Leaving your horn in your car?

[Michael Bush]

Once you get old enough to stop worrying about whether you look cool, things like elevators and crossing streets become a lot less of a barrier to carrying a tuba here and there. But obviously that takes time, and rushing it doesn't often work out so well.

[bort]

Regarding heat, I've never had much trouble when doing this (yeah, yeah... I used to leave the tuba in the trunk when I was at work, until one day I finally wised up). I didn't have any problems, although I suppose the tuning slide grease could melt and drip down into the valves or something...? Probably not a gigantic problem.

The biggest problem was that the horn was (duh) very hot.

[tmz1m]

yeah...

Particularly if there is a cargo cover that is sold for your specific vehicle...and costs $200 or less...I'd get one. You'll be putting other things in there that you won't want to be seen...not just a tuba.

Do they sell them to fit your vehicle on eBay? (i.e. a "good deal")
Do they look nice?
Do they store away effectively?

Yep, there is one and it's only $130. I'm going to measure when I get home to ensure the horn will fit entirely underneath, and then if so, I think this is a good resolution. If it won't, I'll start bringing it inside at work -- you've all sufficiently convinced me.

[swillafew]

Vehicles are crime magnets.

Concealment helps but your office is probably safer.

[PaulTkachenko]

If you NEED to leave it in there, then insure it for unattended vehicle. It's normally quite a bit more expensive.

That's what I do and I always cover/hide it.

Sometimes, I have to leave it in the car.

[bort]

Side note: the only time I've had something stolen from my car was when I forgot to lock the door. Only a few small things got stolen, but at least there was no broken glass.

(Actually, it was my girlfriend's car... and it was her stuff that got stolen... but... she married me anyway! )

[Wyvern]

The only time I have suffered theft from car was when I was with it. A distraction theft - one drew my attention to supposed problem under car and while I was looking, their accomplice stole my laptop and jacket (containing wallet). By the time I spotted theft, they were gone

[toobagrowl]

I don't think hot or cold conditions really effect brass.......if anything I think it could be good. You heat and cool the tuba every time you play it and take rests. Maybe the heating and cooling of brass helps make it more 'resonant' over time? Who knows...

Anyway, don't you have cameras in your parking deck? I know in my city there are cameras on every level - as well as in the elevators - in the parking decks.
I still lock up my car everywhere I go...

[ScottM]

There was a long thread a few years ago on insurance but it is doubtful you auto insurance will cover it, and if it does it will cover about $200 - less than the value of the gigbag. ( Business equipment is also excluded typically!!) The best route is an Inland Marine floater type policy. If you play any jobs for money, it will be for professional use and cost more but you will have the coverage you need not only for theft but for the other misfortunes like a trip in fall on a dark stage.
ScottM
PS: I wrote a really long post on this a couple years ago so you might be able to find it using the search function

[tmz1m]

Happy to report my horn was still in my car when I got out of work last night.

I'll probably bring it inside next week, just in case.

[oldbandnerd]

Which is the bigger pain ? Lugging that heavy *** hunk of brass down one flight of stairs,across the street and up to your office or finding the cash to replace it when it's stolen.

[Antontuba]

Take it with you, all of the time. Not worth the trouble if your car is broken into.

I take mine (981) with me if I go out to eat after a performance, find a place close to the table that's out of the way.

Adam

[emcallaway]

Here's another perspective-- I left my horn in my car with the windows cracked just a smidge to let some of the heat out while I got a haircut on my way to rehearsal. When I got to rehearsal my horn was playing very very sharp. So much so that I had to pull my tuning slide out an inch or so beyond where it normally rests to get down to pitch. The same, of course, applied to each valve slide too. Over the course of rehearsal my horn got flatter and flatter as it cooled down.

[tofu]

I took my cue from Chris Olka of the Seattle Symphony who keeps one YamaYork at home and one at work. I do the same thing (well not with YamaYorks ) and keep a horn at our rehearsal/concert venue in a locked/fire-sprinkler/police monitored storage room and its twin at home. Due to my frantic just in time schedule/life this eliminates the worry of horn in car and also the PITA of schlepping a horn around. Beyond the fact that insurance rarely gives you all of what a horn is worth, it is also hard to replace those horns that have that "it" factor. If you can afford to and your venue has a locked room perhaps this is an option for you too. If you want to be dismayed read your local police blotter and see all the car break ins. I live in a community ranked as one of the lowest in crime in the US and it is amazing how many incidents we have. Just last week my neighbor left his 765 Li Bimmer in his driveway overnight and they smashed out the drivers side window just to steal the loose change and the kids baseball glove. Broken window / scratches in the paint etc. - the cost of the damage to the vehicle often far exceeds the cost of what is stolen. I know people with convertibles who leave them wide open so that thieves won't cut the tops to break in. Car alarms don't seem to cause much concern for thieves. Nobody is going to risk their life to save your stuff.

[Tuba Guy]

What is everyone's thoughts on a locked trunk? I chose my camry specifically so that I can lock a tuba in the back. It is set up so that the only way the trunk can be opened is with the remote that I keep on my person (the lock disables the in-car handle). I obviously still don't leave anything in there if I don't have to, but I've been less averse to leaving stuff while I'm in a different rehearsal or whatnot. The theory is that if they tried to steal anything, it's much easier for the police to find an eye gougingly bright white V12 camry than a stolen tuba.
That said, make a list with the brand, model number, and serial number of any and all instruments you might have. Ya never know when it'll come in helpful

[nycbone]

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[nycbone]

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[deputysgttuba]

Sometimes, my PT-20 stays in the trunk longer than I like, but it never stays there overnight. My family is used to carrying guitars, fiddles, ukeleles, and even an Autoharp into places to eat and stay so they are not damaged by temperature extremes. I should probably drag the tuba along as well but, you know, it is just so big....I do make every attempt to park the car where it can be watched from my table while eating...

[MaryAnn]

I have Clarion insurance on my expensive instruments. No deductible, you decide how much you want to insure it for, and it's covered anywhere. If you're a union member there is a discount, and for me the discount is more than the union membership cost.
That said, there are times I leave the horn in the car, but it is daylight and I always park it in a place with high visibility, hopefully right next to the street. The windows are tinted too, and I put something on top of it. My horn is irreplaceable....not another one out there like it.
MA

[TubaRay]

Random question -- I'm joining a community band and the practices are on Monday evenings right after work. Am I crazy for leaving my horn in my car during the day, or should I bring it inside my office for safe-keeping? I live in a nice city, and park on the 5th floor of a parking garage. The only way anyone would even see it is if they were to really look into my car window and see it sitting there (in a gig bag). I'm just trying to determine whether I'm taking a really unnecessary risk by not bringing it inside, so I thought I'd gauge the collective opinion about this.

Your practices are on Monday evenings? What kind of tuba do you play? And, you park on the 5th floor of what parking garage, in what city?