So, it depends on the stability of the environment in your facility--it might be nice to have the micro climate provided by a case, but you also have to consider the materials cases are made out of--are they archival quality? If you have the shelf space, you can store on a low shelf padded with storage pillows on it's back. You can also have a special rack built if you want to store upright cradling the base, but this makes more sense if you have more than one.
Another suggestion is to reduce string tension before putting in storage, and establish whether the instrument is going to maintained as playable or not. This is based on my previous experience as the conservator at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.
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Rachel Waters
Freer-Waters Preservation Services
Estes Park CO
(830) 660-9620
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-25-2022 09:50
From: Melina Avery
Subject: Best Way to Store a Bass
I'm not replying as a conservator who cares for musical instruments at the moment (I'm a book and paper conservator), but as a conservator who cares for my own musical instruments. Keeping them in a case is best, and beware the little packets (ex: Boveda brand) that claim that if you keep them in the case they will keep the RH steady at 49%. These were recommended to me by musicians, but they do very little. I kept RH monitors in a case and the room it was in for several months to test the efficacy of the Boveda packets; they did not move the RH in the case compared to the room, except for reducing the peaks and valleys on the RH chart. So my solution has been to keep a Boveda packet or two in the case to help regulate fluctuation, but otherwise to humidify the room to a reasonably high RH during winter. I hope this helps and I am also looking forward to the Care of Musical Instruments webinar!
Melina
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Melina Avery
Senior Conservator
University of Chicago Library
Chicago IL
(925) 319-7230
Original Message:
Sent: 05-24-2022 11:45
From: Katherine Owens
Subject: Best Way to Store a Bass
Hello All,
My museum is about to receive a donation of a bass. We don't have may musical instruments in our collection so I am wanting to know the best way to store it.
It will not come with a case. So if storing it in a case is best, can anyone recommend a good vendor to acquire one from?
Thanks in advance for the assistance.
Kate
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Katherine Owens
Curator of Collections
Missouri State Museum
Jefferson City MO
(573) 522-1980
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