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How do I store my Nitro-finished P-Bass

Gbass75

Gbass75

May 20, 2009
1,343
948
Berkeley, California
#1
Hey there, Y'all...

I've got an AVRI '63, and (in so much as I'm able) I want to prevent any odd discoloration or strange marking on the finish; as I've seen/heard happen to other Nitro-finished basses...

Often, folks talk about the finishes reacting to the type of material lining the case a bass was left in, or the rubber padding on a guitar stand that it was sitting on...

So, what could/should an owner do to protect his bass, and prevent these nitro-anomalies from occuring?!?

Any thoughts would be very much obliged!

(Btw... right now my '63 is sitting in a Fender "deluxe" gig bag... should I get it the hell outta there?!?!?!? YIKES!!!!)
 
#3
Other that suspending it in a helium chamber...yes, foam rubber and surgical rubber eats them :vomit: I have had good luck but using the factory issue Fender cleaning cloths wrapped around the contact points on a stand, several wraps on each arm and the neck cradle and all has been good. They will get case rash in a tight fitting case, even the Fender cases. They hate being on carpet and vinyl too BTW. I always preferred automotive (acrylic) lacquer as it is resistant to such things (stands, cases, isopropyl and solvents) and has the same characteristics but that takes a re-spray.

Just avoid anything that has solvents used in it's manufacture. Cotton materials and such are safe. Wrap that rascal. And probably don't leave it in the gig bag...besides you can't stare at it in a gig bag (coffin)! And of course avoid extreme heat or cold or rapid temp changes yadda yadda yadda, you know.
 
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#8
pedroims said:
If you worry that much I would suggest to sell it and get a bass with different finish, I owned a new AVRI and no matter how careful I was the finish got some damage. Another option is to stop worrying and start adding mojo to your bass :)
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Yup

Store it in a hard case to minimize any possible issues. However, it's nitro. It's going to happen sooner or later. That's one of the bigger selling points of getting a nitro finished instrument IMO.
 
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#10
Gbass75 said:
Hey there, Y'all...

I've got an AVRI '63, and (in so much as I'm able) I want to prevent any odd discoloration or strange marking on the finish; as I've seen/heard happen to other Nitro-finished basses...

Often, folks talk about the finishes reacting to the type of material lining the case a bass was left in, or the rubber padding on a guitar stand that it was sitting on...

So, what could/should an owner do to protect his bass, and prevent these nitro-anomalies from occuring?!?

Any thoughts would be very much obliged!

(Btw... right now my '63 is sitting in a Fender "deluxe" gig bag... should I get it the hell outta there?!?!?!? YIKES!!!!)
Click to expand...
For home use a good gig bag is as good as any hard case. If it is the truly deluxe one (not the one up from the ones that come free but the one up from that that's as thick as a hard case when closed) it will protect it just as well from dings and scratches and will have a neutral enough lining to not affect the bass (it should - can't guarantee anything I suppose) and will in most cases protect from temperature changes at least as well as a hard case. Having said that a hard case will protect better from things like cabinets falling on it or droppage better.
It's temperature and humidity changes that are the worst enemies of Nitro - that's why if you gig in the winter you let the case sit for a while when you come in before you open it - let it adjust to the new conditions. Think of when you were a kid an got a fish - you left it's bag of water in the water in the bowl for a while so it could acclimatize - it's not the absolute temperature but the quick temperature change that kills it.
Stands are also bad for nitro as there are just a couple of points of often somewhat volatile material (foam rubber0 being pressed into the same point on the finish for years on end. If you get a good stand with surgical tubing (orangy-rubber colour) rather than foam rubber (usually black) than you are pretty okay - but if you want to be most careful keep it in whichever case you have and in a safe corner or under a bed where it won't get knocked.
Do you not have the original case? They came with good cases that were indeed nitro-friendly (I can be sure of that one because I have an '84 AVRI that looks like new (or at least the un-dented parts of the finish do - no discolouration or checking at all).
 
#12
I bought a Fender CS NOS '64 Jazz in sunburst (obviously with a nitro finish) and I like to keep my basses looking as good as new (hence the NOS). I was amazed however at how easily the finish gets marked. There are no chips or dings but no matter how careful I am it seems to suffer. Having said all that I came to the conclusion that it was acquiring its own relic'd appearance in the most appropriate way - i.e. by being played. I now feel much more at ease with it - but I'll still check for marks where it hangs from the wall hanger.:nailbiting:
 
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#14
drummer5359 said:
One of the points of getting basses, guitars and drums with nitro finishes is that they WILL age, hopefully in a fashion similar to the originals.
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True- I have a late 70s Ludwig that has a great patina!

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#19
Surgical tubing stands are safe for nitro, it is the foam stands that you want to avoid. I wrap my foam stands with shirts and socks. I have been meaning to get somebody to sew me some slip-on covers out of an old t-shirt.

The case it came is fine to hold it forever without ruining the finish. I would think a gig bag would be fine but I cannot say for certain.
 
#20
Thin, nitro finishes are very delicate. I would advise you to just use it, but don't abuse it and come what may. I think that Leo Fender envisioned his instruments to be tools to be used and not art pieces to just look at. If it's a good bass and you like it, use it regularly and if you keep it for a long enough time it'll gradually "relic" itself the old fashioned way and it'll be a beautiful thing.
 

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