Author Topic: Storing your alembic for the winter. (Read 280 times)

jseitang · « **on:** November 14, 2005, 01:46:24 PM »

hey guys i have a question.

how do you guys store your alembics? both long term and short term?
im planning to go on tour, and im DEFINITELY not bringing my alembic on the road, so its staying at the studio in her case for an extended amount of time.
how would you guys store it? should i keep the bass case on its side? or flat on the ground? or upright? i know strings should be loosened, am i forgeting anything else? your opinions please.

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 14, 2005, 02:17:05 PM »

Make sure you store it laying flat w/nothing on top of it,and secondly if you're going on tour, make sure whomever will be looking after it you all are on very very good terms,i know a bass player who lost everything while it was in a storage locker,someone cut the lock and cleaned him out!,,,,& if you live in a city that floods, then put it in your attic (if you have one)or store it under your bed,or store in closet against the wall behind all the jackets & stuff where it can be hidden from burgulars, or simply take it with you every where you go, Even to bed!.

j_gary · « **Reply #2 on:** November 14, 2005, 02:54:42 PM »

What I've done on occasion is leave her with someone I trust. I live alone, and more than once have returned home to find the place had been hit.
I lost some nice instruments as a result. Sadly it seems the hairballs knew I played and sought out musical equipment. Good luck.

mica · « **Reply #3 on:** November 14, 2005, 03:19:04 PM »

There is no reason at all the loosen the strings. The bass will not know it's being stored, so leave it tuned. You do loosen strings on acoustic instruments, because without regular observation, big problems can occur as they are much more fragile compared to solidbody instruments.

If you insist on loosening the strings, also loosen the truss rods since they are expecting string tension - otherwise you will come home to a very backbowed neck.

It should be kept in a place that does not receive huge swings in humidity or temperature. A home that is occupied is ideal. Avoid storing near outside walls if possible.

jseitang · « **Reply #4 on:** November 14, 2005, 11:55:33 PM »

mica
how about your ideas on position of the bass when stored? in the case on its side, flat or upright? does it matter?
i guess i wont loosen the strings, i usually would do that to my upright so id assume i'd do the same for my alembic.as far as safety is concerned, the bass will be kept in a very safe and hidden place...

gbarchus · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2005, 12:30:06 AM »

I usually place mine, tuned, up against a wall (in its case) in the back of a clothes closet behind the clothes. I feel a lot better when I get home. It's the first thing I check. But, now you know where to find it!

Gale

811952 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2005, 07:06:26 AM »

I don't store mine. Why not take it on the road?

John

jseitang · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2005, 07:34:28 AM »

because i cant play my alembic on tour. its way too heavy. a solidbody series II with 70's style thickness. instead im playing my road bass, my rickenbacker 3000.
so as for storing, would the bass be better off on upright, flat or on its side in the case?

811952 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2005, 10:36:03 AM »

Wimp..

My inclination in that situation would be to store it on it's side in the case..

John

jseitang · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2005, 10:58:32 AM »

wimp!!??.... dont get wrong, id rather play alembics than any other bass world; and i do have full intentions to have alembic build me at least two more basses in the near future( they will be mindblowing to say the least.) but $$$ talks and i ain't got the beans yet for another custom alembic. i would however be very interested in a series I medium scale if anybody has one?

bob · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2005, 11:05:29 PM »

I doubt it matters much, but if I were obsessing about it, I would stand it up. Flat or side has some potential for putting more stress on the neck, depending on how well the case fits. Standing up should take most of the weight on the body, and let the neck mostly just sit there.

And yes, leave it tuned. It will probably be that way when you return.

mica · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2005, 11:19:05 PM »

I was thinking about this today, and I'm with Bob, that upright is best for the neck. The only consideration being that it be stored in a way that it won't sllow it to fall over.

811952 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2005, 07:49:57 AM »

Jimmy,

I was joking about the wimp thing, just ask my back!!

John

jseitang · « **Reply #13 on:** November 17, 2005, 08:56:53 AM »

i know its all in good humor...
really though, i'd play alembics all the time, i just want more alembics, different ones to satisfy my palete.

captain_jan · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2005, 04:11:45 AM »

Up here in the north the climate can be very dry during the winter. So far I have not experienced any major differences on any of my two Alembics except the short scale Series I pops out the frets on both sides of the neck. Only a little bit though, the neck itself still stays straight. The Jaydee on the contrary bends the neck quite a lot every winter. Since I never take the Alembics with me to long trips they stay safely lying flat in their cases, strings in tune.