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Double Bass In Car ALL Day?

ericw

ericw

Aug 19, 2009
620
13
39
Greencastle, PA
#1
I am a DB newbie coming from BG. I read the FAQ link on humidity and searched and didn't find quite what I was looking for. I'm trying to schedule my lessons for the fall semester:

I work in between my house and the location of my lessons, so it would make the most sense to bring my DB rental (probably an Englehardt) with me, leave it in the car while I work from 7-4, and go to my lesson straight-away. I live in western MD so temperatures in the winter can potentially get down to single digits.

Is this a problem?

Should I go home for dinner and get my bass and then go to lessons? I suppose I could possibly bring it inside at work, but our cubicle is not overly large, and, having no experience handling a DB, I have no idea how much of a pain that would be. Any thoughts?
 
#3
ericw said:
I am a DB newbie coming from BG. I read the FAQ link on humidity and searched and didn't find quite what I was looking for. I'm trying to schedule my lessons for the fall semester:

I work in between my house and the location of my lessons, so it would make the most sense to bring my DB rental (probably an Englehardt) with me, leave it in the car while I work from 7-4, and go to my lesson straight-away. I live in western MD so temperatures in the winter can potentially get down to single digits.

Is this a problem?

Should I go home for dinner and get my bass and then go to lessons? I suppose I could possibly bring it inside at work, but our cubicle is not overly large, and, having no experience handling a DB, I have no idea how much of a pain that would be. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Wooden objects move lot along their width and thickness with extreme temperature and humidity changes. Moreover, certain types of finish may craze/crack. I would not leave any DB in a car for an extended period, in extreme heat or cold, if I had any other option. Of course, a ply bass will withstand this better than a carved one, but it is not a great way to treat any string instrument, if you can avoid it.

Any time your bass is outside for awhile, it will get cold. If, for whatever reason, it gets really cold, bring it up to room temperature slowly, again, by leaving it in the bag for awhile when you reach your destination. Just my 2c.
 
#4
Eric Swanson said:
Wooden objects move lot along their width and thickness with extreme temperature and humidity changes. Moreover, certain types of finish may craze/crack. I would not leave any DB in a car for an extended period, in extreme heat or cold, if I had any other option. Of course, a ply bass will withstand this better than a carved one, but it is not a great way to treat any string instrument, if you can avoid it.

Any time your bass is outside for awhile, it will get cold. If, for whatever reason, it gets really cold, bring it up to room temperature slowly, again, by leaving it in the bag for awhile when you reach your destination. Just my 2c.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
#5
Also consider the fact that, by leaving it visible in the vehicle, you are inviting theft. If the bass is stolen, you will be on the hook for whatever the rental company says it's worth, and I doubt your car insurance company will be very interested in helping you.
 
#7
I've left my bass in my car before, but only for short periods (beer after orchestra rehearsal ;) ). That said, I do have a heavily insulated case (1 inch dense padding all 'round).

I would see if I could squeeze it, and myself, into the cubicle first, then experiment to see if I had time to go home for dinner/ pick up the bass, and if not, see if I could drop my bass off at the place where I have lessons before I go to work. if none of these other options panned out, I'd try to move my lesson time before I left it out in the car all day, honestly.

my $0.02.

regards,

Eerbrev
 
#9
KUNGfuSHERIFF said:
Also consider the fact that, by leaving it visible in the vehicle, you are inviting theft. If the bass is stolen, you will be on the hook for whatever the rental company says it's worth, and I doubt your car insurance company will be very interested in helping you.
Click to expand...
There's your answer. Leaving it your car all day is a fool's game, seriously. We hear about theft from cars all the time here- don't become a statistic.
 
#11
My friend, it is not a good idea to leave your bass in the car all day long. The risk for damage and theft is too high. It's not just winter cold you have to worry about. Hot, humid summers can also be dangerous, especially when you bring the instrument back into an air conditioned environment. There is also the problem of the instrument taking the better part of your lesson to readjust to inside temperatures.

If you can't bring the bass into your place of employment for the day, I would suggest going home to pick it up before your lesson. I know everywhere is different, but my employers are very cool about me bringing my bass in to work when I have to leave straight from the office for a gig (although I did have them assure me that this was ok before I took the job).
 
#13
I've left my bass in the car before but only if I don't expect the weather to change and remains overcast and that it will be very secure (like in my company's gated parking lot). And only if I park in the shade (cuz you can't be too sure). Of course I'm in CA tho. If I"m unsure, I take it with me.

If it's sunny, forget it.
 
#15
My bass does not spend much time in my truck without me in it. I don't recommend it. Basic rule of thumb, treat it like your child. If you aren't comfortable sitting locked up in your car for 8 hours in the searing heat or freezing cold you're bass won't be either.
 
#18
Mine doesn't stay in the car. I don't trust it and in these parts things die in vehicles.

I bring mine into a lot of places. It is a great conversation piece. I've actually made some money by having it with me.

I was in a bar having a beer and someone asked if I could play it. I pulled it out and started singing and playing some. Before I know it, folks are putting money on the table. I walked out with $27 and no bar tab.

Everyone knows Fever (Peggy Lee) right?
 

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