Long term storage of basses

[tadawson]

There would be no reaction - the bag is made of LDPE (low density polyethylene), it's 100% inert.

The finish, however, may not be . . .

Myself, it's stored in tune, in a climactically reasonable space, in a hardshell case (absolutely *NOT* a gigbag which is neither air or other contaminant tight) so that any temp/humidity changes are moderated by the case..

 

[gln1955]

No. LDPE is not 100% inert. It does react with a variety of solvent chemicals. Over a period of years, this may be a suprise you don't want to see.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

I cannot guarantee that. If I had a place where humidity (and temperature) is controlled, this thread wouldn't exist.

Well, you can get a decent room humidifier for the price of an "affordable" instrument.

I understand you're in Europe. I am not all that familiar with your stores there, but here is an American "big box" store search: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Thumpin6string]

I only store mine in a hard case inside my house. No basement, no garage or shed. Strings are tuned.

 

[waver]

I’m no Lt. Columbo, but here’s my take:

The place that totalnoob wants to store these basses is not in his house in a closet or under his bed.

 

[moon-bass]

Sorry, but this is nonsense.

Yeah, okay. It always surprises me when someone asks a question and receives a number of replies from ppl that actually know things and then they respond like this. Why do you even ask for advice if you already have your mind made up, and then reply like a jerk? You have no idea what you are talking about, yet you ignore the advice of others that do. Also, it's absolutely not nonsense. Sigh.

 

[moon-bass]

I’m no Lt. Columbo, but here’s my take:

The place that totalnoob wants to store these basses is not in his house in a closet or under his bed.

He's asking the impossible. There is no reasonable/feasible way to safely store a musical instrument in a non-climate controlled environment with significant swings in temperature and humidity without some risk of impact to the instrument. They are being told that time and time again. (Note that I said feasible. I am certain some hermetically sealed vault oflr something would work, etc ).

It's like asking for a safe way to play with matches around open gasoline containers then getting pissy when ppl tell them not to do that.

 

[totalnoob]

Myself, it's stored in tune, in a climactically reasonable space

Good for you.

 

[totalnoob]

Why do you even ask for advice if you already have your mind made up

I don't have my mind up, I just disregard nonsense. I accept sound arguments.

 

[tadawson]

Good for you.

Nice . . . . Clearly I care more about my gear than you do . . . Hardly anything to get snippy about, though . . .

 

[cataract]

Good for you.

Is this a troll thread?! Username checks out! Uhhggh

 

[totalnoob]

Is this a troll thread?! Username checks out! Uhhggh

I explained clearly enough, multiple times, the parameters of the problem. If someone likes to report their personal situation which has nothing to do with mine, best I can do is ignore them.

 

[totalnoob]

Well, you can get a decent room humidifier for the price of an "affordable" instrument.

I understand you're in Europe. I am not all that familiar with your stores there, but here is an American "big box" store search: Invalid Link Removed

Humidity may not be the only problem, and the place may be impossible to keep humidified, but I appreciate your advice.

 

[9c1ny]

Sorry, but this is nonsense.

Ever see a guitar that sat on the rubber pad of a stand or neck hanger for years?

 

[9c1ny]

For what it's worth I have guitars that have sat in the case since the 1990s with no special preparation, zero issues

 

[moon-bass]

I don't have my mind up, I just disregard nonsense. I accept sound arguments.

Nah, you're being ignorant of the facts and others advice, and when someone with clearly more knowledge tries to help, you respond like petulant brat. Go wrap your instruments in plastic bags and keep them in a crappy environment. No one with any sort of intelligence or experience is going to tell you that it's a good idea.

 

[gln1955]

I don't have my mind up, I just disregard nonsense. I accept sound arguments.

What has anyone said that is nonsense?

You just don't know as much as you think you do and refuse to become more informed.

 

[Marko 1]

I explained clearly enough, multiple times, the parameters of the problem. If someone likes to report their personal situation which has nothing to do with mine, best I can do is ignore them.

Try Luthier's Corner, maybe you'll trust those guys more.

Otherwise imo, you've gotten good advice here.

 

[mdogs]

Yeah, okay. It always surprises me when someone asks a question and receives a number of replies from ppl that actually know things and then they respond like this. Why do you even ask for advice if you already have your mind made up, and then reply like a jerk? You have no idea what you are talking about, yet you ignore the advice of others that do. Also, it's absolutely not nonsense. Sigh.

Beat me to it.

OP - “I need help.”

Rest of TB - “ Here is the help you need.”

OP - “Actually, what I need is not help, what I need is someone to tell me I’m right even though I have no idea about this.”

Rest of TB - “here we go again.”

 

[micguy]

Don’t over think it. The neck is made to bend in opposition to your string tension in equal force. If you loosen the neck the best case is “nothing happens” and the worst case is the wooden system adjusts to a new shape that maybe too don’t like.

Wood will react to whatever stresses are put on it - both internal and eternal. Adding an external stress does not stabilize a neck - it makes it more likely to move, not less. If a piece of wood (or a glue up of multiple pieces) moves over time on its own (without external forces), it means internal stresses are being relieved (the wood wasn't stable when you got it). Adding an external force does not help that - wood that wants to warp will warp.

I've stored necks for years with no tension on them from strings or the truss rod, and they come out straight. A well set up neck always has some bend (more than if it has no tension on it) because we want some relief. I've taken to storing basses I'm not playing for a while tuned a whole step down, which works out to about 25% less tension. The reduces the relief a few thousandths. Not sure if that will have a big advantage over time or not. So far, it's working fine.