Playing bass in the sun... what to do?

No.

Now, I'm a proponent of USING the "good stuff". But I've also played a zillion shows on the Mid-Atlantic coast.

On the beach? Mid day? You'll need sunblock. That calls for a thick poly finish (Trust me on that.) Sweat. Sand. Salt. High temps. Sharks. Boat drinks that can be spilled by drunk people suffering from heat stroke. It's the perfect storm.

Grab the P bass for this one show. I have never played a festival and had ANYONE say "Why is that guy playing a P bass?" It'll do just fine.

If it were NEAR the beach, or at night, or indoors at the beach (removing one or more of the environmental concrens) I would say go for it.

 

While I don't know much about Overwater basses,
I do know that salt air is not your basses friend.
So, my counter question would be;
just how much is this gig paying?

Also, chances are the P bass will get the job done
and likely be simpler to repair if there are any ill effects.

 

If the temp is going to be at all high
a pair of wrist sweat bands might be in order.

 

Is your P good enough to gig? If so, bring it.

 

I wouldn't bring my best if I were playing right on the beach.

 

Nope. Why would you play a bass worth thousands at any gig? Risking scratches, dents, dings, getting stolen...no thanks. Only way I would ever gig an expensive bass was if I was playing arenas and had a personal guitar tech babying my gear. Find a nice, used MIM Femder for $300 and gig that, or use your existing P on gigs

 

What's the temps? Prolly need some water on hand. Maybe a hat.

Good luck!

 

Just don't sit it in the sun all day and it'll be fine. An hour at the beach isn't going to kill it.

 

It’ll be fine.

 

Agree with wristbands. Maybe some chalk if you have sweaty hands. Works for Steve Harris!!

 

Wear sunglasses and a hat. Oh, yeah. Don't forget the shorts and sandals, too.

 

This is why I have a nicely set up Squier 5 on hand for times I dont want to take my expensive main player.
I've played at Seahawks games when its thirty-something out, sprinkling out, and 5 hour wedding day in mid-day sun.

 

Shorts! <ducking>

 

It's really up to you. Probably most of the nastiness the bass will encounter will be sweat dripping from you. If you want to keep the bass nice, either leave it at home or plan on doing some major detailing to clean it up after the gig.

Sweat, salt, sand, and sun screen can be pretty rough on an instrument if not removed. I suggest you make sure and wipe down the bass real well before you put it in the case, otherwise all the gross stuff will be transferred back to the bass after you clean it.

I gigged a Yamaha TRB6P for 13+ years. It didn't have many dings in the finish but the hardware was a bit rough due to many outdoor gigs with rain and sweat where the bass got put away wet and dirty. When the musicians function as sound crew, roadies, drivers, etc, the instruments don't tend to get babied as well as they should, especially when a storm blows in mid set, and you have to pack and load 7,000lbs in the rain.

 

Good lord, it’s only an hour. That’s NOT going to hurt the the bass. You pay all that money you’d BETTER go play it. Life is too short to be all precious about this kind of occasional situation. Want to buy something expensive you won’t be a dweeb for leaving at home? Get a really nice boutique couch.

 

So a guy owns nice Rolls Royce and a Chevy Cruze and wants to go to the beach, which car should he take?

 

Does any one care what the bass player plays?

 

Depends... does he want chicks?