Wondering what people’s experience has been with leaving drums in a cold (Michigan) garage between gigs in the winter? I’m not concerned about damage to the shells themselves (it’s a modern Ludwig Breakbeats kit), but wondering whether or not I’ll have to spend time re-tuning before playing. It’s not a major hassle to take them into the basement, but if I don’t have to, why bother?
Cold Garage Storage
I don't have a definitive answer but I can tell you, the shells and drum heads do tend to contract and expand based on temp. I have about a dozen antique calf skin-wood shell snares on a rack in my bedroom near the window and at night when the temp drops in teh fall and winter I hear cracks creaks and pops all night. Not sure if this will cause issues over time but I know it does have some effect on them.
Some of my favorites from the kits in the collection
58 WFL New Yorker Blue Sparkle
67 Ludwig Hollywood Red Psychedelic
69 Ludwig Standard Red Ruby Strata
70's Ludwig BOP "Ringo" Kit
A few of my favorite snares
20's Leedy Black Elite
51 Leedy & Ludwig Knob Tension
58 WFL Buddy Rich Classic Blue Sparkle
63 Walberg & Auge Sea Blue Agave Green Pearl
66 Leedy Shelly Manne Blue Agate Pearl
Should not affect them. You must expect to retune when setting up in the spring. Hot and humid are the worst conditions for wood.
22, 13, 16, 14x5
1968 Ludwig Hollywood kit Blue Oyster Pearl
22, 12, 13, 16
A Zildjian cymbals (50's-70's)
The glue freezes and becomes brittle , the drums can warp , the pies will tarnish , and chrome will rust....
I have a insulated and heated garage as my studio...
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp
once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
It's best not to subject any drum to major difference in temperature or humidity, if possible...
Cheers
1978 Ludwig Stainless 22-22-18-16-14-13-12 c/w 6-8-10-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-22-24 concert toms
1975 Sonor Phonic Centennials Metallic Pewter 22-16-13-12-14sn (D506)
1971 Ludwig Classic Bowling Ball OBP 22-16-14-13
1960's Stewart Peacock Pearl 20-16-12-14sn
1980`s Ludwig Coliseum Piano Black 8x14 snare
1973 Rogers Superten 5x14 & 6.5x14 COS snares
1970`s John Grey Capri Aquamarine Sparkle 5x14 snare
1941 Ludwig & Ludwig Super 8x14 snare
Wondering what people’s experience has been with leaving drums in a cold (Michigan) garage between gigs in the winter? I’m not concerned about damage to the shells themselves (it’s a modern Ludwig Breakbeats kit), but wondering whether or not I’ll have to spend time re-tuning before playing. It’s not a major hassle to take them into the basement, but if I don’t have to, why bother?
Are they cased ? Between gigs could be minutes. Hours. Weeks. Months. Abuse. Decades. Millennium.
If they`re in cases, maybe covered with an old blanket, if your gigs are frequent, you`ll be fine.
.....76/#XK9207 Phonic Sound Machine D454/D-505 snares !i
Yes they are in Protection Racket padded cases. Frequency between gigs will typically be 3-4 weeks. I’m thinking it might be best just to take the extra five minutes and a few more trips down the basement steps and keep them inside. Thanks everyone for the advice and opinions.
Yes they are in Protection Racket padded cases. Frequency between gigs will typically be 3-4 weeks. I’m thinking it might be best just to take the extra five minutes and a few more trips down the basement steps and keep them inside. Thanks everyone for the advice and opinions.
Good choice!!
Cheers
1978 Ludwig Stainless 22-22-18-16-14-13-12 c/w 6-8-10-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-22-24 concert toms
1975 Sonor Phonic Centennials Metallic Pewter 22-16-13-12-14sn (D506)
1971 Ludwig Classic Bowling Ball OBP 22-16-14-13
1960's Stewart Peacock Pearl 20-16-12-14sn
1980`s Ludwig Coliseum Piano Black 8x14 snare
1973 Rogers Superten 5x14 & 6.5x14 COS snares
1970`s John Grey Capri Aquamarine Sparkle 5x14 snare
1941 Ludwig & Ludwig Super 8x14 snare
Yes. Take them into the conditioned space. Even if you leave them in your car overnight, and they freeze, you would need to let them warm up to equalize with the ambient room temp before playing them....
Now on the flip side , if the bags are air tight , condensation will set in , so let them puppies breath , to avoid warping , rusting , and ply separation ...
Key here is controlled environment....
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp
once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
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