Both. Overnight sub zero, they come home with me. Even in

the cases, 1/2 hour later the condensation from that cold to

room tepmerature leaves eveything looking as if were misted.

In the summer? I've had the wrap bubble and blister.

Combined over years this simply degrades everything.

( IMHO )

Played outdoor gigs where the drop in temp and rise in humidity filled

the kit with condensation. On the Inside...

Personally, if the environment makes me say "Godsmack"

I'll take the extra steps...

:2Cents:

My concerns have been more about metal corrosion than the wood.

I live in Hawaii so I have had experience with high humidity although the temperature range here isn't extreme. What's real bad is the cycling between hot and cold that makes water condense on the metal like it does on a glass of ice water.

There's not much you can do about it but I've found that using car wax (I use Meguire's Cleaner Wax) on the stands, lugs, rims... all the metal at least once a year helps a lot.

An experienced guy once told me that if you magnified a flat piece of glass it was filled with cracks and crevices, that nothing was really flat. He said that metal is like that too, and when you wax the metal it fills up those cracks and crevices with wax and that's where corrosion starts.

Made sense to me and it seems to work. I keep anything I want to preserve in my air conditioned studio, where rust pretty much doesn't happen due to the dryness and lack of temperature cycling.

I'd be just as concerned about the possibility of theft of the trailer itself, not just what the temp/humidity changes do to the drums. I've heard more than one story about "I came out the next 'morning' and it was gone!"

I live in an apartment building, and I still load all my gear back in after a gig, I never wait until the next morning. The first couple of times I did this, the police came by and asked questions, now they know me and what times I usually do this, so there are no issues. Also, I try to load and unload as quiet as possible for the neighbors. Sure, I'm tired at the end of the night, its usually pretty early in the morning, but I'd rather take that extra 10 minutes to not have to worry about temp/humidity during transport or the possibility of theft.

This is just my opinion and I'm sure there are others who would say don't worry about it, but then again there are those who still don't use cases/gigbags to protect their equipment! On more than one occasion I still see guys who throw the drums on the stage, drag the hardware in already assembled one at a time, usually with the cymbals still on the stands! These guys are in their 40's and should know better too! DOH

I would live without a dining room table before I'd let my drums stay outside of the house. Fact is, I have done this; three houses in Louisiana, and one in New York. That's actually not that many places when you consider I've had sixteen houses since getting hitched. We move around a bit. The other houses provided me my own drum room or studio, so I didn't need to take over the dining room. The drums are your instrument. You can't leave them out in the environment. That just doesn't make sense to me.

For me, playing professionally it always made sense to have several sets, so I don't see anything wrong with leaving a set in a van. I wouldn't leave my old Gretsch set in there - that's what I'd buy an old set of Ludwigs for! I always valued the Gretsch sets more and have always used old Ludwigs for gigs that I cared about the sound but if they were stolen or broken it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Just a few good paying gigs can pay for the set so it's well worth the convenience.

I always take my cymbals home though.

It seems everyone is in agreement, and honestly I was leaning in this direction so it is nice to know my concerns were valid. I think I will be using my 70s Slingerland 24" Kick and I will leave that in the trailer....

1. I do not have the rest of the kit to match it

2. It has an extreme amount of tarnish and rust on the steel wrap from the previous owner. Some of the legs/lugs were stripped/replaced not all original etc. However still fully functional, sounds great.

3. It was given to me for free.

I will bring in the snare toms and cymbals. My hardware is all mix of newer Tama, Pearl and Yamaha and they have been fine in the box residing in my trunk, garage and band trailer for years. There may be some minor tarnish here and there but its road gear.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Some day when space and Money allows I'd like to join the ranks of proud Gretsch owners. :) Bowing