tbonepete Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Not sure if this is the right section so mods feel free to move if there's somewhere better for this. I have a couple of basses that I wish to move on, but they seem to be sticking round here for a while. I don't use them, and they're just getting in the way in my music room/office. Neither bass has a hard case, but I have padded gig bags for them. My question is, will they come to harm if I down tune them a little bit, and store them upright in a cupboard with some padding between them from the floor to the top of the body, so that the necks are not touching, or leaning on anything at all?, ie free of stress, and covered by the gig bags. It seems that the basses may be here for some time, so I don't want harm to come to them, but also, I don't want them taking up floor/stand space either. Storage advice would be welcome, Please and thank you, Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Pete, I am no expert but I would suggest that you don't down tune the basses. The necks are supposed to be under tension. I would guess that the single biggest factor involved in the safe storage of instruments (especially wooden instruments) is one of keeping them stored at an appropriate temperature/humidity. A simple rule of thumb is that if the storage temperature is not comfortable for a person (too hot OR too cold) then it is uncomfortable for a wooden bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Ditto with keeping them at tuning tension... if this were a bass you were playing daily you'd keep it in tune all the time and the neck wouldn't suffer, so that's how you ought to keep it when in storage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonepete Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 Ah, thanks guys, I only asked about de tuning as just about every bass I've ever tried at a shop has been unpacked and hung up on a wall at least half a tone down, and I assumed it was like that from the manufacturers who couldn't possibly know how long it would be before that bass was sold/setup properly/tuned to pitch etc. also do you think it will be ok as long as the body is supported and the neck is not touching anything? Thanks in advance Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 [quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1395350696' post='2401554'] Ah, thanks guys, I only asked about de tuning as just about every bass I've ever tried at a shop has been unpacked and hung up on a wall at least half a tone down, and I assumed it was like that from the manufacturers who couldn't possibly know how long it would be before that bass was sold/setup properly/tuned to pitch etc. also do you think it will be ok as long as the body is supported and the neck is not touching anything? Thanks in advance Cheers Pete [/quote] I honestly don't think there's any sound rationale for shops to store basses in this way... I am confident your method of storage will be absolutely fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonepete Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 Thanks White Cloud, I'll put them in the cupboard tomorrow ! Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1395351015' post='2401563'] I honestly don't think there's any sound rationale for shops to store basses in this way... [/quote] They do this with guitars too. I always thought it was to make them seem easier to play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 It's more likely to be busy/lazy (delete as appropriate) shop assistants. Manufacturers ship basses de-tuned to reduce the risk of damage during transit - a neck under full tension is easier to damage than a neck that's not. I imagine with the sheer amounts of guitars shipped to shops they don't always have time to tune every one exactly to pitch before they go on the wall, which may end up with the odd one being a semi-tone out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 If it were me and I wanted to keep the necks as stable as poss... and only you really know about the necks, I would store them under a bed, maybe face down so as not to have any stress on the head stock... I wouldn't keep them in anything enclosed if I wanted the strings to stay ok...as in not dulling off....but maybe be prepareed to put a fresher set on for the sale. Basically, I let the basses breathe....nothing too cold, nothing too warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nodd Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Please do be careful about storing basses next to foam rubber for a long time. I had one in an old Bass Centre gigbag, the foam lining left marks on the finish which were a devil to remove. Nodd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonepete Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Thanks Guys, all helpful tips.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The under the bed thing isn't going to happen because the beds are all divan type, and I think the inside of the gig bags are a woven fabric of somesort (manmade of course). Re the strings going off, I'm not overly worried about that as I'm not selling these as new basses, and in fact I usually change strings even on brand new basses because they've gone dull, or aren't to my liking, but it's never stopped me buying, or trading. Each to their own though.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The best course would be for them to find a new owner, and I wouldn't have to worry about storage then [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I can live in hope.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Thanks again for the advice,[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Cheers Pete [/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgbass Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 [quote name='tbonepete' timestamp='1395350696' post='2401554'] Ah, thanks guys, I only asked about de tuning as just about every bass I've ever tried at a shop has been unpacked and hung up on a wall at least half a tone down, and I assumed it was like that from the manufacturers who couldn't possibly know how long it would be before that bass was sold/setup properly/tuned to pitch etc. also do you think it will be ok as long as the body is supported and the neck is not touching anything? Thanks in advance Cheers Pete [/quote] The difference in tuning on a new bass in a shop, is usually the new strings stretching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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