Collectors! Mass Bass Storage

[Rip Topaz]

That's a great display!!

I'm gonna subscribe to this thread (so I can find it later).

Great work. Next time you're in Lancaster County, shoot me a message, we'll go grab a beer and talk basses!

 

[PortlandBass77]

sell some?

 

[Stick_Player]

I don't get the collector thing.

Instruments are meant to be played.

 

[BassHappy]

Thanks for the kind words Baird - and thanks so much for the invite RIP, I do get down that direction from time to time, sounds good! Will let you know, probably sometime over the summer. My wife's family is down that way on the Mason Dixon line near Gettysburg. Always nice to tip a couple with a fellow player!

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[bassbenj]

In cases in a spare bedroom.

This is what I do now and it really doesn't work well as SLaPINFunk pointed out. You want them handy to grab and play. The spare bedroom thing means if you want to play a certain bass, you have to go dig through a pile of cases or gig bags (or both) move the one you want to the top and pull out the bass in question. Then what I do is move that bass to the stand in my practice area for playing and take the one that is there and put it back in it's case. I've got wall hangers but never used them. The problem is coating the instruments with dust. It's not just wiping them down, because the dust gets into all the cracks and crevices and eventually the instrument needs a real D&C [dustin' and cleanin'] like it got when you bought it if you bought it used. That means removing all the hardware, pickups, etc. to clean under all the edges of where it is screwed to the bass.This is a HUGE job not undertaken lightly.

And it's WORSE than that! In winter there is SOMETHING with my furnace (I haven't a clue what) that causes it spew out these little tiny dots of some sort of crap. When instruments are sitting out they end up with these tiny spots on them. Now you CAN clean the spots off, and it's not damage, but still another big huge cleaning pain as they don't clean all that easliy.

So I keep them all in their cases and gig bags and tend to work with one (on the sitting out practice stand) at a time. I love the bass/guitar cabinet idea which solves it all...except for the work needed to build a bunch of those cabinets!

 

[mikeswals]

Yeah, that's my real problem. I only have a flat, 2 rooms, and i want to solve my problem in my livingroom, without loosing a lot of space.

A stack of cabinets like this may be good

I dont see how this behemoth solves anything. Six basses in their cases takes up far less room than that rediculous cabinet.
And then you still have to store cases or gigbags.

 

[BassHappy]

I get 16 in 68" wide. They are close but manageable if you use a little care.

 

[Johnny Crab]

The "spare bedroom" thing works well if you have the case ends numbered, stood on end(number up), and a logbook in the room. I saw John Entwistle's(late Who bassist) shelf thing for his collection but this works for me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You sai you have room. How about taking a walk in closet, and building a rack in a U shape? You could make it with cabinets above to keep the cases available when you take one (or more) out to gig. This way you could also control the humidity, since the room would be closed off.

I'll take one bass as payment for the idea.

 

[BassHappy]

You sai you have room. How about taking a walk in closet, and building a rack in a U shape? You could make it with cabinets above to keep the cases available when you take one (or more) out to gig. This way you could also control the humidity, since the room would be closed off.

Certainly not a bad idea - but I don't have a walk-in closet - and even if I did I want the basses right next to me. That is really the whole point. When I am in the creative flow I don't want to have to break it by having to get up and walk over to the closet - I can grab what I want right next to me, don't even have to get out of the chair.

No bass for you.



BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yeah, but you can't have it both ways. If you want them "available", they will get dusty (which you said you didn't want by hanging them up), unless you put up a glass door, which sounds fantastic, although REALLY expensive. My thought was you own little "bass room". With all those conflicting desires in mind, I suggest three alternatives:

1. Do you have a full wall - several years ago, I made a full wall built in bookcase. I would suggest the same. Either have glass doors, or a curtain, with fabric like this

You could build a shelf over them, which would both cut down on dust and give you storage for the cases. No matter what, any build you do to have all the axes will be expensive and take a big part of the room.

2. Compromise - do you really need ALL those basses out at once? Build a smaller storage case - say with 5 or 6, Rotate them in and out (and quick dust when you change). Keep the rest in the closet.

3. The cheap way out. Get a bunch of those multi bass folding stands. Line them up against the wall. If you don't want the basses to get dusty, put a cloth over them (fabric above or similar). Less money, nothing permanent.

I still want a bass - even a cheap import (c'mon - you'll never miss ONE).

 

[garmenteros]

I keep them vertically in their cases in my closet. I had my bed custom made so I could fit drawers and my clothes under there so my basses went to the closet. Not a walk in closet but works. I keep 13 (for the moment, you never know when the next one shall arrive) in there in their hard cases and its a good 53-55% humidity and about 70-75 degrees all year long. I'll post pics later...

 

[BassHappy]

Yeah, but you can't have it both ways. If you want them "available", they will get dusty (which you said you didn't want by hanging them up), unless you put up a glass door, which sounds fantastic, although REALLY expensive.

Uh, there are two sliding glass doors - which make it dust proof. Glass is so squeaky clean apparently you can't see it - but if you look closely at either of the last photos in the CENTER you will see the glass where it overlaps. But thanks so much for the kind suggestions. I thought about it a lot and this is the perfect solution for me, hands down.

And YES, I really do need access to all of them....

I use them all.

Best,

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[pnchad]

subbed

this is a timely thread for me too - I have about 20 EBs, 3 EUBs and 3 DBs - all pretty nice

I just finished my 'man cave' which is a 20'x12' loft area with a 6'x6' walk-in closet for the instruments- they're just stacked vertically against the wall in HSCs

I do have one of those 6 space racks with wheels (Hercules I think) but this is the dustiest place I've ever lived - everything is coated after 5 days from cleaning

I'm curious as to humidifier/dehumidifier products you guys might be familiar with too - is there anything that does both, compensate for dry and/or humid conditions

we just relocated from S. Florida to the mountains of N. Georgia - in FL the AC is on 85% of the year and it's always pretty humid - I never had problems there

but, I just unpacked my DBs last week here in GA and one has a completely separated back now (project #1) -it's interesting because this particular bass has been through hell (prior to my ownership) I guess dry is worse

TB is great! always timely info

 

[BassHappy]

Hi pnchad

I lived with mine on stands like these for years:

I just bought a bunch of cool tie dyed cloths and kept the basses covered up. It was a total compromise though, they would still really pick up dust after a short while and the cloths seemed to act like dust magnets. I am in New York so the change of seasons is a bigger issue for me than dry humid conditions. I don't envy you on that front!

My room is pretty stable and I am installing one or maybe two cigar type humidors along with a humidity gauge inside the cabinet - to keep the acoustics within acceptable range.

I have been thinking about this for several years, just wanted to share what for me is a very practical and elegant solution.

Would LOVE to see some photos of your loft and walk-in - sounds amazing! Got any yet?

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[pnchad]

hahaha yeah I've got pics of the loft but sans instruments as yet

I will keep the sub here and post pics asap - I've never done a 'family' shot

I have a rack like yours but that only holds 6

I'll be building 'box' stands for the DBs so that's not the issue - hanging is out since I nearly destroyed a Godin Multitac guitar that fell from one of those

it's a nice problem to have right?

 

[BassHappy]

Yep, nice problem to have is right!

Let's see those photos and a nice family shot would be great!

Anxious to see your cave and goodies!

BassHappy

 

[jorgera]

hi i keep my basses on a gun safe,
it is a big safes you can find on BJ’s or Costco for around U$ 500,00, i can fit 10 basses on each case.

 

[pnchad]

yep gun safes are great if you're looking for theft security

bolt 'em down from inside

 

[iriegnome]

Mine are in their cases stacked on top of keyboard stands to keep them off the ground. I have 22 of them. Only if I am working on one does it come out of the case. When I have them out of the case, they are either on the work bench, wall hanger or in my hands.