Double Bass Upright Bass - Care help? How to lay it???

[jkallen83]

just wondering if there is a "Safe" or "proper" way to lay down a bass.....i usually keep my base in the padded case on its side, sometimes on its back, if its out of the case its on a bed on its back...

but wondering if this is "proper" or is there any bad issues that could rise from laying on its back?

is there a "proper" way to lay it down, or prop up against a wall?


please explain the proper ways and if there is bad ways what bad effects can happen.

just want to make sure my bass lasts a lifetime, its so large, i want to be able to put it different places if needed, but dont want to lay it wrong if thats possible.

 

[pocketgroove]

I'm no expert, but everyone I've ever seen lays them on the side. Mine goes long periods of time like that with no ill effects. There are also stands that you can buy to hold it, which takes up less floor space, though they make some people nervous, especially with small children or pets around.

If you were to rest it up against a wall, it would probably be leaning on the head as the supporting point. The pressure could probably cause the neck to bow, which wouldn't be a good thing. I'm not sure about storing one on its back, but it seems like there could also be issues with the pressure resting on that curved surface. Additionally, since that curve can also act like a pivot point, it's not a far stretch to accidentally knock into it and send it spinning into something.

 

[Sam Evans]

On the floor = on its side.

Standing up, you can lean it in a corner. The front of the bass should be facing the corner (like it's being punished with a time out ... ). The side edges of the front of the bass should be touching each wall - the head / neck should NOT be touching the corner or supporting the weight of the bass in any way. I don't particularly recommend this in households with rambunctious children or pets ...

Best: get a solid stand.

 

[Kapellas]

I have always been taught to lay it on its side when it is resting. More specifically, always the same side, most usually the treble side. I assume this is so you don't bang up both sides of your bass. They make little rubber feet to help prevent the aforementioned banging up.

When on a wall, I always put mine in a corner close enough that the body is resting against the wall and the scroll is barely touching the wall, so there is no weight on the neck. It makes me feel more comfortable that way. My professor always leans his in a corner with the bridge facing the wall. I haven't figured out why.

Hope this helps!

 

[jkallen83]

thanks yall, i never lay on its back on a hard floor, its on a bed at the moment on its back because i been playing it frequently and floor space is limited where im playing it at the moment.
it did get me to thinking though if it was "safe" for it though.

id like a stand, BUT its so big/heavy, stands scare me. i'll just keep laying on its side in the case like normal then. may look into the edge protectors also.

 

[Andrew McGregor]

No stands, they're more danger than help. Bridge in to the corner, it can't fall anywhere that way since it balances stably. Or, on the left (treble) side. Why that side? Because a) it's more convenient to pick it up to play and b) that way the inevitable dust on the bouts from the floor doesn't get on your clothes. Never, ever lean it on a chair, one day it will get bumped and broken.

 

[drurb]

just wondering if there is a "Safe" or "proper" way to lay down a bass.....i usually keep my base in the padded case on its side, sometimes on its back, if its out of the case its on a bed on its back...

but wondering if this is "proper" or is there any bad issues that could rise from laying on its back?

is there a "proper" way to lay it down, or prop up against a wall?


please explain the proper ways and if there is bad ways what bad effects can happen.

just want to make sure my bass lasts a lifetime, its so large, i want to be able to put it different places if needed, but dont want to lay it wrong if thats possible.

This has all been discussed many, many times in the Setup & Repair and Accessories forums. It's best to do a search first.

No stands, they're more danger than help. Bridge in to the corner, it can't fall anywhere that way since it balances stably. Or, on the left (treble) side.

I don't think this is true at all. It depends where you are (home vs. a gig). In my living room, I keep my bass in a Here's stand. You'd really have to work to knock over a bass in a Hercules stand. Using a stand protects the edges from being scratched by the "bridge in corner" method you advocate. It would also be more prone to damage and far less convenient to have it on the floor as you suggest. This has been debated ad nauseum. Here's an example.