Hanging a Bass by the Headstock? Tuning Problems?

[dbsfgyd1]

Have you tried hanging them upside down to see if the tuning goes flat?

‘Hilarious!!!

 

[BigJohnAZ]

It's probably those little bass Gremlins that come in in the middle of the night and just barely tweaked your tuning Keys just to make you mad LOL

 

[Ewo]

In my music room I have two or three instruments standing in one of those A-frame kind of racks, where the weight is on the bottom edge of the body. On gigs, I use a stand that hangs the bass from the headstock.

Honestly, I haven't noticed any big difference in them keeping in tune. Then again, every time I pick up a bass I give the tuning a quick check.

 

[cataract]

I don’t have this problem lol

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Are they hung by the tuners?

 

[sawzalot]

It’s not just the neck—even the bass body will eventually droop and turn into a the shape of a drop of water, like what happened to Geddy Lee’s original Fender Precision after he left it hanging at home for several years after he started playing Rickenbackers.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'm testing my truss rod theory. I put a skewer into the truss rod wheel as a pointer and will watch to see if if moves over a few days.

 

[Steadfast]

I have been hanging my basses by the neck for years. I can’t tell any difference. But then again, I am tone deaf.


Jk


But isn’t it kind of cruel?

 

[Ostie]

When I bought my J it was hanging on the wall at the shop. I’m taking it back tomorrow.

 

[wmhill]

I had 40-50 hanging by the headstock when I ran a music store back in the old days. Never had an issue with tuning. Occasionally, I would find an Epiphone acoustic with the bridge hanging by the strings after it would come unglued from the body... come to think of it, I had a few come out of the box like that. Couldn't have been the hanger.

 

[BassNugget]

I’m pretty sure 100 lb of string tension is going to trump 5 lb of body weight….

Yep. That is the "They are also dealing with other stresses, but " part of my post.

 

[Justinian]

Hang ‘em high

 

[micguy]

My basses, whether at home or on a gig, are always on hanging stands. While I do see the tuning change right after I get to a gig, that's in winter, and where I live it can get really cold out - a half hour ride in a cold car is the culprit there. Otherwise, I see zero tuning problems related to basses being hung from their necks.

If your bass is hung up on a wall hanger, is it in the air flow from a heating/AC vent? - that could do it.

 

[Slevage]

Yeah, although the plaster board that a lot of people screw the rawl plugs into, might not be.

The ratings include being screwed into plaster or drywall, but the installation must be done properly.
I have a 1969 P and an Elrick worth about $2500. hanging in my den without worries.

 

[Iridescentone]

Basses tend to go sharp this time of year, even overnight. It's the warm weather. Happens to mine most days during the summer, but not necessarily every day. Depends on how well my HVAC responds to rising outdoor temps. After a super hot day, I know they'll all be a tad sharp next day. I keep them either on Warwick floor racks, or in their cases and bags. The ones stored in bags or cases for long periods need to be tuned back down a half step, twice every summer. I used to have some hanging on walls by their necks, same deal. YMMV.

 

[Patrice B]

As already said by a lot of members here: mine (5) will vary a bit from day to day (a bit sharp or a bit flat) and, obviously, depending on the season. They are on wall hangers and floor stands. My home studio being in the basement, I’m at the mercy of dry/humid environment changes…

 

[Grinderman]

My P sits on a Hercules stand because symmetrical body.

My Jazz hangs from a Hercules stand because asymmetrical body, for the last 8 years.

The tuning or maintaining tuning is not an issue with either.

 

[J-Bassomatic]

Based on reading several TB threads, guess I am the only one that has had a problem hanging a bass by the headstock. Both of my Stingray 5's and Jazz 5 (thicker neck) have tuning issues after coming down from the hanger. That is, they are always "sharp" right after coming down and takes a little time for them to remain in tune after pulling them down and re-tuning (go flat easily). It's not hurting the Basses in any way, just annoying they seem to de-tune easily (go flat) for a few hours after pulling them down from the hanger (notice this when going to gigs usually). Those same Basses have zero problems tuning when they are left off the hook, and remain in tune between each time they are used.

Am I the only one that has experienced this?

Just curious

A simple experiment would be to put the current offenders on a stand instead of hanging them and see if the same thing happens over the same amount of time.

 

[Clark Westfield]

When I went into the Sadowsky and Fodera shops, the guitars were hanging by the necks.

Good enough for me if those guys are doing it.

 

[Das Jugghead]

Basement.
Humidity?

Not that I have noticed but I do not run a humidistat down here to keep track of levels. It is a finished basement along with climate control. A few years back I spent the summer digging around the house to power-wash, seal, and install a French drain around the perimeter of the house (that was a fun summer) so I am thinking any potential for moisture intrusion would be minimal. The floor could be a good-sized radiator of moisture as it is highly unlikely the builder protected the basement slab prior to pouring it thirty some odd years ago.

Even so, the bass that I keep here at the studio never leaves the studio and exhibits the same phenomenon as described by the OP.

This certainly is one of the more thought provoking topics I have stumbled upon here with lots of interesting theories. This is one of the reasons I really enjoy this forum. Thank you to everyone who has chimed in thus far.