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Keep basses in case?
- Thread starter Joe Geni
- Start date
I usually have a couple sitting out on stands in one or two rooms. Others are displayed on wall hangars. The rest that are not in rotation stay packed in their cases. I like having easy access to a bass when inspiration hits plus basses look cool. If they can't be heard, then they should at least be seen
I keep my basses in their cases with a humidifier when they're not being played. I live in the Colorado high desert where it's very dry.
I leave my PB on a stand in my music room. My other bass, as well as my acoustic and electric guitar, stay in their cases and are inspected regularly. Fortunately the humidity is fairly constant. But in the summer when my wife just has to have the windows open, the humidity goes us as the AC is off ( better be off, the City can pay for their own air condition) and then I deal with the humidity as well as keeping tabs on the instruments.
Mine are running freely in the house... Oh and they like to scare the cat...
I've got three on stands that I play regularly and one in a case. If I had a more conveniently accessible way to stow my cases away I'd probably keep just two out and two in cases. Space comes at a premium here.
It's not bad practice to leave them tucked away in the case, especially if you live in an area with big temperature changes.
I don't, so I tend to leave my 3-4 (main players) out on stands and the others live in their case or Mono bag.
I don't, so I tend to leave my 3-4 (main players) out on stands and the others live in their case or Mono bag.
Well, I learned that wood can change with humidity and temperatures. Wood can become moist and wood can dry out. So the most logical thing for me was always to keep my few instruments out in my room. That way they're always in the same climate as I am and probably don't need as much of a setup, as if I was going to store them for a longer time and then take them out again. However, that might not make much of a difference and the bass stays nice and clean inside the case
Have heard “common wisdom” that it’s healthy for guitars to be out on their stands sitting waiting to be adored and played.
Have also seen TB’ers write that for their expensive/irreplaceable basses nothing less than stored in a hard shell case.
i have done both.
keeping basses out, your main concern is dust, secondly temperature fluctuations, a strong possibility is that inadvertent damage happens to the bass when through it being exposed (dings, atmospheric wear, rested against something it should not be).
In hardcase/gig bag only really has zippers/hard edges that can contribute to dings over many put ins and take outs.
I’ve had results from storing basses either way, basses will age far more if they’re exposed to atmosphere BUT you will probably be more likely to clean it and see things you can detail/make nicer if it’s out.
Keeping basses in a hard case/bag for me is a disincentive to pick it up in a lull and PRACTICE/work on a line.
I’m lazy though. More lazy than most people here.
i keep at least one bass out permanently because i need something to lean over and Play.
I like the late Tommy Tedesco's advice to always keep an instrument of the case and nearby so you'll be motivated to pick it up and play (and maybe even practice 
) so I do generally have one sitting out with an amp rig. The ones that go in and out of the house for gigs are stored in gig bags, a few are on guitar hangers on the wall in the studio, and ones that I play less often are in cases or gig bags in a storage room.
I had an issue where I used to live which was 1/4 mile from the ocean - a bass was hanging on the wall in an office area, and the salt air corroded the gold hardware quite a bit before I noticed it was happening. Now we're a bit farther from the ocean in an area with a fairly constant and moderate climate, so it's relatively safe to leave instruments out.
) so I do generally have one sitting out with an amp rig. The ones that go in and out of the house for gigs are stored in gig bags, a few are on guitar hangers on the wall in the studio, and ones that I play less often are in cases or gig bags in a storage room. I had an issue where I used to live which was 1/4 mile from the ocean - a bass was hanging on the wall in an office area, and the salt air corroded the gold hardware quite a bit before I noticed it was happening. Now we're a bit farther from the ocean in an area with a fairly constant and moderate climate, so it's relatively safe to leave instruments out.
I have two or three on stands ready for play, practice. The rest are in gig bags or cases ready for travel. Usually the ones out are for practice and the cased are the gig basses, but I change them up so they all get a chance to get out of the house.
- Oct 6, 2009
- 151
- 294
- Disclosures
- My opinions may offend you. Get a thicker skin and grow the f up.
Mine stay in cases when not being used. Exposure can lead to accidents. I just pull 'em out and put 'em away. Not a big deal.
I don't see why not, especially if there's a party going on, in your living room.
I keep 2 gig bags in my house for gigs and rehearsals, all my cases are in storage. My basses live in Gator closet hanging bags. Saves a lot of space and provides easy access. You just open the zipper and pull out the bass.
