Leaving the bass in the car

[Doodaddy]

I've brought mine into work several times. Weird looks happen, neat conversations come from them.

[electracoyote]

I am wary of exposing musical instruments to extremes of temperature and humidity. The repeated stresses of expansion and contraction will take a toll.

[alembicguy]

Not good idea where I live, it was 31 degrees below zero this morning and that's not the windchill.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by J.Nuno

One day every week I have to take my bass to work, so that in the end of the day I can take it to my lesson. The thing is, at work the car is parked outside and I was wondering if leaving the bass there all day could harm the bass.
Right it has been raining a lot, but when sunny days come, should I take it inside with me?

Note: The bass is in a bass bag (not hard case) and is on the trunk of the car. Cold days: 8-17 ºC , Hot days: 25-30 ºC.

The biggest problem is it can get stolen.

Some older basses the finish will crack with temperature changes. Newer basses not so much.

[Rumbledom]

Never let an instrument out of your possession if you care what happens to it.

[gordon5377]

Originally Posted by Wallace320

Yeah, same cute female who considers you weird (not tellin' you) and who starts that said conversation with usual, annoyin': "... so can you play the electric guitar?"

Cheers,
Wallace

Exactly! It's actually become comical watching people's faces when they ask the "so, do you play guitar" question, and then you answer "well, I don't play 'guitar' I play bass". There is that awkward moment and then they go "ooohhhhh!" Like you just told them you have a STD.

[jlepre]

If I had any other alternative, I would NEVER do it. I have my bass sitting right next to me at my desk right now. I have an audition tonight, and with the temps in the lower 20s here in NY, it's a no brainer for me.

[klejst]

I agree I would not leave it in the car for the obvious weather influence, but also indeed for the risk of it being stolen.

[rtslinger]

I never leave my basses in the car no matter what the temp too cold and too hot can cause damage. not worth the risk. If you are going to do it get a cheap beater that you don't care about. Music Man heck no!

[Emibass]

I normally avoid to leave my bass in the car, but sometimes I did. I do it if the weather permits it (not too hot, not too cold...etc). Sometimes I left in the trunk over the night but the car was parked in the garage, so nothing happend.

[Jesusrocks]

I would not do that at all, due to the temperature change. I don't think your bass neck would like that too much.

[monkeyland]

Originally Posted by gordon5377

Exactly! It's actually become comical watching people's faces when they ask the "so, do you play guitar" question, and then you answer "well, I don't play 'guitar' I play bass". There is that awkward moment and then they go "ooohhhhh!" Like you just told them you have a STD.

I think I would just say no and leave it at that, then enjoy their confusion.

[Meddle]

"Left my bass in my car" seems to be how 90% of stolen gear stories roll around here.

[richntiff]

It's -20 degrees Fahrenheit in northern Wisconsin today - no WAY would I leave my bass in the car :-)

[tastybasslines]

I do this all the time without a problem. I have my bass in a hardshell case, in the trunk. How is it going to crack if it is in a case in the trunk, even with temperature swings?

The only other legitimate concern I have is If they break into the cabin, it's not for my bass, although they can open the trunk from the inside and then discover it. I do avoid leaving it in there overnight though.

[wrench45us]

way back when our rhythm player was too tired after a gig to unload his car. It was a mild winter night. The deep finish on the lead guitarists guitar cracked into segments about an inch square or less.
They never got along after that.
Friends don't let friends leave instruments in cars.

[Joe Louvar]

This is my rule: NEVER leave your bass in an environment (to hot, cold, dry, damp, etc) that you yourself are not comfortable in - not even for just a little while.

Originally Posted by J.Nuno

One day every week I have to take my bass to work, so that in the end of the day I can take it to my lesson. The thing is, at work the car is parked outside and I was wondering if leaving the bass there all day could harm the bass.
Right it has been raining a lot, but when sunny days come, should I take it inside with me?

Note: The bass is in a bass bag (not hard case) and is on the trunk of the car. Cold days: 8-17 ºC , Hot days: 25-30 ºC.

[BrentSimons]

Be careful! I did a gig once (party really) and left my then new Ibanez in the car in the case. It just happened to be super humid and foggy that night. All of the hardware on the bass turned GREEN. Frets, bridge, tuners. Yuck.
Brent

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by jlepre

If I had any other alternative, I would NEVER do it. I have my bass sitting right next to me at my desk right now. I have an audition tonight, and with the temps in the lower 20s here in NY, it's a no brainer for me.

+1

I even tell my students to beware of setting their instruments near hot and cold air registers and open windows.

Musical instruments are a lot like us, they prefer and do well in room temperatures.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I do this all the time without a problem. I have my bass in a hardshell case, in the trunk. How is it going to crack if it is in a case in the trunk, even with temperature swings?

In the trunk of a car, on a warm day, with the sun beating down and the temperature in the trunk rising rapidly, the interior of your bass case will match the interior of the trunk in about an hour or so.

And it probably won't "crack" after a single exposure. We're talking repeated exposures. How many? Who knows? But one thing is certain: Each time you expose a musical instrument to temperature or humidity extremes, you are one step closer to a stress-related issue.