Questions about bass storage ...

I have a 24 year old Ibanez Musician bass that I bought brand new in 1981. There was a period of about 12 years in which this bass came out of the case only about 3 or 4 times a year. I always kept it in its case, but, did little more in terms of maintaining the instrument. Nothing at all has gone wrong with this bass in all that time. It was always kept in the living room, so there were no major temperature/humidity shifts.

Other than a sometimes scatchy selector switch, you'd think this bass was new if you saw it.

I guess if you don't actually abuse most basses, over time they'll be fine.

That's my story.

Mike

 

I've read that you should keep it in a place where there will be little or no temp or humidity changes. You should also make sure that the case material will not react with the finish, hardware, or pickguard on the bass. I would keep it strung and tuned. If you choose to loosen the tension or take the strings off, be sure to loosen the truss rod as well. It would probably be a good idea to remove batteries if you have an active pre-amp, and give the entire bass a good cleaning.

 

I have 22 basses, so sometimes some get don't played for months at a time, til I get in the mood to play it. I keep them in the original hard case
all tuned up, I clean, polish & tune them before I put them away, and I leave those little dessicant bags in the case. They stay in a corner of the room. Climate controlled. every change of season I go thru all of them and take them out & tune them. On the ones I leave out in stands
I just keep em tuned and there fine.

 

In a case with the strings loosend to relieve tension has always worked for me. Its the safest place for it. Put a moth ball or something similar in the case if you want. It will absorb any moisture that can get in there. This is what I usually do and have had no problems with it.

On a stand is fine but I dont recomend it for anything longer than a temporary stay like slight breaks durring a practice session. Dust and such will acumulate on it as well as its exposed to humidity.

Im also not a very big fan about the hanging stands, it puts all the weight on the headstock which from what Ive been told adds undo stress on the neck joint. It also leaves the instruement exposed to humidity & dust.

IMO the case is the best/safest place you can keep it.

 

I keep mine on a stand. I only use the hardshell case when I transport to rehearsals/gigs. This one luthier I know told me that if you keep your bass/guitar in the hardshell case for long periods of time, it can put stress on the truss rod and effect the relief on the neck. Has anybody else heard that? It does make sense...

 

I have gone on world tours and a remote to Korea for periods of a year here and there and I leave them in the case, standing up, with the strings strung to pitch, and in a fairly controlled atmosphere. Never had any problems.