Do You Put Your Bass In Case Or Stand

[jbhaugh]

I live in New Mexico, so it freaks me out a little to leave instruments on stands (because of the extremely low humidity). I haven't had any serious fret sprout or neck stability issues leaving my Bongo out on a stand, though. As numerous previous commenters have mentioned, it's nice to have it ready and waiting to be picked up and played.

 

[jbhaugh]

In cases, because DUST.

I don't mind leaving instruments out on a stand, but I definitely cover amps and pedals to keep dust out.

 

[Daddy-R]

Good one in case when not playing; on hanging stand when playing. Keep the humidifier going (I'm in Aridzona)( Cheapies in 5-rack stand at home and one near computer.

 

[Kukulkan61]

A case is a minor PITA since it has to be laid flat to retrieve or store the bass. I use top quality, highly protective gig bags that are leaning against the wall and can be unzipped in 5 seconds....I leave the bass on a stand only if I know I'm likely to be playing it again within a couple of hours. If I'm not sure.....it gets re-bagged.

I store my basses in a hard case and gig bags, stand it up on its bottom end, why do you have to lay them flat??

 

[whero]

My main player (Fender Aerodyne) is on a stand next to the rig, ready to pick up, plug in, switch on, and play. The door to the spare bedroom that is my practice room is always closed to keep the pets out, and my only child is 23 and has left home, so no problems there. I also make sure it gets a good wipe down after every play, whether it's a couple of hours or one song.

My old Ibanez 5er is in a case in the wardrobe, and only comes out occasionally these days. I played it for a two weekends ago, but tht was the first time in several months. My acoustic folk guitar is also in a case in the wardrobe but it's currently unplayable until I get around to doing a serious repair job, so it's not coming out of the closet any time soon.

I'm thinking of getting an ABG I can leave in the lounge so I can pick it up and pluck away any time the mood takes me. That'll probably just rest up against the side of the couch.

 

[RumbleMan3]

Do those wall hangers have any negative affect on your bass? I’m thinking with a constant pulling on the neck, and with the heavy tension strings it might do bad stuff to neck, truss rod, tuners over time? I’ve got one wall hanger (all my other basses are in a rack) that I keep my bass that I don’t care for in it. I’m too afraid to put my good bass and keep it in there cos it’s gonna mess stuff up and I want it to have the longest life and best performance possible.

Is it any different with guitars? Lesser effect, greater effect? Cos they have less tension on them I assume it would be different for guitars. I’ve got a guitar and I’m not sure to have one of my basses in the hanger or a guitar in there.

 

[ac100X]

I live in California so all basses in cases - in case the next big one (earthquake) hits. When the 1989 earthquake hit San Francisco I was at work trying to remember what basses I had out, I was under a table, duct work was falling out of the ceiling. My wife and kids were back east visiting family so of course I worried about the basses. On the drive through city streets home the shops storefront glass was bending back and forth this was maybe 20 min. after the quake. Came home and everything that was in a cabinet was on the floor. Went to the music room and everything was in a case but my stacked Gallien Krueger amp. and cabinets fell down like they were thrown. On the GK 400B the steel panel at the back of head was dented in about a 1 inch from the impact. Later I opened it up found a few loose items & plugged them back in, it worked then and still is a distant back up head today. After this long story the message is: if in earthquake country, keep them in cases. I have a Squire Jazz bass on a stand in the bed room, this bass get all the play time. I know it's kind of dumb.

 

[RumbleMan3]

I live in California so all basses in cases - in case the next big one (earthquake) hits. When the 1989 earthquake hit San Francisco I was at work trying to remember what basses I had out, I was under a table, duct work was falling out of the ceiling. My wife and kids were back east visiting family so of course I worried about the basses. On the drive through city streets home the shops storefront glass was bending back and forth this was maybe 20 min. after the quake. Came home and everything that was in a cabinet was on the floor. Went to the music room and everything was in a case but my stacked Gallien Krueger amp. and cabinets fell down like they were thrown. On the GK 400B the steel panel at the back of head was dented in about a 1 inch from the impact. Later I opened it up found a few loose items & plugged them back in, it worked then and still is a distant back up head today. After this long story the message is: if in earthquake country, keep them in cases. I have a Squire Jazz bass on a stand in the bed room, this bass get all the play time. I know it's kind of dumb.

Wow, that’s terrible! I had no idea California was a common earthquake area? but I’m not in the states, I’m in the land down under. Fortunately I’ve never experienced earthquakes. That’s not to say I never will though.

I have to say, I wouldn’t be too stressed about my bass if it was in my Hercules wall hanger during an earthquake... those things are pretty robust design, with the drop and lock neck thing. It would have to be pretty violent to shake my bass out of it. I wouldn’t be worried at all if it was in my mono hybrid case. That’s probably the safest place it could ever be.

But if it’s that bad where the ceiling is falling apart... yeah, it wouldn’t be my Basses I’d be worried about, that’s for sure! I’d be bolting to the nearest doorway, fearing for my life. (That is the safest place to be in an earthquake, right?)

Of course, assuming myself and my family come out ok, the first thing i’d Be worrying about after the earthquake would be my music equipment.

 

[JakobT]

I used to leave one of my basses on a stand. But since I am so uptight about dust collecting on/in the pups, bridge, and all the "tight" spaces, all my children are put snugly in their beds when not in use.

I also dislike dust. But I like playing more, and I like looking at my basses, too. My solution is an old shaving brush - it gets into all those little nooks and crannies and keeps them dust-free.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I also dislike dust. But I like playing more, and I like looking at my basses, too. My solution is an old shaving brush - it gets into all those little nooks and crannies and keeps them dust-free.

You pose valid points in favor of leaving the bass out and at the ready. And that's a great idea with the shaving brush. Guess that just goes to show you the level of OCD I harbor. Some things will never change.

 

[JakobT]

You pose valid points in favor of leaving the bass out and at the ready. And that's a great idea with the shaving brush. Guess that just goes to show you the level of OCD I harbor. Some things will never change.

Oh, I totally get the OCD thing, and I like to keep my gear looking clean, shiny and new for as long as humanly possible. But what good is having a sparkling jewel of a bass if you only keep it in its case?

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Oh, I totally get the OCD thing, and I like to keep my gear looking clean, shiny and new for as long as humanly possible. But what good is having a sparkling jewel of a bass if you only keep it in its case?

It comes out... Nearly every day. So, instead of taking it off a stand, I take it out of it's case.

 

[SteveHeissner]

In the warm days of summer I'll leave most of my basses out on my wall of greatness. Once fall turns to winter I usually bring em up stairs and stash cases away anywhere I can. If you're cold, they're cold. Bring em upstairs.
View attachment 3704691 View attachment 3704692

I see you've got a security guard dog as well. Always a good idea to keep your gear guarded!

 

[Humbled]

Case, stands, string swings, with a bias toward cased. Decorating walls with "displayed" instruments is less appealing to me than it used to be. I can think of three instances in my life where I can attribute damage to exposure (to the elements, not impact) that probably wouldn't have happened had the instrument been cased.

I hope everyone is using humidifiers where appropriate.

 

[Polfuste]

In cases / gigbags. I let my acoustic one and/or my Squier jazz on stand during the weekend only. Out of weekend, everybody is always in gigbags, cleaned with clothes after each playing.

 

[lomo]

I store my basses in a hard case and gig bags, stand it up on its bottom end, why do you have to lay them flat??

I don't store them flat, but when it's time to take a bass out of/ or put it back in a rigid case, this is most easily done with the case flat on the floor. With a gig bag, pulling the bass out or putting it in is pretty simple even with the bag standing vertically.

 

[aeb414]

I have mine hanging on the wall.
Standard guitar stands are tilted back, instrument leans back and gravity eventually causes the wood to bend (primarily the neck).
Hanging it on a wall hanger allows gravity to do its thing - keep the neck and truss rod straight.
This was told to me a few years back by a local custom guitar builder.
Makes sense to me.

 

[muggsy]

Do those wall hangers have any negative affect on your bass? I’m thinking with a constant pulling on the neck, and with the heavy tension strings it might do bad stuff to neck, truss rod, tuners over time? I’ve got one wall hanger (all my other basses are in a rack) that I keep my bass that I don’t care for in it. I’m too afraid to put my good bass and keep it in there cos it’s gonna mess stuff up and I want it to have the longest life and best performance possible.

Is it any different with guitars? Lesser effect, greater effect? Cos they have less tension on them I assume it would be different for guitars. I’ve got a guitar and I’m not sure to have one of my basses in the hanger or a guitar in there.

The effects of gravity are not going to damage your bass if it's on a wall hanger. Some cheap hangers and stands have a rubberized coating that can damage the finish on a headstock or neck over time, but that's uncommon. I have had my basses on hangers for 20 years with no ill effects. I just have to dust them once in a while. If you put a hanger on the wall, just make sure the mounting screws penetrate a wall stud and the bass isn't hanging near an air vent.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

The effects of gravity are not going to damage your bass if it's on a wall hanger. Some cheap hangers and stands have a rubberized coating that can damage the finish on a headstock or neck over time, but that's uncommon. I have had my basses on hangers for 20 years with no ill effects. I just have to dust them once in a while. If you put a hanger on the wall, just make sure the mounting screws penetrate a wall stud and the bass isn't hanging near an air vent.

There was a type of stand that used a yellow surgical tubing sort of padding and those reacted with nitro finishes leaving marks. There obviously have also been other paddings that reacted with other finishes. Bubble wrap is known to react with certain finishes as well.

Hercules brand stands have padding that does not react with any known finish.

 

[aeb414]

If you keep your stringed instrument that has a neck in a case the has 100% support under every inch of your instrument (remember 100%) then a case is great.
After market cases usually don’t give this type support.
also, cases are great for keeping the dust off your instrument.
If the support under your instrument is not 100% end to end, at some point, you won’t be a happy camper.
Here’s a simple test.
Lean a piece of wood against something.
After some time passes, you’ll see the pice of wood bend.
Gravity cannot be stopped when it comes to wood.
In a case - you may not take it out and play it. on a wall hanger, you’ll not only play it, but you can appreciate the instrument as a beautiful piece of art.
Hope my input helps.
No matter what - just play it!