Leaving your bass in a car

[canshaker]

im going on holiday for 2 1/2 weeks. The first week I'll be abroad and leaving the car in a secure car park at the airport. I'd like to have my practice bass (cheap Ibby GSR 180) around for the other week and a half. Would leaving it in the car be a bad idea? I'm not worried from a security point of view as it will be out of sight and in a 24 hr patrolled fenced off car park next to the terminal. It's more from a neck point of view. Will the day/night temperature change affect it? It'll be in the Northern UK so daytime max mid 20sC (70sF) nighttime around 12C (53F) a change if around 10 degrees C (20F) in reasonably humid conditions. Is this a really bad idea?

Our gear stays in a trailer for months at a time, when we're on the road. The bass will be fine.

 

[alpan254]

never ever leave the bass in the car

 

[roccobass]

Pansies. It's wood and metal. Nothing will happen that wouldn't happen normally for seasonal changes. Want proof? Look at 60-year old Fenders that have been abused much more thoroughly and are still going strong.

Unnecessary abuse would be my concern. Wood reacts to humidity. Unprotected metal too. I bought a MM Sterling a few years ago. Don't know how the seller managed it, but had some rust down on the bridge. He lived in a cold and moist area. You can always get it fixed too by a professional if it's stay in the car proves too much. Personally, I would leave the bass at a friends house.

 

[jacobsmithbass_]

I can't help but wonder how many of the people who are freaking out are the same ones who get mad at any bass that costs more than $1500 new.

It'll be fine in the car.

 

[RedMoses]

As Jaco put it, "Don't leave your Bass anywhere you would not sleep".

 

[stevieg]

I made the mistake of leaving my first bass in the back seat of a VW. It was stolen. No more!!!

S

 

[Yonni]

As Jaco put it, "Don't leave your Bass anywhere you would not sleep".

Cool, I've slept in cars at festivals, after parties and at the beach.

And I'll say it one last time, this is a totally replaceable instrument and would be covered by insurance if stolen. It needs a new bridge as well.

 

[ptooner]

I made the mistake of leaving my first bass in the back seat of a VW. It was stolen. No more!!!

S

I have to agree, I knew an accordion player some years ago that against my advice left his accordion in the back seat of a locked car. Sure enough he returned to find a window broken and 3 more accordions in his back seat.

 

[delta7fred]

In a roof box it could get quite hot in the weather we are currently having in the UK (only happens every 20 years or so) but wrap it in a duvet or a blanket and it will tend to slow the rate of temperature change down.

Probably a lot better for it than taking a bass out of a sub zero van into a hot sweaty club/pub at about 25C (78F), something my old P bass got subjected to many times every winter for 35 years (and it did it no harm).

 

[h2otorched]

I would not leave my bass in a car.
I would not leave my bass in a bar.
Or, up a tree.
In a hive of bees.
In the heat tuned to a natural E.
I would not strap my bass to a cow.
I would not even know how.

I would would not leave my bass in a car.

 

[Dave Neal]

im going on holiday for 2 1/2 weeks. The first week I'll be abroad and leaving the car in a secure car park at the airport. I'd like to have my practice bass (cheap Ibby GSR 180) around for the other week and a half. Would leaving it in the car be a bad idea? I'm not worried from a security point of view as it will be out of sight and in a 24 hr patrolled fenced off car park next to the terminal. It's more from a neck point of view. Will the day/night temperature change affect it? It'll be in the Northern UK so daytime max mid 20sC (70sF) nighttime around 12C (53F) a change if around 10 degrees C (20F) in reasonably humid conditions. Is this a really bad idea?

I live in easter Canada and have to deal with wildly fluctuating weather each season.. I would say you should be ok but you can always get some moisture suckers and place them in the car and wrap the bass in plastic to shield from moisture, shield the car from any sunlight. Temperature fluctuations occur gradually so not much chance of temperature crack and damage .. do not back off your string tention. Humidity and heat are your worst enemies.

 

[stevieg]

ptooner, good one!!!

 

[elgranluis]

My old teacher used to prefer the slap sound on it to her 3x more expensive active Ibby.

That was a very considerate thing that your teacher did right there, give you confidence about your bass.

 

[Mark Ellis]

It would be in a gig bag in a roof box. I'm not worried about it getting stolen as it's cheap and insured. I just don't want to damage the neck or strings etc. Should I slacken the tuners off or keep a bit of tension in the neck?

NO! Never slacken tuners as the truss rod then puts a strain on the neck. It is designed to have truss rod and strings in balance.

 

[Attym]

Before I really understood what temperature change could do to a bass, I left mine in the car in many extreme temps and it never even went out of tune... However, now that i'm on talkbass, Im looking into humidifier closets.

 

[bearfoot]

I made the mistake of leaving my first bass in the back seat of a VW. It was stolen. No more!!!

S

Jaco is hardly one to quote about taking good care of a bass.

I've traveled in 100+ F temps with gear in trailers, sometimes having to be left, including a USA Gibson SG and my bass.

No problems resulted. Yes, my bass does have rust on the bridge screws. Makes up for the lack of tort.

 

[chadds]

Okay. Where is this car going to be parked? ....and when please.

 

[Yonni]

Okay. Where is this car going to be parked? ....and when please.

It's the green Mercedes in the corner under the tree. It's booby trapped though.

 

[BrentSimons]

I left my first bass, an Ibanez RB850 in the car after my bands first gig (summer). I think me and the guys were so excited I dont even remember if I wiped it down? Probably not as the next day I opened the case and all of the metal hardware turned a greenish tint and oxidized. Granted it was a humid night but I was so bummed! I still have it in all of its tarnished dented glory.

 

[Yonni]

I'm back!

After a 300mile drive in a car with no air con in 90F (33C) heat, I've taken my bass out...
Drum roll
.
.
.

It's fine! Played it up and down and no change apart from needing a tune up. Not a buzz or high string anywhere. Fretboard feels the same.
I'm not saying it's a good idea but it worked out OK for me. Thanks for all the advice, discussion and interest.