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Long-term bass storage
- Thread starter J-boy
- Start date
In a hard case tuned and upright if possible. Never had any issues, there will be plenty of opinions coming your way soon.
Some say leave the strings on and de-tune a step, some will say de-tune only (my guess is that it could develope a backbow) and some will say loosen the strings and the truss rod.
Several of mine have been hangin on wall hangers for many years but they all get dusted, played and maintained. Good luck!
Some say leave the strings on and de-tune a step, some will say de-tune only (my guess is that it could develope a backbow) and some will say loosen the strings and the truss rod.
Several of mine have been hangin on wall hangers for many years but they all get dusted, played and maintained. Good luck!
Low action, straight neck, standard tuning, in a climate that you would be comfortable in. With low action and a straight neck, the strings will not exert as much forward pressure on the headstock as a high action/high relief situation would. This minimizes the chance of permanently pulling the neck into a forward bow or developing the dreaded 12th fret kink. @Turnaround gave this advice in another thread.
If I knew I wouldn't touch the bass for two years I'd probably feel good tuning down one full step and 1/2 turn off the rod. I don't think there's a set formula, just don't let the strings play "tug-o-war" against the neck. If something has to give, strings will usually win that fight.
My EB2 has had strings on it tuned to pitch since 1968, no problem.
Great idea! Over the long haul, string tension always wins. I like this method even more with that same setup and lighter gauge strings and/or tuned to e flat or D standard. I've seen a few necks permanently bowed with .055-.110s and high action....
I always keep my basses tuned. Sometimes , any given bass will stay unplayed for up to 3 years.
I don't think it matters. I wouldn't care , really.
I don't think it matters. I wouldn't care , really.
Most of my basses have been hanging on the wall for many many years, 'cept for when I'm playing one. I like to see them. 
We think nothing of having a bass we are playing tuned to pitch for many years so why is it reasonable to store one detuned and with the truss rod loosened?
I have seen instruments damaged when stored in places where the atmosphere is hostile to guitars. A damp basement, an out building without temperature and humidity control come to mind. I have a friend that has never sold a guitar and has many. I borrowed one and when I opened the case most of the hardware had green corrosion on it. That guitar was stored in an old house in Texas where temperature and humidity can fluctuate widely.
Stored upright and tuned to pitch in a nice hard case in a room where temperature and humidity are kept in reasonable limits would be my recommendation.
I have seen instruments damaged when stored in places where the atmosphere is hostile to guitars. A damp basement, an out building without temperature and humidity control come to mind. I have a friend that has never sold a guitar and has many. I borrowed one and when I opened the case most of the hardware had green corrosion on it. That guitar was stored in an old house in Texas where temperature and humidity can fluctuate widely.
Stored upright and tuned to pitch in a nice hard case in a room where temperature and humidity are kept in reasonable limits would be my recommendation.
i feel like this same thread 5 years ago would've had more "detune" opponents.
i've never been a fan of that.
strings tuned, truss rod properly adjusted, as others have said.. hard case, away from the elements as best as possible.
glad this is becoming the consensus these days.
i've never been a fan of that.
strings tuned, truss rod properly adjusted, as others have said.. hard case, away from the elements as best as possible.
glad this is becoming the consensus these days.
Because wood strength/stability is inconsistent and unpredictable. While most necks may be strong enough to resist giving in to string tension over time, some are not. Luck of the draw.
Reverse the question: How is it that some guitars can stay tuned to pitch for decades with little or no truss rod adjustments, while others require periodic truss rod adjustments (a.k.a. routine maintenance). Again, luck of the draw.
Fact: With temp and humidity changes, both wood and metal will expand and contract. Metal is hard, stable, and predictable. By comparison wood is soft, less stable and less predictable, with a wide range of deviation from one piece to the next. Unlike metal, wood is organic and can change over time from cyclical changes in its environment, which may take months or years, or may not happen at all. Left unattended for long periods, there is a risk factor. Why leave the outcome to chance?....those who do keep people like warpedneck.com in business. And God bless them, they breathe new life into otherwise ruined guitars.
So you have had good experiences with warpedneck.com ? I have an old forward bow neck from the 60's, I wonder it they could save it?
In tune, climate controlled. If you're worried about the strings' tension, remember that there is also a truss rod pulling in the other direction, don't just worry about things you see. So if tension is a concern, unstring it completely and loosen the truss rod. Above all, climate (temperature and humidity) controlled.
I left a bass in a case for ten or more years without getting it ready. It played as well afterwards as it had before.
I loosened the strings on my Fender Jazz bass and stuck it in the case. Left it under the bed like that for 15 years. It came out of storage in excellent shape and plays awesome.
This sends shivers up and down my spine. Having basses that you aren't going to play for a couple of years.
Are we allowed to talk about this here?
But yeah, loosen the strings and the truss rod. Put it somewhere where it won't get too hot, cold, or humid. Dry is OK.
Are we allowed to talk about this here?
But yeah, loosen the strings and the truss rod. Put it somewhere where it won't get too hot, cold, or humid. Dry is OK.
My L2500 has been in its case under the bed for about 10 years, with the occasional [fine-]tune up and 1/2 hour noodle session. Rarely do I ever really get to actually play it (or any of my others for that matter).There was a point where I probably hadn't touched it for a couple years, maybe 2011 to 2014 or so. It's always been tuned to pitch when put away, and pretty well tuned when the case was opened maybe once every 6 months.
Why? Just how life is right now, I guess…
If I were going to consciously put it in storage for a few years, and detune it, I would probably slack the strings pretty good and then totally slacken the truss rod all the way, so that there's no tension this way or that way. My biggest concern would be climate control.
Why? Just how life is right now, I guess…
If I were going to consciously put it in storage for a few years, and detune it, I would probably slack the strings pretty good and then totally slacken the truss rod all the way, so that there's no tension this way or that way. My biggest concern would be climate control.
