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Leaving your bass in a car
- Thread starter Yonni
- Start date
Well everything else is packed so I'm off to stick my headphone amp in the bag and pack it all up. It's coming with us 
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70's to 50's (F.)? I wouldn't worry about it. Those are pretty mild temperate parameters.
My basses have experienced almost the same fluctuation in my basement seasonally for years. No issues.
Now, if the swing was more extreme, I'd say "luck of the draw, cross your fingers and hope for the best."
My basses have experienced almost the same fluctuation in my basement seasonally for years. No issues.
Now, if the swing was more extreme, I'd say "luck of the draw, cross your fingers and hope for the best."
You could be right but it keeps telling me that I am spelling colour wrong too. :]
Although, if it can be avoided, it's a good idea not to expose your instrument to extremes. However, I've never understood people freaking out about even high quality instruments being in the hot and cold too long....most major touring artists pack up their instruments and have them in a non climate controlled semi for hours at a time in both hot and cold.
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The weather extremes could have an impact on the neck, causing it to warp. On the other hand, those weather conditions are pretty normal. Others may have done it with no issues. I personally would not chance it.
If your daytime high is 20C, the inside car temp will be much higher than that, guaranteed. I will guess easily over 30+ if the car is in direct sun. Not safe for the guitar as the glue will soften in extended temperatures like that. If your pickups are wax potted, that will easily melt in those temps. Don't do it.
Although I agree with the sentiment, it would be wrong to say that extremes of temperature can never damage a musical instrument.
Ask me how I know.
Good point, assuming the car is out in the sun.
Depending on the integrity and fortitude of the cellular make up of the plastics, waxes, glues, woods, etc. some can handle it, some can't. If the temperature goes up that high, cross your fingers and hope your bass is made of stuff that won't be permanently altered in the heat. Some won't, but I have proof some will.
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It's not the wood that I'd be concerned about. A small enclosed space exposed to direct sun can heat up very quickly. 70 degree ambient temperature could mean well over 100 degrees inside the box. Glue begins to melt at 140 degrees; with the neck being under tension that means the joint between neck and fingerboard can move slightly and when it cools off the glue hardens again but with the joint slightly repositioned. Happened to my friend's guitar; he said there was no visible damage but he was never able to get it to play in tune again.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
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- 38,449
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- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Even at 70 F the inside of that car is going to get good and hot. Good rule of thumb is don't leave a bass someplace that you would not be comfortable in.
