NBD waiting for it to thaw out. Happy post?

[el murdoque]

Ok ok, opened it up before coffee and ended up playing it for an hour. It was shipped with the strings loosened (we can argue about that one later, I don't think it is necessary, or even a good thing in more extreme weather conditions).
We have been experiencing such long bouts of extreme temperature that I have been a bit paranoid- however, if you saw my other thread yesterday about a bass that cracked on me due to the environment here over the last couple weeks, you probably get why I just wanted to be stupid cautious.
What a nice build- about as hippy sandwich as you can get. The bass is a year old (I am the second owner- thanks Bernie!!!), but is showroom condition. The travel definitely whacked the setup - probably mostly due to the extreme temps and not being under tension. Will let it stabilize for a couple days, adjust the truss and give it a setup with my preferred strings. I was incredibly relieved that it was really, really comfortable on first play- my body did not reject it. No way to try one of these out, so I made an educated roll of the dice. 16.5 mm spacing, 33" scale, mandolin frets- all things I prefer, but you never know... I tried a Fodera MG mini, and really did not like it at all. Anyway, here's a couple pics of this fine instrument. You gotta be nuts to build stuff like this, it's as much artwork itself as it is a high level functioning tool, which I am a sucker for. Builder is St Germaine, from CanadaView attachment 7426705View attachment 7426706

How are the dots on the fretboard made? Could you post a closeup of them?

This needs to be flagged as NSFW post. I sat here, drooling for a solid ten minutes. Wood Pornography!

 

[Thumpin6string]

Ok ok, opened it up before coffee and ended up playing it for an hour. It was shipped with the strings loosened (we can argue about that one later, I don't think it is necessary, or even a good thing in more extreme weather conditions).
We have been experiencing such long bouts of extreme temperature that I have been a bit paranoid- however, if you saw my other thread yesterday about a bass that cracked on me due to the environment here over the last couple weeks, you probably get why I just wanted to be stupid cautious.
What a nice build- about as hippy sandwich as you can get. The bass is a year old (I am the second owner- thanks Bernie!!!), but is showroom condition. The travel definitely whacked the setup - probably mostly due to the extreme temps and not being under tension. Will let it stabilize for a couple days, adjust the truss and give it a setup with my preferred strings. I was incredibly relieved that it was really, really comfortable on first play- my body did not reject it. No way to try one of these out, so I made an educated roll of the dice. 16.5 mm spacing, 33" scale, mandolin frets- all things I prefer, but you never know... I tried a Fodera MG mini, and really did not like it at all. Anyway, here's a couple pics of this fine instrument. You gotta be nuts to build stuff like this, it's as much artwork itself as it is a high level functioning tool, which I am a sucker for. Builder is St Germaine, from CanadaView attachment 7426705View attachment 7426706

And it's a 6er. Nice!!

 

[andare]

I mean just open it and play it outside!

 

[D.A.R.K.]

How are the dots on the fretboard made? Could you post a closeup of them?

Here you go- not sure what the material is exactly, but the ring is a bit luminescent. Maybe mother of pearl with ebony dust/ glue for center, or a synthetic version of that. Some real nice detail work on this, there was a lot of care put into it. I e-mailed the builder, I intend to have a quick discourse with them after getting settled in and going over everything. I'll put that on the list, I'm curious now too.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Sure, I'll go first.

Up here in the Upper Midwest, if it's been outside for extended periods of 20 below, I'd give it a couple days. If it's coming in from only 30 degrees, shouldn't need more than a day.

50 years ago, we'd throw the instruments into the van last, drive a few hours in sub-zero, bring them into the bar first and just unlatch the cases. Unloading the van and setting up the stage and PA killed a couple hours and by then, it was OK to open the lid without causing finish cracks.

Oh, to be young again...

Back in the day of tossing gear in the back of a truck…. When it was cold out side, we would open the case, then watch for the finish cloud up from condensate. As soon as we saw the first signs of that, we closed the case. Let it sit for 10 or so, then we barely cracked the case open then checked it the same way every ten minutes until no signs appeared.

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Plugged the bass in finally to test the electronics, while the playability needs some tweaks (appears to be a high fret or two, nothing unusual) I am really floored by the sound- it's like it's plugged into a high end console. Even better than the East preamps I love and use. Went back and got the spec from the sale ad, bought for other specs (spacing, frets, scale, string count) and wasn't overly concerned with electronics honestly, but this Trickfish preamp with the Aggie DCB pickups is just phenomenal. Great set flat, could go gig without touching it but there's major chameleon stuff available, so many great tones, tight and focused. Jaco? Check! Robbie Shakespeare? Check! What a great response across the neck, clear as a bell. B is fantastic. Electronics package is quite the unexpected surprise.
Specs:
Rhea
6 string
Neck-thru
33” scale
26 frets
16.5mm spacing
Walnut body wings
Mun Ebony top wings
White Oak tone block
5-piece neck
- 3 white oak main stringers
- 2 purpleheart secondary stringers
Gabon Ebony fingerboard
Mandolin frets
Scalloped brass nut
Mun Ebony headstock cap
Aguilar DCB pickups
Ebony ramp
Trickfish preamp
Hipshot Type A bridge
Hipshot Ultralite tuners
Ebony knobs
Dunlop dual function straplocks
Black hardware

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Back in the day of tossing gear in the back of a truck…. When it was cold out side, we would open the case, then watch for the finish cloud up from condensate. As soon as we saw the first signs of that, we closed the case. Let it sit for 10 or so, then we barely cracked the case open then checked it the same way every ten minutes until no signs appeared.

Back in the day I would just ignore all of it and end up needing to tune half way through the first tune with my foggy instrument You could also get a nice American P bass, checking optional for 300.00 used all day long (while getting the standard 100/ gig). Fun times.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Back in the day I would just ignore all of it and end up needing to tune half way through the first tune with my foggy instrument You could also get a nice American P bass, checking optional for 300.00 used all day long (while getting the standard 100/ gig). Fun times.

Ahh,, the good old days….

 

[tb-player]

I like to have basses shipped to the local FedEx Print & Ship so they acclimate waiting for me to pick them up. But yeah, definitely give it some time. It'll be worth it. Of course, if it's in a case, you can open the top of the box and slip your hand inside to see if the inside has caught up with the outside. It's al about avoiding sudden temperature changes.

I just sold a bass to a guy in the midwest. I could have shipped it today, but am waiting til Monday. All weekend, temps will be in the single digits. From Monday on, lows will be in the high 20s or low 30s. For a nice bass, I will wait til Monday to ship so it doesn't sit in 9-degree weather all weekend. And I'm begging the buyer to exercise patience.

 

[BaltBass5]

If it's Really cold, on tour bands will bring instruments into where they sleep because you really don't want to have your guitar/horn outside all night...horns do get unplayable until repair if frozen with condensation still inside.

I get the gist of what you are saying but I’m talking about National touring headlining bands. They are def not dragging 18 guitars into the hotel room while on tour. lol

 

[CrimsonGhost]

Buddy Holly's strat or the p bass Waylon played didn't self desruct when it was on a frozen bus in -19f weather and they showed up just in time for the last gig in Iowa.

 

[BassBrass]

I get the gist of what you are saying but I’m talking about National touring headlining bands. They are def not dragging 18 guitars into the hotel room while on tour. lol

Bands at all levels can be "National touring" (although it's more expensive than when I was doing it) but do you suppose a "National Tour" bassist doesn't have a favorite instrument he/she wouldn't want to spend a night in a trailer at Zero degrees (15 below chill) Does Niel Young have 18 guitars or just his black LesPaul that has survived everything?

When on tour in Albuquerque New Mexico we came upon the bus of Les Claypool's latest thing post Primus. (A difference of lifestyle) I suppose if they wanted to they could afford to park in a heated garage, but I wonder if Les leaves his amazing basses in a van down by the river. Do tours in arctic temps just write of 18 guitars that got frozen overnight? Or do they find a way to preserve instruments?

 

[Iridescentone]

I get the gist of what you are saying but I’m talking about National touring headlining bands. They are def not dragging 18 guitars into the hotel room while on tour. lol

One of my homies played first guitar for the Bellamy Brothers, toured with them for years. One weekend in Chicago their trucks got stolen. He lost thousands of $$ worth of vintage guitars that night. Makes ya wonder....

 

[lowfreqgeek]

When on tour in Albuquerque New Mexico we came upon the bus of Les Claypool's latest thing post Primus...

Leaving anything in a hotel parking lot (or especially down at the river) overnight in ABQ is just asking for it to be gone the next morning. More than one "national touring band" has lost everything in ABQ. But that's another matter and off topic.

More on topic, I made the mistake of prematurely pulling a bass out of its shipping box in the dead of winter once (in Albuquerque during a cold snap...) and the ash body cracked. It was a tiny hairline crack, but that was super annoying.

 

[TFunkadelic]

Just open it and play it, no need to wait. If a little temperature change hurts it it's not a bass worth playing.

 

[JIO]

The cast of The Thing From Another World would like to have a few words.

View attachment 7426564

Great flick - James Arness (Gunsmoke) who was 6'7" tall as the 'thing' - the more recent versions are good also

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Some of y'all need to read the thread before replying ​

When I was tour managing internationally I absolutely made sure instruments were brought in at night. Not for the cold, but for safety.​

And, don't think normal exposure can't slowly degrade things until they snap one day- this pic is from a bass built in 1965 that was finished. The neck split because of the dramatic humidity change due to this crazy weather (since, I have installed a humidifier with humidistat so I don't forget and neglect things). I thought for sure that this bass was stable.​