With the substantial investment you've made in securing your electric bass, amp, and other accessories, it makes sense to think about maintenance. To prolong the life of your musical possessions, there are some simple steps you can take that will dramatically affect longevity.

It's reasonable to expect that, with proper care, your electric bass will last for a lifetime. One way to prolong the lifespan of your instrument is to regularly use a bass case and a bass stand. Often taken for granted, these two rather ubiquitous items add up to an enormous amount of protection and are the first line of defense against unintended accidents.

The first item, the case, is what will prove most crucial. Generally, the sturdier the case, the better, especially if you will be going out and playing live gigs. If you end up on tour, a highly reinforced road case is a must. But even a gig bag, which is a soft-shell padded case, can offer a good deal of protection.

The guitar stand (often the same for basses and guitars) is a great investment. Usually available for well under $50 dollars, a sturdy stand will prevent your electric bass from taking a nasty spill. Because of their long necks and bad center of gravity, electric basses are even more prone to tipping over than electric guitars. So make sure that your bass is always in a secure stand once it is out of the case.

What's a Setup?

Every six months to a year you should have your electric bass examined and set up by an experienced technician or luthier. A luthier is a highly trained and certified guitar builder and repair technician. During this process, the technician will adjust the neck, bridge, and other aspects of the tuning mechanism as well as inspect the electronics and all other aspects of the instrument's health. Often the technician will apply a fresh set of strings and a good polish to the instrument. Make sure to specifically ask the technician to inspect all aspects of the instrument's health and to suggest any repairs or procedures that may be needed.

Finally, there are some small, additional things you can do to keep your instrument in good shape. Keeping your bass in tune as much as possible is always a good idea. This is the optimal tension that the bass has been designed to keep. So it is natural that this will keep the instrument within a zone of comfort by reducing the amount of play that the bass will have to endure. Also, it is a good idea to change the strings regularly (about every one to six months, depending on amount of use) and to polish the fretboard and entire body of the instrument with a guitar polishing cloth and guitar or neck polishing solution. As always, check the manufacturer's recommendations as far as types of polish and cloth.

The Amp and Accessories

The amplifier is a highly complex piece of electrical gear that should never be serviced or manipulated electronically except by a trained and licensed professional. Tube amps in particular have potentially fatal voltage levels, even when the amp is turned off. It is often common to have to send the unit back to the actual manufacturer to be repaired or serviced. If you have a problem or breakdown with your amp, be sure to have it serviced by someone who has been authorized by the manufacturer of that specific brand name or make of amplifier; otherwise, the warranty may become void.

Besides keeping the exterior laminate or wood enclosure of the amp clean (as you would furniture or your car's vinyl interior), there is not much you need to do besides keeping the amp dry and unexposed to extreme temperatures. When it comes to accessories such as effects pedals, you should not attempt to manipulate them beyond replacing the batteries. As for cabling, make sure to wind up your chord after each use. This helps to prolong the life of the cable.