Does a DEhumdifier exist for bass?

[Pat Harris]

Hey all,
I've recently had a string of outdoor gigs down here in Austin, and my bass is totally freaking out on me. It feels like a totally different instrument, sounds like a totally different instrument, etc. I'm wondering, is there any way to dry out my bass? I honestly think my bass likes to be bone dry, or at least humidity that's less than 30%. Any ideas?

-Pat

[robobass]

Yeah, I really hate playing outside on really hot, humid days - especially with gut. Short of filling up your bass with those little dessicant packs that say "do not eat" I think your only chance is to store your bass in a very air conditioned room. This might not be so good for the bass, though.

[ctxbass]

It gets even worse when you go to a gig in Houston.
A friend of mine kept a bit of rice in his bass.

[DallasStrings]

Originally Posted by ctxbass

It gets even worse when you go to a gig in Houston.
A friend of mine kept a bit of rice in his bass.

I thought I told that guy once already to turn his snares off..



Playing outdoors always makes for interesting changes in your instrument. Consider getting a stick bass and plug it into an amp for outdoor stuff and leave your carved bass inside..

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by Pat Harris

I honestly think my bass likes to be bone dry, or at least humidity that's less than 30%. -Pat

That's a bad idea. It puts a bass in real jeopardy.

[JKoehler]

Yeah, we`ve had some real humid days with rain in Austin lately, it doesn`t make it better that the last two months prior was very dry. Your sound post may have moved. All the outside gigs you had may have caused the strings to wear out faster. The combination of my sweat and humid weather kills strings faster on my bass. I don`t think you want to dehumidify your bass, especially below 40%. That will cause a host of problems, open seams, rib and top cracks.

[ctxbass]

Originally Posted by ctxbass

It gets even worse when you go to a gig in Houston.
A friend of mine kept a bit of rice in his bass.

Originally Posted by DallasStrings

I thought I told that guy once already to turn his snares off..

If you cook the rice it does not make a sound.

[Pat Harris]

Originally Posted by JKoehler

Yeah, we`ve had some real humid days with rain in Austin lately, it doesn`t make it better that the last two months prior was very dry. Your sound post may have moved. All the outside gigs you had may have caused the strings to wear out faster. The combination of my sweat and humid weather kills strings faster on my bass. I don`t think you want to dehumidify your bass, especially below 40%. That will cause a host of problems, open seams, rib and top cracks.

Yes, I suppose I'm just tempting fate with trying to have my bass too dry. I don't know why people insist on having an upright player for outdoor gigs... especially when you're just glorified wallpaper.

[Ric5]

High humidity doesn't harm a bass. Unless you are talking 100%. Maple likes to exist in an environment between 30% and 90% +/-. When it gets humid the wood absorbs moisture and expands. You have to compensate by backing off the truss rod. This does not damage your bass. But really low humidity can damage the wood. I live in Denver and I run several humidifiers in my house for the people and the basses. Prolonged exposure to humidity levels below 20% can damage wood.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by Ric5

You have to compensate by backing off the truss rod.

Your doublebass has a truss rod?!

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Febs

Your doublebass has a truss rod?!

Yours doesn't? Just take that little plastic plate off your pegbox. You'll find it

[ctregan]

You could try different size sound posts for dry/humid seasons.

It is possible the swelling of the wood, has effected the way the sound post fits. A poor fitting sound post, can change the way a bass sounds and plays.