Low temperatures and opening that NBD.....

[Nev375]

If I hear a creek in the wood while tuning, I'm probably dreaming. Mossy bank, sunlight dappled shade, hook in the water, ...

That's gettin' deep with another kind of bass.

 

[GreyBeard]

When my bass is super cold and I'm at a gig, I don't have time to let it warm up for several hours before opening the case. I usually open the case and let it warm up, tune it up, and then play the gig. I've never had so much as a single crack in the finishes of any of my bases.

 

[avalancheMM]

I have to say it, shouldn’t matter one bit on any decent bass, period.

If your bass shatters like a frozen glass put under running hot water, the bass is the problem, not the temps. Send it back.

So if your gear is in the trailer for a few hours in freezing temps, and you get to an indoor gig, you make the client wait 24 hours?

Thought not.

'Zactly.......I think this is the end of the discussion, as one who lives in the Great White North, where sometimes half of our year is below freezing.

Regards

 

[Frampton]

Of course, it’s better to be safe and let it warm up gradually. But, it really shouldn’t matter on a quality instrument.

 

[40Hz]

Since most of what I buy ships Fedex, I usually just have Fedex hold it since I’m in and out during the day. Most times I’ll pick it up sometime later the following day. So my default is usually 24 hours still boxed in a heated or air conditioned room regardless.

 

[BBox Bass]

I assume my instruments are like me and aren't too comfortable with going right into a warm house after being outside in sub-freezing temperatures. Two years ago, a USPS worker left a NOS bass leaning against the outside wall of my enclosed porch. I have told them many times that the porch is never locked and I want them to put my boxes inside, but they don't listen. It was the middle of winter complete with lake effect snow and I didn't find the box until the next day.

I put the unopened box in a bedroom (it's a little cooler than the living room) and closed the door for a few hours. Then I brought the box in the living room and let it sit for another 2 hours. When I opened the box and reached inside, I found that the bass was still cold, so I closed it up and left it alone for another few hours. When I finally pulled it out that evening, everything was fine. Yes, it made me crazy to wait, but better safe than sorry.

 

[BurningSkies]

I have to say it, shouldn’t matter one bit on any decent bass, period.

If your bass shatters like a frozen glass put under running hot water, the bass is the problem, not the temps. Send it back.

So if your gear is in the trailer for a few hours in freezing temps, and you get to an indoor gig, you make the client wait 24 hours?

Thought not.

I shattered the finish on a Ibanez this way back in the day. 5 hours in sub-zero with my bass (in case) down to NYC. Late for soundcheck due to weather...walk up on stage with hot stage lights (pre LED days). Within moments the finish had shattered in large instrument wide-cracks.

Plastic expands and contracts at different rates than wood. Extreme and quick changes can make this happen spectacularly. It wasn't the instrument or it's quality that was at fault.

 

[phillipkregg]

I just received a Sadowsky from FedEx that's been traveling in single degree temps for a few days and this thread has me worried... lol.

Think I'm just gonna restrain myself and let the box warm up before I open it just to be safe.

 

[phillipkregg]

Yes, this is proper way. And the client has to furnish free beer while I wait. Just one more...my bass hasn't adjusted yet.

Also, contract stipulates that the beer must be colder than the bass at all times.

 

[BurningSkies]

I just received a Sadowsky from FedEx that's been traveling in single degree temps for a few days and this thread has me worried... lol.

Think I'm just gonna restrain myself and let the box warm up before I open it just to be safe.

A few hours of delayed gratification isn't really that hard. I have one coming in next week. I'll accept the box, stand it in the corner let it sit an hour or so, then open the box and let the warmer air filter in another hour or two before unboxing altogether.

 

[winterburn69]

I live in northern Canada. It's probably much colder here than in Michigan.

I had a bass delivered in late January when it was probably -30 or -40. I opened the box right away, took out the case and opened the case as soon as I figured out the locks (probably 15 minutes). The bass itself was quite cold, the finish was fine as was the neck. Never thought to let it sit and warm up. I had it set-up and got the strings changed, it's been fine ever since (multiple string changes since then)

 

[Fat Freddy]

My master plan is to always wait 6 hrs before opening bass packaging.....

My master plan is crap.....

I lose patience and open the thing after about 20 mins....

Not had a problem yet......

 

[buldog5151bass]

I have to say it, shouldn’t matter one bit on any decent bass, period.

If your bass shatters like a frozen glass put under running hot water, the bass is the problem, not the temps. Send it back.

So if your gear is in the trailer for a few hours in freezing temps, and you get to an indoor gig, you make the client wait 24 hours?

Thought not.

. Difference between a few hours and a few days. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Medicine Man]

If it can't stand a temperature change its not gonna withstand the abuse I'm going to inflict on the poor thing. I try to get to room temp before tuning when possible.

 

[James Collins]

. Difference between a few hours and a few days. Better safe than sorry.

Wouldn't it only matter the temperature the instrument reached anyway? Like 1 hour at -100F would be worse than 48 hours at 30 degrees.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

If it can't stand a temperature change its not gonna withstand the abuse I'm going to inflict on the poor thing. I try to get to room temp before tuning when possible.

 

[Medicine Man]

View attachment 2866882

Always wait 24 hours before lighting your guitar on fire.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Wouldn't it only matter the temperature the instrument reached anyway? Like 1 hour at -100F would be worse than 48 hours at 30 degrees.

I'm no expert on the inside of trailers (or the inside of cases), but I imagine the insulation in a case, especially a flight case, would maintain temp for a while.

 

[beaglesandbass]

I have a delivery of a bass scheduled for next week - from LA California to Hell-has-frozen-over-Michigan.
With the recent cold temperatures, has anyone in the East Coast had any problems with the condition of the basses you received recently? Do you wait the 24 hours before opening up the box as recommended on some of the stickers they put on the boxes?

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine had the horror of opening up a delivery box in a heated room after waiting about 5 hours -(it was way below freezing outside at the time) and noticed a finish crack down the front of his new Sterling SUB bass. He wasn't 100% sure if the crack was of his doing and due to the drastic change in temperature and opening the box too soon, a defect in the new bass itself, or something that perhaps happened during delivery in the warehouse.

What do you think?
Any other horror stories out there?

I got my Stingray 5 in January 2015. I left it in the shipping box for 24 hours, took it out and left it in the case for another 24 hours. Maybe over cautious, but I opened it up and everything was fine.

 

[BurningSkies]

I'm no expert on the inside of trailers (or the inside of cases), but I imagine the insulation in a case, especially a flight case, would maintain temp for a while.

Yep. Most hard cases have an exterior shell, air filled foam and fuzzy lining. All of these help make temperature shifts slower.