My main concern would be exposing electronics to condensation and then lighting it up to play. I don't know if that's a valid concern but, for me, it outweighs concerns about poly and wood.
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Wait to open my bass in cold temps?
- Thread starter sgiacomo
- Start date
This is one of of those topics, like bass weight, whether to bring a backup, playing sitting down, and music stands on stage, that always provoke a raft of dismissive and sometimes strangely aggressive posts that go out of their way to challenge the OP.
What is it about these questions that makes some red-blooded males on this site rush to their keyboards to dismiss a question as, in this case, based on an "internet myth," the implication being that the OP is gullible or overly nervous about a wee wittle change in temperature. I would argue that even worse than an internet myth is an internet poster who considers anything he hasn't personally experienced, or that involves circumstances other than his own, to be an "internet myth," and feels the need to inflict his lack of experience or awareness on someone who actually has skin in the game and asks for accurate information about something that matters.
In this thread alone there are a number of posts describing actual cases of finish cracking/checking from rapid changes in temps, both with nitro and poly. I've had it happen too, with a thick-poly-coated Fender p-bass brought in from a subzero band trailer into a warm hotel banquet room and opened immediately. I live on the Minnesota/North Dakota border, 70 miles south of Canada, and it gets cold here. If you leave your poly-coated bass for a several hours in the band trailer in subzero weather and then bring it indoors and open it immediately, there is a very good chance you will get some finish checking. Will the finish be "destroyed"? No, but does it need to be "destroyed" to be a legitimate concern? In my case, the bass was only two years old and now had some some finish cracks. I didn't really mind--they became part of its character for me, but they were still there. If that had happened the first time I opened the case when I got the bass, I might not have felt the same.
Would the shift from 32 degrees to the warm interior of the OP's house cause finish checking or cracking if he were to open it immediately? My guess is probably not, but it's not my bass nor my money that paid for it, and I couldn't rule out the possibility, especially if it has sat in the unheated truck overnight due to the ice storm he mentioned. So I'd say at least wait a few hours. Delivery trucks that get delayed by weather can sit overnight, powered down, so that everything in the hold is down to outdoor temperature when it gets dropped off. Ask me how I know. The answer involves frozen wine, corks forced out of the bottles, boxes full of purple slush.
This is a bit of a derail, maybe, but why is it these topics generate so many of this kind of swaggering, dismissive, condescending post. Some of my female friends would say it's a macho/masculinity thing, like a bunch of adolescents bragging: "My dad is so tough, he plays a fifteen pound bass, never plays sitting down, and never brings a backup. And when he got that bass, he never even waited before opening the box. That's how tough he is."
Would these female friends be right? I don't know. Is playing a light bass, bringing a backup, and waiting to open a cold box a sign of weakness for some of you? Or are you just unable to conceive of somebody having different circumstances or experiences than your own? Why the need to post about things you don't have expertise, knowledge or experience with when there are people who do, who can give good advice based on experience? Why not just read along and maybe learn that you don't have an informed answer to every question asked on an internet forum, and that you can learn from those whose circumstances and experience is different than your own?
Sorry everyone for the preachiness, I got a little wound up. And sorry, OP, for the slight derail.
Edit--last paragraph edited to replace "they" with "you" in a few spots. I felt that it was better to be honestly confrontational than to turn this into an artificial "us vs. they" scenario.
What is it about these questions that makes some red-blooded males on this site rush to their keyboards to dismiss a question as, in this case, based on an "internet myth," the implication being that the OP is gullible or overly nervous about a wee wittle change in temperature. I would argue that even worse than an internet myth is an internet poster who considers anything he hasn't personally experienced, or that involves circumstances other than his own, to be an "internet myth," and feels the need to inflict his lack of experience or awareness on someone who actually has skin in the game and asks for accurate information about something that matters.
In this thread alone there are a number of posts describing actual cases of finish cracking/checking from rapid changes in temps, both with nitro and poly. I've had it happen too, with a thick-poly-coated Fender p-bass brought in from a subzero band trailer into a warm hotel banquet room and opened immediately. I live on the Minnesota/North Dakota border, 70 miles south of Canada, and it gets cold here. If you leave your poly-coated bass for a several hours in the band trailer in subzero weather and then bring it indoors and open it immediately, there is a very good chance you will get some finish checking. Will the finish be "destroyed"? No, but does it need to be "destroyed" to be a legitimate concern? In my case, the bass was only two years old and now had some some finish cracks. I didn't really mind--they became part of its character for me, but they were still there. If that had happened the first time I opened the case when I got the bass, I might not have felt the same.
Would the shift from 32 degrees to the warm interior of the OP's house cause finish checking or cracking if he were to open it immediately? My guess is probably not, but it's not my bass nor my money that paid for it, and I couldn't rule out the possibility, especially if it has sat in the unheated truck overnight due to the ice storm he mentioned. So I'd say at least wait a few hours. Delivery trucks that get delayed by weather can sit overnight, powered down, so that everything in the hold is down to outdoor temperature when it gets dropped off. Ask me how I know. The answer involves frozen wine, corks forced out of the bottles, boxes full of purple slush.
This is a bit of a derail, maybe, but why is it these topics generate so many of this kind of swaggering, dismissive, condescending post. Some of my female friends would say it's a macho/masculinity thing, like a bunch of adolescents bragging: "My dad is so tough, he plays a fifteen pound bass, never plays sitting down, and never brings a backup. And when he got that bass, he never even waited before opening the box. That's how tough he is."
Would these female friends be right? I don't know. Is playing a light bass, bringing a backup, and waiting to open a cold box a sign of weakness for some of you? Or are you just unable to conceive of somebody having different circumstances or experiences than your own? Why the need to post about things you don't have expertise, knowledge or experience with when there are people who do, who can give good advice based on experience? Why not just read along and maybe learn that you don't have an informed answer to every question asked on an internet forum, and that you can learn from those whose circumstances and experience is different than your own?
Sorry everyone for the preachiness, I got a little wound up. And sorry, OP, for the slight derail.
Edit--last paragraph edited to replace "they" with "you" in a few spots. I felt that it was better to be honestly confrontational than to turn this into an artificial "us vs. they" scenario.
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Well, some people don't wait - and they mostly get away with it. Maybe GOD loves them; maybe it's just luck; maybe it's just that the bass wasn't really all that cold to begin with. However...
I'm one of the "Wait" people. It's easy for me; I have many other basses to keep me amused while I wait. What I do is;
1. Bring the box into the house, and let the box get up to room temperature;
2. When it feels like it is, open the box and - if it's in a case? Take it out of the box, and let the case come up to room temperature. If it's wrapped up in bubble wrap, etc.? Leave it wrapped up, and let the whole mess come up to room temperature. Then,
3. If it's in a case? When it feels like it is, open it a little; prop it open, and let the bass come up to room temperature - slowly. If it's wrapped up? Same thing; open the wrapping a little, and let it warm up. Finally;
4. Stick your hand in the case, and feel the bass. If it's at room temperature? You're done waiting. Same goes if it's wrapped up...
I got a new G&L Kiloton lined fretless bass a few weeks ago. It's pretty cold here in northern Indiana; so cold, that I could barely touch the box it was in with my bare hands. Even then, the whole procedure I described, took maybe 2 1/2 hours. I had a couple glasses of wine; played my Rick 4001; and before I knew it, that Kiloton fretless was in my sweaty little paws. Easy peasy...
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Play a game of "Schrodinger's bass".....in the case the bass is neither to hot or to cold so long as the case remains closed.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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Well, some people don't wait - and they mostly get away with it. Maybe GOD loves them; maybe it's just luck; maybe it's just that the bass wasn't really all that cold to begin with. However...
I'm one of the "Wait" people. It's easy for me; I have many other basses to keep me amused while I wait. What I do is;
1. Bring the box into the house, and let the box get up to room temperature;
2. When it feels like it is, open the box and - if it's in a case? Take it out of the box, and let the case come up to room temperature. If it's wrapped up in bubble wrap, etc.? Leave it wrapped up, and let the whole mess come up to room temperature. Then,
3. If it's in a case? When it feels like it is, open it a little; prop it open, and let the bass come up to room temperature - slowly. If it's wrapped up? Same thing; open the wrapping a little, and let it warm up. Finally;
4. Stick your hand in the case, and feel the bass. If it's at room temperature? You're done waiting. Same goes if it's wrapped up...
I got a new G&L Kiloton lined fretless bass a few weeks ago. It's pretty cold here in northern Indiana; so cold, that I could barely touch the box it was in with my bare hands. Even then, the whole procedure I described, took maybe 2 1/2 hours. I had a couple glasses of wine; played my Rick 4001; and before I knew it, that Kiloton fretless was in my sweaty little paws. Easy peasy...
TL;DR
You can NEVER be too cautious. For every gig I play I follow these steps to ensure my bass doesn't explode due to temperature or humidity fluctuations:
Gig on Friday.
Step 1: Monday. Call my local meteorologist. Get a detailed report of daily weather conditions of the week ahead.
Step 2: Wednesday. Check back in with said meteorologist. Assuming no major changes, move to step 3.
Step 3: Wednesday night. Go to the venue. Spend at least 4 hours getting various reading and measurements on the environment. Temp, humidity, etc. I usually check out the AC or heating unit at the venue for issues as well. If you're not qualified hire a local HVAC guy to come with you. Shouldn't be more than a few hundred bucks.
Step 4: Thursday. Take day off work. Spend morning analyzing the data I've collected. Spend the rest of the day matching my home climate with the venue's. Also, park car in my living room to make sure it maintains the same temp as my house.
Step 5: Friday. Wake up early, open my bass case. Carefully place the bass case (opened) on the floor of my living room. After 4 hours I move it to my car (also in my living room). 4 hours later I drive to the gig. Always arrange a police escort so you won't have to stop your vehicle. Idling might cause AC/heat fluctuations
Step 6: this one is tricky. Arrive at least 8 hours before the gig. You gotta figure out a way to get your bass from the car to the venue as fast as humanly possible. Once inside place the case on the stage. After 4 additional hours, open it.
I know this seems a bit excessive but it works for me. I've never had a bass spontaneously crack or explode. Not one time. Seriously. You're welcome.
Gig on Friday.
Step 1: Monday. Call my local meteorologist. Get a detailed report of daily weather conditions of the week ahead.
Step 2: Wednesday. Check back in with said meteorologist. Assuming no major changes, move to step 3.
Step 3: Wednesday night. Go to the venue. Spend at least 4 hours getting various reading and measurements on the environment. Temp, humidity, etc. I usually check out the AC or heating unit at the venue for issues as well. If you're not qualified hire a local HVAC guy to come with you. Shouldn't be more than a few hundred bucks.
Step 4: Thursday. Take day off work. Spend morning analyzing the data I've collected. Spend the rest of the day matching my home climate with the venue's. Also, park car in my living room to make sure it maintains the same temp as my house.
Step 5: Friday. Wake up early, open my bass case. Carefully place the bass case (opened) on the floor of my living room. After 4 hours I move it to my car (also in my living room). 4 hours later I drive to the gig. Always arrange a police escort so you won't have to stop your vehicle. Idling might cause AC/heat fluctuations
Step 6: this one is tricky. Arrive at least 8 hours before the gig. You gotta figure out a way to get your bass from the car to the venue as fast as humanly possible. Once inside place the case on the stage. After 4 additional hours, open it.
I know this seems a bit excessive but it works for me. I've never had a bass spontaneously crack or explode. Not one time. Seriously. You're welcome.
I always open the case at the first moment possible. 
Actually..I voted to wait.
Actually..I voted to wait.
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What is it about these questions that makes some red-blooded males on this site rush to their keyboards to dismiss a question as, in this case, based on an "internet myth," the implication being that the OP is gullible or overly nervous about a wee wittle change in temperature. I would argue that even worse than an internet myth is an internet poster who considers anything he hasn't personally experienced, or that involves circumstances other than his own, to be an "internet myth," and feels the need to inflict his lack of experience or awareness on someone who actually has skin in the game and asks for accurate information about something that matters.
In this thread alone there are a number of posts describing actual cases of finish cracking/checking from rapid changes in temps, both with nitro and poly. I've had it happen too, with a thick-poly-coated Fender p-bass brought in from a subzero band trailer into a warm hotel banquet room and opened immediately. I live on the Minnesota/North Dakota border, 70 miles south of Canada, and it gets cold here. If you leave your poly-coated bass for a several hours in the band trailer in subzero weather and then bring it indoors and open it immediately, there is a very good chance you will get some finish checking. Will the finish be "destroyed"? No, but does it need to be "destroyed" to be a legitimate concern? In my case, the bass was only two years old and now had some some finish cracks. I didn't really mind--they became part of its character for me, but they were still there. If that had happened the first time I opened the case when I got the bass, I might not have felt the same.
Would the shift from 32 degrees to the warm interior of the OP's house cause finish checking or cracking if he were to open it immediately? My guess is probably not, but it's not my bass nor my money that paid for it, and I couldn't rule out the possibility, especially if it has sat in the unheated truck overnight due to the ice storm he mentioned. So I'd say at least wait a few hours. Delivery trucks that get delayed by weather can sit overnight, powered down, so that everything in the hold is down to outdoor temperature when it gets dropped off. Ask me how I know. The answer involves frozen wine, corks forced out of the bottles, boxes full of purple slush.
This is a bit of a derail, maybe, but why is it these topics generate so many of this kind of swaggering, dismissive, condescending post. Some of my female friends would say it's a macho/masculinity thing, like a bunch of adolescents bragging: "My dad is so tough, he plays a fifteen pound bass, never plays sitting down, and never brings a backup. And when he got that bass, he never even waited before opening the box. That's how tough he is."
Would these female friends be right? I don't know. Is playing a light bass, bringing a backup, and waiting to open a cold box a sign of weakness for some of you? Or are you just unable to conceive of somebody having different circumstances or experiences than your own? Why the need to post about things you don't have expertise, knowledge or experience with when there are people who do, who can give good advice based on experince? Why not just read along and maybe learn that you don't have an informed answer to every question asked on an internet forum, and that you can learn from those whose circumstances and experience is different than your own?
Sorry everyone for the preachiness, I got a little wound up. And sorry, OP, for the slight derail.
Edit--last paragraph edited to replace "they" with "you" in a few spots. I felt that it was better to be honestly confrontational than to turn this into an artificial "us vs. they" scenario.[/QUOTE]
Thank you. Well said.
Some folks could be a lot more attentive to the responsibility they wield.
There are folks of all ages here asking for legitimate answers.
It would be nice if we could depend on each other.
That means depend on some of us to just read and don't write.
Meanwhile I am reporting from experience.
I've seen a black 1965 Les Paul get that haze of condensation on it when it was instantly opened in a hot house in 1969. The owner closed it fast but it checked.
My tech worked on the Jefferson Airplane's gear. He was later at Alembic and is an authorized Martin etc. tech.
I've seen 1900s parlor guitars and mandolins in his shop.
The actual players coming in there would be name dropping to mention.
He makes bodies for a famous NY Fenderlike booteequee maker.
He's seen it already more than once.
I follow his advice.
So sometimes your bass sat on a very cold concrete floor over the weekend on it's journey.
Take care of it.
I repeat it's not the extremes, it's the speed of the swing that does damage.
Think that you play slowly and gently to warm up before going full on Flea.
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Now we wait according to the mythological sticker on the box lmao. I’ll post pics of what’s inside tomorrow!
It’s probably been mentioned but a cold finish exposed to instant heat can crack some finishes.
I always open the case at the first moment possible.
View attachment 5327403
Actually..I voted to wait.
No matter. Thread needs more pictures anyway.
What I was saying is that bands like AC/DC, Stones, Beatles, The Who, Gn'R, Aerosmith, Van Halen, etc..etc..etc...frequently played a venue in let's just say Buffalo, NY in a heated arena...then the gear was loaded into a cold truck and moved overnight in cold temperatures to another heated arena where it was setup and used. No one was waiting days or, even more than a couple of hours for gear to warm up.
Have there been instances where damage has occurred....I'm SURE there have. However, I'm pretty sure that people aren't living in constant fear of this happening. I personally have been doing this for several decades and have never had one single incident.
