glue begins to soften at around 160 F.

[JBHittle]

"Yes, you are lucky today...I just happened by as you asked this question.
Have you not heard of "The Handy Dandy Warburton Bass-Bumpers"?
Yes sir, that's me! IN PERSON!!!!Small lengths of automobile fan belt cut into strips and easily mounted on your bass' ribs or outside liners with hide glue."

Yup....Paul, I have also used little 1 inch pieces of fan belt for several years now....but after I cut them I put them on a grinder to rough up the bottom side where the glue goes. I also shape them a tad (I suppose that's so they don't look so obviously like fan belt sections) before I glue them onto the rib lining. Every once in awhile one pops off, so I rough it up again on the grinder and re-glue it. They work very effectively. Low cost solution.

[George700DL]

Originally Posted by JBHittle

"...but after I cut them I put them on a grinder to rough up the bottom side where the glue goes...

I bet that smells awesome

I recently made my bumpers from an old leather belt, stacked (expoxy inbetween layers) and glued with contact cement to the ribs.

I was happy with this solution, the bass sits on those pads nicely. That is, until someone picked it up and dragged the lower bout across hardwood flooring while lifting it up. So I'm adding more bumpers to that part as well - and re-touching the scraped part.

George

[sirmike75]

a form fitted hardcase ....anytime i am not playing my bass thats were it can be found