Proper storage, long and short term

[adriaan]

Also check if you can keep the instrument (and case) out of the direct sunlight whilst on deck.

[jacko]

If you're intent on taking an Alembic make sure it has it's own lifejacket in the unlikely event of the boat sinking ;-)
 
Graeme

[mario_farufyno]

Thanks, Jan-Olof, that was a valuable hint we should be all aware. Adriaan also gave an important point: Avoid direct sunlight. The heat can be worst than the umidity in this scenario.
 
Take your tools with you to correct any changes in the neck adjustments during the trip and keep it safe in the nest until it'll have to fly. I guess you only need to keep it at the most stable enviromental conditions to everything go right.
 
Have a good gig and tell us how it behaved.

[afrobeat_fool]

Good luck, Jazzyvee! I'm glad you got the gig!  
 
  I'm doing well sonicus. I play tonight and Sat at the Landmark tavern/lighthouse in Yachats, Ore. I like this gig. They have a room for us to stay in and it only gets hit by the lighthouse light every 15 seconds. It's only a couple million candlelight, so its not toooo blinding. Lol!!! Seriously, it's bright. I'll probably sleep on my case on the beach, Jaco style.  
  We need to hook up, I wanna hear that Funk Dub stuff your working on. I'll have a studio album out in October, with a few originals on it. I'm still trying to figure out all the variables on my S1. It's a lot different than my essence. But I'm getting better controll of the essence, live, and would not trade Edwin 1180 for anything.

[elwoodblue]

here's an old Steinberger L2...looks indestructible.

[mica]

I think that if you are well versed with Joey's setup procedures, you can take your bass anywhere. Will it move if the humidity swings a bunch? Well, sure, but you can adjust it.
 
I do have a few customers that play on cruise ships as their regular gig. There's at least one Elan and two Series I basses afloat in the Caribbean pretty much full time.  
 
One other thing to consider is that if you play with the action slightly higher, you can tolerate greater movements of the neck without adjusting. Just a thought.  
 
Also, I'm the insurance reminder on all things. If you're traveling, make sure you're covered.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks for your input Mica, it's always good to get info from the source. I have always had proper worldwide instrument cover via the musicians union here since including an instrument on a general household policy will not, (in the UK), cover any instrument that is played for gain or reward.
Jazzyvee

[svlilioukalani]

Fear not! I live on a sail boat, in salt water, and have never have problems with an Alembic bass. Going from sea to land for gigs is not a problem. But, I have no issues adjusting a truss rod. If you play with extremely low action, you must loose the fear. Worry more about corrosion eating up the metal in a cheep bass. I lost a vintage Spector when the truss rod corroded. Salt air is your biggest issue, not humidity. I spent a summer playing Bob Marley covers on a cruse ship. I was a blast.  
Now, flying with a bass, thats a different story.

[Enzo]

JOS,
I'm sure, having worked as a repair guy in a bass shop, gave you the chance to see all kind of problem even on a so called reliable basses BUT, what I was trying to say really when I wrote any problem is that looking at a big numbers, graphite basses are significantly more stable when it comes to neck movement.

[mario_farufyno]

So... Have a nice Gig, Jazzyvee!

[jos]

HI Enzo! Yes you are absolutely right; graphite basses are more stable than the ones made of wood. My point was just to inform that graphite basses needs the same care as wood basses and do have problems as well. Wood basses can always be fixed but graphite basses not.  
I just did meet so many musicians from all over the world that did have graphite basses with them because they felt the graphite neck do not move in any circumstances. Most of the musicians I spoke to bought the graphite bass not only because of the sound but to be safe with the neck.  
Some of them did play at the cruising ships over here for almost 6 months and it was a big surprise when they after a few months discovered that the neck had change. I personally thought that graphite necks did stay the same forever. So I too bought what was advertised from manufacturers at that time.  
I also did discover that basses that had wooden necks and graphite stripes to keep the neck straight are not that good idea either. Wood and graphite has their own ?life? when wood moves graphite stays straight so you might end up with a ?bump? on the third fret on the fret board at least that was what I did discover most of the time. But again there are always basses where these problems do not show up and that are how it supposed to be. It has all to do with the fact how well we take care of our instrument and even more important how good materials are chosen for our bass when its built. In this case it?s always good to trust companies like Alembic who we all know has the best materials in the world to build basses & guitars. There are differences between Ebony and Ebony and some woods do not mix together that well either.    
I apologize for my English there can be some errors and misunderstandings but I try my best?

[Enzo]

Hey Jos, thanks for sharing your experience about this. It's all very interesting !

[toma_hawk01]

Jazz, oil that bass down with some lemon oil/olive oil to keep the humility in its place.  
 
The oils will be a protective bearer from the humidity.
 
Don't forget the Sun Screen lotion for yourself too. Your bass wants you to be in top shape too  
 
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/guitar-fretboard-cleaner-polisher.html
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 08, 2009)

[bigredbass]

I think that this stability/environment thing is not that big a deal with solid body instruments.
 
I've found over the years that axes that are generally stable and not prone to the rubber-band neck syndrome are going to stay that way, provided they stay in the same environment you do.  I've never had to fly my axes in the hold of a jet or move them in the 18-wheelers with the rest of the show. If it's been a solid axe, it usually won't go crazy going to the Bahamas with you.  If it is one of those guitars where you're always chasing the action, you'll probably go right on chasing it regardless.
 
Quarter-inch ebony fingerboards are great insurance, plus the laminations, and the double truss rods as well.  
 
I always would store them upright in the case, tuned to A440.  You can remove the battery if you like.
 
Acoustic instruments with their construction are WAY more affected by environment.  I just don't worry about solid bodies as long as I do the common-sense things.
 
Wood will be wood, but I find the older an instrument gets, the less and less it's likely to throw a curve (or a knucleball) at you.

[jazzyvee]

I the past I've toured with only guitars, all bolt-ons except the orion. I took a Parker Fly to Singapore and was surprised I didn't have to make any neck adjustments at all even though it was very humid there.
 
Once in 2005 I had to lift the nut marginally on my orion guitar when I took it on tour to the eastern bloc countries but that was only a tiny amount and i haven't adjusted it since, not even back to it's former positon.
 
Jazzyvee