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Double Bass Temperature fluctuations/stability

C

chicabass

Mar 18, 2006
29
0
NOT USA
#1
I recently (temporarily) installed a thermometer on my bass. so I could accurately gauge the kind of temperature fluctuations that it might be experiencing from time to time.

My question: How much of a change is 'substantial', and how much would the change have to be before I worry about the immediate health and longer-term life of the bass?

Sorry if this was the wrong heading (setup/repair) to have put this under.


chicabass/K`
 
#2
chicabass said:
I recently (temporarily) installed a thermometer on my bass. so I could accurately gauge the kind of temperature fluctuations that it might be experiencing from time to time.

My question: How much of a change is 'substantial', and how much would the change have to be before I worry about the immediate health and longer-term life of the bass?

Sorry if this was the wrong heading (setup/repair) to have put this under.


chicabass/K`
Click to expand...
Temperature change is of less concern than humidity change, which causes wood to expand and contract. In fine museums you will see instruments which graph humidity changes for the purpose of guiding the curators toward keeping humidity levels constant. When Tutunkamen's tomb was opened, after 3000 or so years, all the wooden objects were in pristine condition, and their glue joints were still tight. That's because the humidity was constant the entire time. That said, extreme temperature variations can also cause some problems.
 
#3
arnoldschnitzer said:
Temperature change is of less concern than humidity change, which causes wood to expand and contract. In fine museums you will see instruments which graph humidity changes for the purpose of guiding the curators toward keeping humidity levels constant. When Tutunkamen's tomb was opened, after 3000 or so years, all the wooden objects were in pristine condition, and their glue joints were still tight. That's because the humidity was constant the entire time. That said, extreme temperature variations can also cause some problems.
Click to expand...

I hear Tutunkamen used Dampits.
 
#4
Hey chicabass,
though all the woods on the bass are effected with the change in the environment, the neck is what suffers the most. That's why I chose a graphite neck for my 4-string. Yes, the sound production is very different from wood, but it is not subject to the environment hence the no warping. But that's just me...
 
#5
polic said:
Hey chicabass,
though all the woods on the bass are effected with the change in the environment, the neck is what suffers the most. That's why I chose a graphite neck for my 4-string. Yes, the sound production is very different from wood, but it is not subject to the environment hence the no warping. But that's just me...
Click to expand...

Please teach us how and why the neck is effected more than the Top and the Back of the Bass!! I need to hear this! I have never seen a Double Bass Neck split from extra dry weather but I have seen alot of Tops split. The Neck is replacable without value loss to the Bass at all. The Top is the Heart of the Bass and the key value componant.

Maybe you are thinking Guitars, no?
 
#7
chicabass said:
Sorry all, I am talking about how different temperatures might affect my double bass.

Just to clarify.


chicabass/K`
Click to expand...

Is this for indoor, outdoor or in general. The higher the tempeture, the more humidity it can hold. Heat in the winter in your house dries up the air. Air conditioners in the summer cool while extracting water from the air acting as a de-himidifier so my AC/Heating guy tells me. This is why the AC drips outside your window. A humidifier or dehumidifier with control settings indoors can help to regulate the environment for your Bass.
 
#8
KSB - Ken Smith said:
"Is this for..."
Click to expand...

Really just inside my pokey little flat at the moment - It gets really draughty but I have a nice heater which I've been using as it gets colder. I want to be conscious of not overdoing it with the heater/having the heat fluctuate by ~X degrees too regularly... I can't think it would necessarily be doing the poor instrument any good.
 
#9
chicabass said:
Really just inside my pokey little flat at the moment - It gets really draughty but I have a nice heater which I've been using as it gets colder. I want to be conscious of not overdoing it with the heater/having the heat fluctuate by ~X degrees too regularly... I can't think it would necessarily be doing the poor instrument any good.
Click to expand...

Get a humidifier and set it at 35% on automatic. This will help a great deal to prevent you Bass from cracking.
 

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