| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 205 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hey guys, Im going to start going to some rehearsels right after work, and will not be able to go home first, which means I will need to start leaving my bass in my car all day (series I). How bad is this ? I know that for an acoustic gutiar its not a good idea, but not sure how bad it is for a solid wood instrument.... | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1418 Registered: 2-2006 |
Two major points come to mind, is it a safe place that your car is parked and how is the weather? Extreme temperatures can really screw up a finish. I have a 78 Musicman with cracks all in the finish due to these temperature changes. (It gets hot in Texas). It will also play havoc with your set-up. Neck bow, intonation, strings going dead..... Humidity is another factor. If it gets hot and humid then the bass sweats, imagine what that could do to your electronics. If you work in a place that would let you bring it inside thats the way I'd go. Good luck either way you decide but I personally vote against the car. Been there, done it, regretted it, Olie | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 522 Registered: 5-2006 |
Sorry double post... (Message edited by fc_spoiler on June 16, 2007) | ||
| fc_spoiler
Senior Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 523 Registered: 5-2006 |
Never leave such an instrument in a car! ;-) There must be a place @ your work where you can keep it safe I guess. Many guitars/basses have been stolen from cars... | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1073 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've done it many times, but always when the high temps were still somewhat chilly, and I've parked in a shady area if at all possible. Putting those things up on your windows to keep the interior cool are definitely a good idea, both for temp control as well as to hide the instrument. If I'm parked in a relatively secure or high visibility area at work, then I'll leave the windows open just a bit. I think alot more of us do this than would dare admit in this forum, as sometimes it is an absolutely neccessary evil. When I travelled on the road with The Neo Types, we packed out instruments low in the truck so they wouldn't bake, but driving 8 hours through Mississippi and Alabama in July and August, things *are* going to bake regardless of where they're stashed and whatever ventilation may be available. I believe the biggest thing you can do to avoid damage is to make the temperature changes as slow as possible. A space blanket isn't a bad idea either. If you really must park in the open and it's going to be hot, windows open or not, I would definitely man-up and carry the beast to your office, then have your secretary call your chiropractor. ;) Common sense rules, my friend! John | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2443 Registered: 7-2004 |
I grew up in New York. NEVER leave ANYTHING in your car that you wouldn't want to lose. Bill, tgo | ||
| kimberly
Member Username: kimberly Post Number: 90 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hey Everyone.  I'm sure the temp/humidity aspect is a valid concern, but for me the primary issue would be security, or rather the lack of. The mere thought of some punk kid making off with my boy makes me think very bad things. For myself, I never leave my instrument in a car. Regards, Kimberly | ||
| chuck
Intermediate Member Username: chuck Post Number: 138 Registered: 3-2005 |
Very bad, don't do it. CHUCK | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 206 Registered: 9-2002 |
security isnt an issue, as I work on a restricted site....I am more worried about temps/humidity. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 5114 Registered: 5-2002 |
Mica has stated in no uncertain terms that Alembics are not to be left in cars. I think it is the case that if she hears that you've left your Alembic in a car, she will call the local authorities and have your car towed to a police impound lot where the instrument will be removed and shipped back to Santa Rosa. To get the instrument back, you will have to write a letter demonstrating that you have come to see the error of your ways and that you now realize Alembics are indeed not to be left in cars. (It's been reported, by less than reliable sources, that it's a good idea if you mention in your letter that you've recently been taking prescription drugs that leave your judgement impaired; examples of other silly things the drugs made you do are supposedly helpful in ensuring a decision in your favor.) You will also have to pay all shipping costs (and impound fees), and do 30 days of community service (40 days if your community has a particularly bad roadside trash problem). So if you are going to leave your Alembic in a car, don't let Mica find out. | ||
| ndr_bass
Junior Username: ndr_bass Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2002 |
Dave, I think that's the best post I've read here. Thanks for the warning!  | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 1231 Registered: 12-2002 |
Bass in Car all day?........ only if i got a clear shot with a glocke form across the street! | ||
| hankster
Intermediate Member Username: hankster Post Number: 122 Registered: 6-2004 |
I lost my Hofner Verithin (which I bought for fifty bucks) to a thief when I left it in the car many, many years ago. If I still had it, I could probably sell it and buy a Series Alembic. I haven't left a bass in my vehicle since. Between the risk from the temp changes, and the risk of theft...don't do it. I know I attract a bit of attention - sometimes unwanted - when I carry my instruments into my office on days I have no time to go home before a gig or rehearsal, but I can deal with it. Better that than lose or ruin the bass. Rick | ||
| keurosix
Intermediate Member Username: keurosix Post Number: 186 Registered: 10-2005 |
Hey Greg, I heard of a child dying in a car in less than 45 minutes on a hot day. Interior temps can get dangerously high in a few hours, even if a window is left open a crack - which invites theft. Ever notice the cracks in dashboards of old cars? The sun is a mighty powerful ball of molten burning gas! You shouldn't leave your precious Alembic in the car unless it's absolutely necessary. As a last resort, get one of those whole car covers so you can leave the window open a bit, and everything will be out of sight and direct sunlight. My jaguar has a cover, and on a hot 90+ degree day, it's still cool inside. The sun can cause cracks in the finish of your bass. Best not to do it. Kris | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 867 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have the same scenario where I this week I have two rehearsals straight after work. Fortunately the rehearsal rooms are close to work and I have pout my guitar in a lightweight but firm case and will carry it to the office and leave it under my dest for the day. I appreciate not everyone will have the ability to bring their instrument to work and put it in a safe place. Fortunately I have not had to leave the instrument unattended in a car previously. Even when I've been on tour I remove the guitar from the gear truck and keep it in my room. I remember when I first got my SC I had a gig in an open air festival. We had to wait all day before we played and the weather was roasting hot. I had my bass in it's case and took it with me all day and when I went back to sit in the car, I put it in the boot,but still when I opened the case just before we went on-stage, the bass was sweating like a pig. I was really surprised at the temperature the boot( trunk) had reached. Fortunately no damage occured and best of all the neck didn;'t move. My simple advice would be that is if there is any safe way you can avoid leaving the bass in the car, take it. Watch out there are thieves about too. JAzzyvee | ||
| wideload
Intermediate Member Username: wideload Post Number: 111 Registered: 6-2003 |
Would you leave your other children in the car all day? If you can't take it in to work with you, quit your job! Larry | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 207 Registered: 9-2002 |
Thanks guys. LIke I said, security is pretty much a non-issue, but the "sweating" of the bass never ocurred to me. Guess for those after work rehearsels I'll either bring my jazz bass or just go to work early with my alembic and bring it into my office so I dont draw unwanted attention to myself. thanks again! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1076 Registered: 10-2003 |
After reading this thread, I feel compelled to bring to light a few things that might be less than obvious... First off, not everybody lives in the sunbelt. So the heat, kids dying, etcetera doesn't always apply. We don't all live (and park our vehicles) in the proverbial big city, and even if we did, often a car is as secure as an apartment, unfortunately. Where I work, we've got cameras all over the parking lots and campus police out in-force writing tickets for whatever they can get away with, and nobody gets broken into. My rural neighborhood, on the other hand, experiences a great deal of breaking and entering during the day when everyone's at work. I feel more secure keeping the instrument somewhat *with* me than leaving it at home (but not so much now that I have an alarm system at home). The instrument will sweat when the temperature change is sudden, such as taking the case out of a hot car and opening it before it has had time to cool, or taking it from a cool place and opening it before it has warmed. That's when the finish-checking happens as well. Gentle changes in temperature are what you want to achieve, and obviously no extreme temps either direction if you can avoid it. We've got as many trees as we have parking spaces (it would seem at 8:05 am at least), so I can almost always park in the shade of a tree, if not the shade of a building (which I prefer). Ever shipped your instrument by air? It's experienced temps of 20-below, farenheit. Shipped it by truck in the summer? 140 degrees and higher is quite probable. Obviously, if you can avoid leaving any instrument in your vehicle for the better part of a day, then do it. If it has to happen though, and it does sometimes have to happen, then there are simple things you can do to keep your instrument happy and healthy in this frightful situation. It is important to keep the instrument case out of direct sunlight. I care deeply about my Alembic. I will probably never again have the disposable resources to have another one built, so I take excellent care of it. There are times when it is A-Okay to leave it in the car/truck all day though, depending upon circumstances, and there are times when it is NOT A-Okay to do so. Just use common sense. John (who wouldn't dream of leaving his Alembic in his truck on a day even remotely like today) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 1505 Registered: 6-2002 |
John, kids dying in cars happens in areas that you would not think of as a sunbelt area. Like here in the Netherlands - there was a recent case of a school teacher leaving her baby in the car for an hour or two. The moral of the story: cars in direct sunlight will get hot. On a different note - what would be the 'sweat' that you're seeing - melting polish? | ||
| terryc
Intermediate Member Username: terryc Post Number: 183 Registered: 11-2004 |
take your Alembic in the office and impress everyone... | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1077 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sweat would be condensation on the instrument. Yes, given the right conditions children can die from heat in a car anywhere, even Alaska in the summertime. I don't think common sense is ever part of that equation though.  Yes, cars in direct sunlight will get hot. My point was that what's not manageable in Atlanta, Georgia, might be entirely manageable in Duluth, Minnesota.. John | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 2142 Registered: 9-2003 |
NEVER leave an instrument in a car. I bring mine into work with me and leave it climate control. Chain it down if you have to, but (mark my words) you'll wish someone stole the thing if you leave it in your car for extended periods! | ||
| bkbass
Intermediate Member Username: bkbass Post Number: 142 Registered: 11-2003 |
A VERY,VERY BAD IDEA FOR ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED REASONS. Buy a peavey for under $200.00. Or some other cheap bass and still bring it into the office. | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 910 Registered: 6-2002 |
a (Message edited by jazzyvee on July 31, 2007) |
