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Wait to open my bass in cold temps?
- Thread starter sgiacomo
- Start date
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
Saying 'it's a myth' falls in the same category as those who 'do their own research' and are confident their personal, specific findings somehow fly in the face of multiple documented firsthand real-world examples and corroborated, confirmed events.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I find it extremely amusing that we're discussing Tulsa as "cold temps."
This is a modern bass, finished in poly. It will be totally fine to pop it open immediately. I live where it is actually cold and people do this all the time with zero issues, myself included.
Now, if we were talking about a bass finished in lacquer it would be a totally different story.
This is a modern bass, finished in poly. It will be totally fine to pop it open immediately. I live where it is actually cold and people do this all the time with zero issues, myself included.
Now, if we were talking about a bass finished in lacquer it would be a totally different story.
I have never seen a tree with a laquer or thick poly finish, and temperature swings usually happen over a matter of hours at the quickest
I can give testament that going from a sub-zero trailer to a 75F stage in a matter of 15 minutes CAN crack the thick Poly on a 1978 natural Precision. I still have the bass and that crack, like many of it's blemishes, are a valued memory, sometimes a lesson-learned, rather than a regret. 
The box, packing materials, and air space in the carton will provide insulation value and allow the instrument to warm up much more slowly than if you pulled the case out and let it exposed to ambient temps. Yes, the whole thing will be just as cold as if there was no carton involved, but the warming rate will be reduced.
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Jab this through the box into the body of the bass. Once it gets to room temp, it's done! Unpack and enjoy.
Glad you’re amused. Now keep your weather up there it’s been down here too long.
Welcome to the 248th thread on this topic, which never really gets answered/resolved.
If it gets to 165 F, it's safe to eat.
I blame it on Canada or, Minnesota for a beginning. Mostly Wisconsin cause they send their weather across the pond right to my back yard. In this day and age don't we have to blame someone for everything?
When you open and you don't post pictures, this post never happened.
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i'd be wary of opening if it were a hollow bodied instrument, or something otherwise more delicate. a solid body fender style instrument is going to be fine in my mind.
I had a friend who bought a bass from Sweetwater last year. He was so excited that he just had to open it when it arrived. His tale is a grim reminder of why it is always better to be safe than sorry. I remember the details because I was there when FedEx delivered his bass.
"Don't open it!" I exclaimed when I saw the utility knife in his hand.
"But I cannot wait" he said, then quickly cut the tape at the seams.
He slid the case out of the box. We both stared at the still latched case. He went for it. I had to bounce. I mean, I have a family to think about! I ran away so fast I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. The cool air of the bass colliding with the warm, dry air of his living room created an instant F4 tornado! My friend, his new bass, house, and his dog were all instantly flung hundreds of feet into the air. Days later we found the bass buried under the rubble. It was still in tune but had a small scratch on the tip of the headstock. My friend and his dog were never seen again. I tried to send the bass back to Sweetwater. They refused to accept it due to my friend not waiting 24 hours before opening his bass.
Just kidding, open the bass.
"Don't open it!" I exclaimed when I saw the utility knife in his hand.
"But I cannot wait" he said, then quickly cut the tape at the seams.
He slid the case out of the box. We both stared at the still latched case. He went for it. I had to bounce. I mean, I have a family to think about! I ran away so fast I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. The cool air of the bass colliding with the warm, dry air of his living room created an instant F4 tornado! My friend, his new bass, house, and his dog were all instantly flung hundreds of feet into the air. Days later we found the bass buried under the rubble. It was still in tune but had a small scratch on the tip of the headstock. My friend and his dog were never seen again. I tried to send the bass back to Sweetwater. They refused to accept it due to my friend not waiting 24 hours before opening his bass.
Just kidding, open the bass.
OP please update us tomorrow or whenever now that we're all investedish.
After delivery, wait a few hours, then take it out of the cardboard box. Wait a few more hours before you open the case. Then play the heck out of it.
This bass has a poly finish. It's quite durable. But one day I was outside looking at it in the sunlight, and I saw cracks in the finish I'd never noticed before. I have played this bass on cold stages, it has been rained on, etc., so I have no idea how or when these cracks actually occurred. I'm not blaming them on any one thing, I'm simply pointing out that they can happen. Poly isn't indestructible.
I live in the upper Midwest. Here, in the winter, we have to get to every gig 24 hours in advance, so our instruments can acclimate before we open the cases. Our riders cover the room and board requirements for the band, as we end up staying at the venue the night before.
it was delayed by FedEx due to a local ice storm. Its supposed to deliver today.
I've decided to wait to open it, the bass it only six months old but got a new nut and Plek setup. I'll post some pics about 24 hours after it arrives
THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK!
I'd probably do the same thing with how cold it's been. Any other time of year I don't believe it's a thing but it certainly won't hurt anything.
I'm from the deep south where the heat and humidity make us have to tweak action a bit more than other places. I thought that was a problem but:
This reminds me of a friend of mine in Wisconsin. He plays an EGC guitar, which has an aluminum neck. He says during winter he has to toss those HotHands chemical handwarmers into his case so his neck bends back into place by the time he hits the stage. Do y'all that have experience with these arctic-ish temperatures think something like this could be a possible solution to the problem OP is describing?
This reminds me of a friend of mine in Wisconsin. He plays an EGC guitar, which has an aluminum neck. He says during winter he has to toss those HotHands chemical handwarmers into his case so his neck bends back into place by the time he hits the stage. Do y'all that have experience with these arctic-ish temperatures think something like this could be a possible solution to the problem OP is describing?
for those recommending waiting a couple hours, keep in mind that the box and packing material (and the case or gigbag, if any) insulate. that means the bass itself won't start to warm up until the air between the packing material and inside the box corrigations (is that even a word?) warm up.
thanks - you made my day!
trees don't have a stiff sealing finish made from materials that will shift at a different rate than the tree itself.
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."
thanks - you made my day!
trees don't have a stiff sealing finish made from materials that will shift at a different rate than the tree itself.
