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Should I open my new bass immediately?

#81
spencejm said:
I'm having a new bass delivered this afternoon. It should be in a hard case inside the shipping container. I've heard I should not open it right away to allow the temp and humidity to stabilize. I understand the reasoning for this but is it really necessary? I REALLY want to at least look at it!

Thank you for your advice.

Joe
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spencejm said:
I'm having a new bass delivered this afternoon. It should be in a hard case inside the shipping container. I've heard I should not open it right away to allow the temp and humidity to stabilize. I understand the reasoning for this but is it really necessary? I REALLY want to at least look at it!

Thank you for your advice.

Joe
Click to expand...
Wait at least 24 hours and the max 72 hours.
 
#83
spencejm said:
I'm having a new bass delivered this afternoon. It should be in a hard case inside the shipping container. I've heard I should not open it right away to allow the temp and humidity to stabilize. I understand the reasoning for this but is it really necessary? I REALLY want to at least look at it!

Thank you for your advice.

Joe
Click to expand...
No, it's not in the least bit necessary. Is there a heater in the case? Dehumidifier? Air conditioning?

The bass is in the same conditions in or out of the case, unless it's raining. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I dont know how that started. It goes from one place to another, over the course of a week or so. Its been "acclimating" on the truck all day. Play the dang thing.
 
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#86
spencejm said:
I'm having a new bass delivered this afternoon. It should be in a hard case inside the shipping container. I've heard I should not open it right away to allow the temp and humidity to stabilize. I understand the reasoning for this but is it really necessary? I REALLY want to at least look at it!

Thank you for your advice.

Joe
Click to expand...

Yes, it's necessary.

When I bring a bass guitar out of the house…the temp-controlled environment…I give it at Least an hour before opening the case…another hour before I get to tuning it.

Just a thought!

Congratulations on your/with your new Bass Guitar!!
 
#87
birminghambass said:
DO NOT OPEN! Go buy a large meat thermometer, stab in onto the box. Make sure you jab hard enough to penetrate the hardshell case. The the tip of the thermometer needs to be close to, but not touching the body. Anything more than 1/4 of an inch will not suffice. (You may need x-ray guided help, you can get a good x-ray machine with table for about 20k, totally worth it if you buy more than a few basses a year.) Wait until the internal temp matches the outside temp. When that's been achieved it's safe to open the box. DON'T take the case out. Just open the box to let it breathe. After 48 hours carefully slide the case out of the box but do NOT open. Now take a a scanning thermometer (like used for babies foerheads) and scan the entire case. If there are any discrepancies within .5 degrees Celsius, box it up and send it back. If it passes that test then get ready to get really excited, now you're just 24 hours from seeing your new bass!
Click to expand...

Well Written!!

yer a badass!
 
#88
philthygeezer said:
I would unpack it very slowly.

First I check for dents, and then slowly unpack the delivery slip, read it in a whispered tone.

Then I would run my fingers along every seam, looking for the places where I could separate the tape without being rough on the package.

Then I would very slowly unzip the flaps where I know there is another layer of protective material, keeping the precious object out of sight and reach a little longer.

Then I would slip it out of the box, slowly and carefully removing the remaining packaging.

Then I would attentively undo the zipper/unfasten the clasps.

Finally, I would examine every surface and curve very closely, and then plug it in and take it for a drive at slowly increasing volumes, playing with each knob and button until I am fully satisfied.
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ha ha !! do you by any chance write porn books..lolol..
 
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#90
I believe this is really only an issue with nitro finishes -- and it can indeed be a real issue on those. I've heard of opening the case after an intense temperature change resulting in the finish cracking immediately and then falling off.

I usually leave my nitro instruments at home, just because I have a poly finish that is my preferred general purpose bass, so I don't really deal with it much first hand.
 
#91
philthygeezer said:
I would unpack it very slowly.

First I check for dents, and then slowly unpack the delivery slip, read it in a whispered tone.

Then I would run my fingers along every seam, looking for the places where I could separate the tape without being rough on the package.

Then I would very slowly unzip the flaps where I know there is another layer of protective material, keeping the precious object out of sight and reach a little longer.

Then I would slip it out of the box, slowly and carefully removing the remaining packaging.

Then I would attentively undo the zipper/unfasten the clasps.

Finally, I would examine every surface and curve very closely, and then plug it in and take it for a drive at slowly increasing volumes, playing with each knob and button until I am fully satisfied.
Click to expand...
:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
you philthygeezer!
 
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#93
When I was on my honeymoon in January 1998 I bought a 12 string acoustic guitar in LA and then the next day took a flight to Anchorage and a cab ride to Alyeska. The guitar was in the plane cargo hold for a few hours and then the trunk of the cab for 45mins in the middle of winter. When we got to our accommodation the first thing I did was open the guitar case (I'm an Aussie and didn't know better). The guitar was immediately completely covered in condensation and I thought I may have wrecked it. I've still got that guitar and it still plays very well.

I think a solid body bass or guitar could handle even worse treatment than that acoustic ever went through.
 
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#95
To quote a previous reply:

I open it up immediately before the delivery truck gets too far away from my house.

THIS is the best advice out of this whole thread: UPS, USPS, FedEx, you name it, could break an anvil cast in a concrete block. I ALWAYS open them with the driver standing there, just in case.

Most new build basses are polyurethane on solid wood bodies and necks, and short of it being built in Death Valley, then sitting in Siberia for a week before it gets to you, you should be fine.

I would be leery and indeed would give it a 12 hour or 24 hour breather were it some vintage acoustic instrument with a nitro finish aged as old as the axe. That's a completely different situation.
 
#100
JW56789 said:
To quote a previous reply:

I open it up immediately before the delivery truck gets too far away from my house.

THIS is the best advice out of this whole thread: UPS, USPS, FedEx, you name it, could break an anvil cast in a concrete block. I ALWAYS open them with the driver standing there, just in case.

Most new build basses are polyurethane on solid wood bodies and necks, and short of it being built in Death Valley, then sitting in Siberia for a week before it gets to you, you should be fine.

I would be leery and indeed would give it a 12 hour or 24 hour breather were it some vintage acoustic instrument with a nitro finish aged as old as the axe. That's a completely different situation.
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How does that work? You ask the driver to wait, and they do? I don't think any of the drivers by me would do that.
 
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