knoxy26 Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Hey, I was just wondering about whether the heat coming off of a lamp with a halogen bulb would be enough to warp a neck? I have moved to a new flat and I have limited space to but my basses. I have my bass hanging on the wall but there is a lamp underneath it (technically a few inches in from of it but shining from underneath) I don't particularly want to move everything around in the room and I am not allowed to drill more holes in the wall. But would the heat from the bulb be enough to warp the neck or cause damage? Clearly, it is not like a radiator but is a minor heat source none the less. But as I said, I like where it is positioned and I like the light shining on my bass so would prefer not to move it. See pics below. Many thanks Matt Also.... don't worry, the radiator in the pics is turned off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Heat rises. So I'd are on the side of caution and change the lamp to an LED version and save energy at the same time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 4 minutes ago, Grangur said: Heat rises. So I'd are on the side of caution and change the lamp to an LED version and save energy at the same time. That's what I was going to say 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoxy26 Posted February 16, 2018 Author Share Posted February 16, 2018 Thanks, Yes, I will give that a go. I was hesitant as I have a dimmer lamp and I like the lighting but perhaps it is time to go green..... or move the bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Ahhh... Yes. It's unlikely the LED lamp would like dimming in the same way. You say it's tungsten halogen. What wattage is the lamp? How long is the lamp on for? How warm does it get? The situation of the bass over the lamp isn't great for the bass. But if it doesn't get very warm, maybe it's ok. Just keep an eye on it and go and feel the strings and the bottom of the bass occasionally when it's on. If it's a 25w lamp it might be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Personally I'm not 100% convinced that hanging a bass by the neck is very good for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 1 hour ago, knoxy26 said: Thanks, Yes, I will give that a go. I was hesitant as I have a dimmer lamp and I like the lighting but perhaps it is time to go green..... or move the bass You can get dimmable LEDs but you may need to change the dimmer switch to an LED-compatible one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 11 minutes ago, ped said: Personally I'm not 100% convinced that hanging a bass by the neck is very good for it. Can someone who actually knows something about physics and tension forces prove or dispel this for once and for all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 12 minutes ago, ped said: Personally I'm not 100% convinced that hanging a bass by the neck is very good for it. Hanging a person by the neck does the person no good at all but I reckon it's safe for basses. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 43 minutes ago, BigRedX said: Can someone who actually knows something about physics and tension forces prove or dispel this for once and for all? We need to write to myth busters. Ideally you would want two identical basses and do a back to back test or use the same one in two controlled environments. When this came up before I had a search as I almost exclusively use Hercules stands which hold by the neck so wanted to know either way. The simple answer is that there was nothing conclusive either way that I could find. A lot of anecdotal stuff both ways which suggests to me there is actually no problem as long as it’s well held and supported. What is proven to cause problems is big swings in humidity, high humidity, big temperature changes, high temperature, strong sunlight but I think we probably all know those (of possibly not based on the amount of basses on eBay photographed in a garage). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 In my experience, if the bass encounters big changes in humidity or temperature, it will bend it slightly enough to put it out of tune - not much but detectable. And once its returned to the previous conditions, it will bend back into tune, ie it will return to precisely the previous position without any hysteresis or 'sticking' or 'cracking' or 'jolting' as it does so. If your bass doesn't do this, there's something wrong with it, or its neck or its truss rod (installation). I'd be more concerned about scorching my genitals on the lamp when I reached over to take the bass off the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 LED ftw. You can buy RGB ones quite cheaply that have a remote control - any colour, any brightness to suit your mood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 (edited) My feeling re hanging a bass by the neck is that the force acting on a neck is string tension. If a bass is stood on a stand then the string tension is trying to pull the head towards the body as the body is supported, gravity will also be helping the neck move towards the body, only fractionally but still helping. If the bass is hung then the string tension is trying to pull the body towards the head as the head is supported, gravity will be trying to prevent the heavy body being pulled towards the head, only fractionally again, but still resisting. So with that in mind, surely it's better to hang a bass by the neck, no? Edited February 17, 2018 by Maude Typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blablas Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Those few kilograms the bass weighs aren't going to add much to the tension the strings are already putting on the neck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Indeed, if one was that concerned a semi-tone detune would probably balance it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 On 2/16/2018 at 09:08, ped said: Personally I'm not 100% convinced that hanging a bass by the neck is very good for it. It's not a problem. I've never known of it causing a problem. As long as the bass is hanging vertically then the forces will be (essentially) symmetrical. The tension on the bass is dominated by the string tension. If the weight of the bass were to be an issue then there would be something seriously amiss with the design of the instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 37 minutes ago, rmorris said: It's not a problem. I've never known of it causing a problem. As long as the bass is hanging vertically then the forces will be (essentially) symmetrical. The tension on the bass is dominated by the string tension. If the weight of the bass were to be an issue then there would be something seriously amiss with the design of the instrument. I used to hang mine, too - but for some reason I still don't like doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Every music shop I've ever been in hangs their guitars/basses.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 39 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Every music shop I've ever been in hangs their guitars/basses.... Every music shop also hopes not to be keeping any bass for very long. Just sayin' but can't say I know ths t much about the weight and effects of stress on rhe wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 What about hanging basses on a strap around the neck and shoulders? Is that OK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, EssentialTension said: What about hanging basses on a strap around the neck and shoulders? Is that OK? Not for more than 15 hours at a stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 1 minute ago, Grangur said: Not for more than 15 hours at a stretch. That's a relief. Phew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I only play mine in an anti gravity vacuum (which has the added bonus of nobody being able to hear me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, ped said: I only play mine in an anti gravity vacuum (which has the added bonus of nobody being able to hear me) Surely in an anti-gravity situation the strings play themselves? And you don't need a strap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 1 hour ago, ped said: I only play mine in an anti gravity vacuum (which has the added bonus of nobody being able to hear me) Does the lack of air resistance improve the sustain at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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