Author Topic: Best climate for bass health (Read 258 times)

jlpicard · « **on:** December 21, 2004, 10:44:43 PM »

Does anyone have info on the optimum temperature and humidity range that should be maintained. I live in northern Utah where it tends to be rather dry and I am wondering if it is better to control the environment when they are not in use or let the instruments stabilize to the natural climate since I obviously can't control it when I take them out to a gig. One of the things that concerns me is that I can feel the a different amount of shrinkage between the purpleheat and maple neck laminations as I run my fingers across the back of the neck. Is it because the bass began life in norhtern California and now resides in norhern Utah? Maybey it's just an inevitable part of the wood realizing ( as Mica puts it ) that it's no longer a tree or should I try to keep the relative humidity levels higher in my home? Mike

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2004, 10:56:58 PM »

Good question! I feel the same difference in the neck of my '90 Persuader, but I don't know its history prior to June '04. I know that acoustic guitar rooms at higher quality dealers tend to be humidity controlled and not particularly dry. I would suspect that too dry would be bad for solid bodies as well, but I don't know that for a fact. I look forward to seeing the answers on this one.

-Bob

palembic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2004, 11:17:09 PM »

Hi brother Michael,

I had the same problem -well problem ...it's hardly a problem no???- with Bonnie. It seems that the maple and purpleheart dry in different speed and recat differently. So I guess that in whatever circumstance you'll have the same problem in a certain degree. In the end -and it REALLY takes some years before the tree realizes that he is a bass now- it turns out very smooth with absoluteky no harm for finishes or whatever. I was told that this was already an issue way back in time, in the dark era that now is commonly called the YAHOO-ALEMBIC-CLUB-PERIOD.

Paul the bad one

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2004, 05:07:14 AM »

I have the same Feature ;-) on my SC Deluxe with the purpleheart laminates in the neck although it's hardy felt on the bits that go through the body.

Actually the same thing is noticeable slightly on my Ultra strat as it has a contrasting piece of wood at the back of the neck which I assume is covering the truss rod.

Neither is noticeable whilst playing.

Jazzyvee

David Houck · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2004, 05:40:53 AM »

There have been previous threads on the subject of humidity; here's one of them that you might find of interest:
http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/6669.html

After that thread I went out and bought a room humidifier. The humidifier worked as advertised, but unfortunately it was not sufficient for my space. In the house I lived in then, the basses were in an area that had an open floor plan (and the house I live in now has an even larger open area). The humidifier was designed for a smaller room, not a large open area; so it really did not help much. But for someone who keeps their basses in a smaller room, it would be helpful. In fact, if any club member is interested, I'll be happy to contribute this humidifier for the care of their Alembics for the cost of shipping.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2004, 05:50:09 AM »

There have also been previous threads on neck lamination issues such as you've described. I believe Mica has stated that this is not unusual and that over time the changes in the woods will eventually even out and, as Paul said, the neck will be smooth again.

jacko · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2004, 08:22:28 AM »

I'm not sure how much effect a lack of humidity has on the variations in neck laminate shrinkage. I live in Scotland, a country renowned for it's high 'humidity' and my neck has definite ridges.

graeme

(Message edited by jacko on December 22, 2004)

bracheen · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2004, 08:50:04 AM »

Dave, move to Florida. If you want to humidify a room just open a window.
I've had my Epic for a bit over a year now and it's just the same as when I first got it. I haven't even had to adjust the neck. Maybe the stability is due to the age as Paul TBO alluded to. He was born in 1994.

Sam

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2004, 09:53:56 AM »

I've accepted an offer on the humidifier.

Sam; thanks for the suggestion, but I now live in the North Carolina mountains and have no desire to live anywhere else. I have indoor and outdoor humidity gauges and I try to keep the environment as comfortable for my basses as possible.