AndyBob09 Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I currently need a bit of help/advice. I just took a new contract on a cruise ship where we play outdoors as well as indoors. I'm worried about my bass and the extreme changes in humidity. My bass lives indoors in a mono gig bag in an overly air conditioned cold, dry environment. A few times a week, I need to take it outside to 36+ degrees and extreme humidity. By the time I open my bag, it's got a very apparent layer of moisture all over and is very out of tune (it usually holds its tuning very well). Does anyone have any knowledge of how to care for instruments in such environments? And could forecast what will happen to it after seven months of this torrent of abuse?! Also, I can't imagine the salty sea air and spray will do anything for any metal/electronics on the instrument? Any help would be appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 You could get a Squire for this gig and rub it down after every trip up on deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1491464737' post='3273168'] You could get a Squire for this gig and rub it down after every trip up on deck. [/quote] Agreed. A few sachets of silica gel in the gig bag would be no harm either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I had my bass in Qatar, my room was air conditioned and the bar where we played (although air conditioned) was hot and humid. The answer is to allow the bass to warm up gradually, although this ain't easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Areyou using the Stingray? I imagine an unfinished neck will suffer more than one with a ton of varnish/lacquer/whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesb Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 (edited) Buy my Zon. Then you'll be alright! Seriously though, have you contacted the people you will be playing with and got any advice from them? They must be in the same boat (sorry, I couldn't resist) Edited April 6, 2017 by julesb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBob09 Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1491480388' post='3273366'] Areyou using the Stingray? I imagine an unfinished neck will suffer more than one with a ton of varnish/lacquer/whatever. [/quote] Yeah. It's the stingray. And I guess a Squier could solve a couple of problems. The only thing is, I'm already on the ship, already taking it in and outdoors. Storage is very tight onboard. There's not many places to store a bass nevermind a second one. But I guess if I wanna protect my Stingray, it might not be a bad idea to buy a cheapo just to play outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Buy a luthite bass. Which are fairly cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 You might want to try the Warwick bass forum. I know you don't have a Warwick.... The question used to come up occasionally as the forum base was spread all over the world, Australia, South America, etc etc. There may be members on there with more direct experience of this. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 get some silica gel bags to have in the gig bag or just leave it out of the gig bag (or with it opened) so it doesn't get that humidity layer on it. Also, it would be a good idea to get it out of the room early and have it in an intermediate room for a bit so it can warm up more gradually, the same before storing it in the cold room. Regarding salty humidity, wipe it of with a clean and dry towel every day before storing it in your room. If i was in your position i would try to find some time to give it a overall clean in both wood and harware every week or at least every two weeks. It's a lot of hard work to keep the bass in great nick and some setup skills are needed for this but it's your work tool and you need it to operate at its best for the duration of your contract, it needs maintenance like any other part of the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Would a Status graphite neck be more stable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Isn't this why they invented the aluminium upright bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBob09 Posted April 9, 2017 Author Share Posted April 9, 2017 I bought a Squier. It's less than a week's wages and it'll save my Musicman. Win win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Cool, hope you like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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