TPTroll Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Hi Space is at a bit of a premium at my house, and I'm looking to store some of my less precious basses in the attic. They'd be in hard cases, and near the entrance to the loft. Loft is partly insulated not the roof section, just the bottom. Is this an absolute no no, or given how mild our climate is getting, ok? I know I'd have to slacken strings while in storage, store flat, and let them settle once back in the house. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I wouldn't slacken the strings personally... they act against the truss rod and without that load you may get issues with the neck bending, especially is the temperature / humidity is a bit erratic up in the loft. On the plus side if you have any siblings with children they can sell your basses on ebay in years to come as the famed "found in an uncles loft" instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPTroll Posted December 16, 2015 Author Share Posted December 16, 2015 Thanks, noted. Does anyone store their basses in the attic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I've stored basses all over the place. What they HATE is rapid change, in temperature or in humidity or in both. If your loft is well insulated (i.e. externally against the roof, not internally against the rest of the house) so things only change slowly, then you should have no trouble, especially if all the basses are in hard cases. If your loft changes with the weather, then I wouldn't even consider storing instruments there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I wouldn't store anything long term in mine. It's fine for Christmas decorations, chairs and boxes of old glassware, but basses/guitars? In my opinion, the temperature and humidity swings will wreak havoc on instruments, hard case or otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Unless you have a very high tech insulation system, it's got to be a no no. Temperature variations are just too extreme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Just no. My 63 Precision had been stored in a loft. The (refin) paint was peeling off in strips, and the frets were green. Took a fair bit of sorting out, fortunately the neck hadn't warped. Maybe source a relative or good friend with some space in a spare room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Has anyone tried storing a portrait of their basses in the attic to stop them from ageing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1450262406' post='2931031'] Has anyone tried storing a portrait of their basses in the attic to stop them from ageing? [/quote] That only works if you play exclusively in Dorian mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1450262526' post='2931035'] That only works if you play exclusively in Dorian mode. [/quote] That's a bit of a grey area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1450262719' post='2931040'] That's a bit of a grey area. [/quote] I'll admit it does sound like a wilde theory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassmonkey Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 KevB deserves an Oscar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='ras52' timestamp='1450262526' post='2931035'] That only works if you play exclusively in Dorian mode. [/quote] Very good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I stored a tokai Strat in mine for years in a bin bag and it was absolutely fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineweasel Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='TPTroll' timestamp='1450259395' post='2930951'] Does anyone store their basses in the attic? [/quote] I do. Never had a problem. My Wal quietly appreciated up there for years; now it's out and being played again with no ill effects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Last I heard, Aerosmith kept all their toys up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Maybe ask Alesha? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfretrock Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='KevB' timestamp='1450262406' post='2931031'] Has anyone tried storing a portrait of their basses in the attic to stop them from ageing? [/quote] I stored a portrait of a Trace Elliot in my attic. It was OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I really wouldn't do it. I have wall hangers in our study and just about get away with it. New acquisitions need to be pretty though, according to my wife! The upside is she can sometimes tell an SG from a Telecaster (with a little prompting!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Don't do it. If you must then don't loosen the strings and get some silica gel packets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I have one in a hard case, which is then in a cardboard box that is insulated with stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 [quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1450266643' post='2931114'] I stored a portrait of a Trace Elliot in my attic. It was OK. [/quote] A portrait of Trace, eh? any pointless noodling with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 My Luthier recommends not to store instruments in the roof space due to the changes in temperature and especially the heat in summer. I suppose if you've had the space decked out an insulated into a proper room then it may be OK, but if it's just a roof space then definitely not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I looked into this myself a little while ago and concluded that storing wooden instruments in an attic is generally a bad idea. The two factors that will mess up are changes in humidity and temperature. They can cope with cold slightly better than heat; it's the summer months when your attic will become a Balti oven that are going to wreak havoc and result in banana-necks. Be warned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 I did store my basses in the attic. For three months I had trouble with rats though. They won't keep the noise down and can already play better than me. Boom-tish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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