Hi all. Getting my Jazz bass shipped back from Sweetwater today. It’s pretty cold here in Tulsa, curious if I need to wait to open the box and check out my new setup? I’ve heard differing opinions and usually the weather extremes aren’t bad but we have sub freezing temps for daytime highs since my bass has been on the road. I’m excited to try it but don’t want to mess it up. Thanks!
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Wait to open my bass in cold temps?
- Thread starter sgiacomo
- Start date
Never open it, the risk is just too great.
Or, give it a couple hours and tear it apart.
Or, give it a couple hours and tear it apart.
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Open!
During travel, your bass has already seen extreme temp shift.
Just understand that it may take an hour or so for the strings to settle to house temperature and stay in tune.
During travel, your bass has already seen extreme temp shift.
Just understand that it may take an hour or so for the strings to settle to house temperature and stay in tune.
Why tempt fate? You've waited this long, a few more hrs won't kill you...right?
It doesn't hurt to leave a bass in its case for a few hours upon receipt. I once had the lacquer on a bass crack because I'd been out walking in sub-freezing temperatures with my bass in a case and didn't wait before taking it out once I arrived home. In your case, maybe the inside of that delivery van was nice and warm - and maybe it wasn't. BTW, I've always been told that it's not so much temperature swings that are the problem but rapid changes in humidity levels. So even if your bass was in a warm environment prior to delivery, it very possibly was not in a sufficiently humid environment.
Edit: I just pulled up an email from Roger Sadowsky on the subject (I'd asked him the same question you are posing here). This was his response:
"The best thing to do regarding cold, is to let you instrument warm up
in the box/case for several hours before you open it.
Generally, humidity is the enemy (high or low), not temperature."
Edit: I just pulled up an email from Roger Sadowsky on the subject (I'd asked him the same question you are posing here). This was his response:
"The best thing to do regarding cold, is to let you instrument warm up
in the box/case for several hours before you open it.
Generally, humidity is the enemy (high or low), not temperature."
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i let drill bits come to 'room temperature' before i use them, i'd probably treat an instrument the same. 
but you do you!
good luck!
edit: i voted, "wait."
but you do you!
good luck!
edit: i voted, "wait."
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Just wait a day. I waited with my bass, for a day 
If the bassist in Sweden waits, you should probably wait.
The wait votes are ahead. Just received notice that it is delayed until tomorrow 
Wait, but I doubt you need a full day. If it comes in the morning, wait until the evening. If it comes in the evening, wait until the next morning.
It's best to wait from evening to next morning!!!
That way, you sleep away most of the waiting time and are ready to open it up first thing in the morning
It's a neat look! 
J/K, personally - I'd wait.
J/K, personally - I'd wait.
'72 Jazz. Winter nights. Long drive to the gig in an old VW van (barely enough heat to defrost the windshield). Arrive, unpack, set up, play.
You can't see in this picture, but the finish is checked everywhere. More flakes off every now and then. (Still sounds great, though!)
You can't see in this picture, but the finish is checked everywhere. More flakes off every now and then. (Still sounds great, though!)
Cold/heat shock is much more of a problem with lacquer, but if you think finish checking looks cool, pop it open. If not, wait.
If you just can’t wait and you have an unheated garage, you know what to do
BTW, I toured for years with poly finished basses and never had an issue pulling the bass out of a sub freezing trailer onto a warm stage for soundcheck. Lacquer not so much. Lots of checking. YMMV.
If you just can’t wait and you have an unheated garage, you know what to do
BTW, I toured for years with poly finished basses and never had an issue pulling the bass out of a sub freezing trailer onto a warm stage for soundcheck. Lacquer not so much. Lots of checking. YMMV.
