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Location: Colorado | After not having a guitar for 10 years, I finally stepped up from the Celebrity Deluxe I used to have and bought this Adamas 1881. It has been in Gloucester, Mass. all its life. I live in less-humid Colorado and am worried about how the neck (or any other parts of the guitar) will react after I've had it awhile.
I've done searches on humidifiers and have found some useful information, but I feel this to be a more unique situation. I will store the guitar in its case in our walk-in closet. The closet is always closed and has no air-circulation vents so the temperature stays pretty consistent.
Thanks in advance for any helpful bits of information.
Todd |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Todd
I live here in the New Mexico high desert where the temp and humidity varies to both extremes. I keep my instruments in their cases in a corner that doesn't see any direct sun or outside air blowing on them and I have had no problems at all. Your storage method sounds very good, If you do a lot of playing when the humidity is very dry you might want an in case humidifier to rehumidify the guitar when it is put back in the case. Thought here is maybe play a few hours, store for 20 hours, it shouldn't dry out in a few hours. If you play gigs in the hot dry sun, stick it in the case between sets to keep it humidified.
Bailey |
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Location: Scotland | One of the adavantages of the Adamas top is that unlike a solid wood top it's virtually impervious to changes in climate. I wouldn't worry about it. |
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Location: Colorado | I really didn't have too much concern about the carbon top, but I'm trying to cover all my bases here.
The reaction of the neck, however, is a major worry. Having been on the east coast all its life, I'm afraid the neck will never "set-up" right.
Thanks for the reassurance, though. I'll get an in-case humidifier for now. Maybe we'll add a whole-house humidifier while I'm finishing the basement.
Todd |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | When your guitar arrives out there the neck may move, it will probably get a warp. A quarter to half turn tightening the T rod and you're back in business. I wouldn't give it a second thought. |
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Location: High, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado | Hey Todd,
For what it's worth, I store my guitars like Bailey and have found that cwk2 is right on the money. A slight neck adjustment may be needed, but that is about it.
I do have one of those cheap clay humidifiers in each case for insurance and they seem to work. My house is old with no central air. I heat with wood and have only had a problem with a Martin backpacker. All of my Ovations are doing fine!
Ovation is the only way to fly!
Regards,
Dale |
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Location: Scotland | Bear in mind that guitars are used by pro musicans who shlep them around the world in freezing cold aircraft holds from state to state or continent to continent. A guitar could be in Austrailia one day & Alaska the next. Guitars are pretty robust and an Adamas especially is well equipped to deal with that. As Bill said, worse case senario is it'll need a rod adjustment. |
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Location: Colorado | I appreciate the reassurance about the neck from everyone. I will seek out one of the inexpensive in-case "humidifiers" and keep the truss-rod wrench handy.
After posting earlier, I remembered about one Ovation endorser in particular--Richie Sambora. I seem to recall reading somewhere that he had zero problems with any of his Ovation equipment while touring extensively around the world. His custom double-neck even held up wonderfully.
Once again, many thanks for everyone's input and assurance. I'm glad to be part of the Ovation family again.
Todd |
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Location: San Francisco, CA | Adamas is built like a tank. It's meant to be played. Don't store it inside your closet all the time.
Why did you get the super shallow bowl, Adamas 2? |
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Location: Colorado | It's been ten years since I owned a guitar and had my heart set on an Adamas. At this point, I really wanted the old Adamas carbon top, not the new graphite/birch "sandwich" of the SMT. I wasn't really looking for a s/s bowl either, but this one was being sold by the original owner in excellent condition. I thought $800 with the original Ovation case was a pretty good deal. Plus my wife didn't object to me buying it--bigtime bonus for me. I'm sure you can all relate.
At some point in the future, I want to get a deep bowl Adamas I. But at anywhere from $1500 to $2500 for one in good shape, I can't afford it with baby number 2 arriving in March. My wife is staying home to raise them after this one's born, too. One income won't allow us to splurge, so the Adamas II was really a great compromise. I've played both s/s and deep bowl Adamas IIs, but never an Adamas I. The deep bowl really kicks the bottom end out which I like alot.
Until I win the lottery...
Todd |
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Location: Scotland | Todd, The old Adamas tops were also a carbon/birch laminate. Also it's not wise to use a humidifier unless you know the moisture content of the environment in which the guitar is stored. Too much humidity is just as bad as not enough. Around 45% relative humidity is about right. Planet Waves make an electronic hygrometer which is worth having if you are concerned about humidity levels, costs around $40 |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Todd
Sounds like you got a darn good deal, and your remark about raising kids reinforces what I just posted on another thread about what us ordinary people can afford in a guitar. I know Al is going to censor me but: Shit, you got a friggin good deal!
Bailey |
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Location: NJ | I have shipped guitars all over the world don't worry about it.
me censor? |
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Location: Colorado | Paul, thanks for correcting me. Also, I'll get my hands on a hygrometer to really check the humidity level before buying a humidifier.
Bailey, thanks for understanding and relating to my comment about the family. Impulse control on such purchases is sometimes very difficult for me, but I approached my wife about it to seek her approval--she agreed with little hesitation.
Al, thanks for the reassurance.
Thank you to all who've replied. I appreciate the insight and wisdom of everyone on this forum. I am excited for this resource, but not as excited as I'll be Thursday when the guitar gets here.
Until then.
Todd |
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Location: Colorado | I bought an inexpensive combo thermometer/hygrometer today. Humidity in the closet hovers around 28%. So we'll see how the guitar reacts after a few weeks. I may invest in a wall-hanger or stand so my new toy isn't always locked in the case.
Thanks again to everyone for their observations and advice.
Todd |
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Location: Scotland | 28% is low, ideal relative humidity for guitars is around 45%. Keeping the guitar in it's case can help if room conditions are not ideal. |
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Location: Colorado | Then, in my estimation, we're back to the original question--am I in need of some sort of humidifier, even if it means a whole-house humidifier? Paul, I did what I could to find out what the humidity is, so is it safe to use an in-case humidifier under close scrutiny? I don't think any of you would steer me wrong, so I'm counting on your experience and wisdom.
We do have a basement, although in the process of me finishing it. But I don't think just storing it in the basement will cure the problem. Humidity down there won't be much better anyway.
Good night all.
Todd |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Todd
Here is where I agree and disagree with Paul T. who is right most of the time. I was a superintendant in charge of the air conditioning of a $40 million optical test cell for the High Energy Laser Site that housed the most powerful laser in the US, capable of shooting down rockets. As such I had to control temp and humidity to within 1 degree F, and 50% humidity +/- 5%, great for optics mirrors that cost millions of dollars and were irreplacible. For a guitar, however, 28% is not bad, wood does not start drying to the point of warping until you get down around 10%, and neck wood isn't going to be affected by humidity anyhow, it is sensitive to heat like being stored in a trunk on a hot day, and that is the only wood on an Adamas. I agree that with Paul that keeping the guitar in the case is a super good thing as I have done that for many years as I stated before, as it prevents exposure to temp and humidity changes while the guitar is resting. Like us they need rest when they aren't working.
Bailey |
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Location: Scotland | Bailey, there is maybe +/- 10% tolerance on the optimum 45% and wood may develop probems at around 35%. 60%+ is considered too high. Also, as you said, relative humidity is temperature dependant. Disagree if you like, but this is accepted practice throughout the instrument making industry, not just my personal opinion. There is plenty of information on the web on guitar storage & relative humidity, here's something I found at random
http://www.musiciansworkshop.com/humidity.html
Todd, as long as you have a hygrometer to monitor the affect of a humidifier go ahead & use one. There's a few commercially available (Dampit, Planet Waves) or you can make one quite easily by drilling some holes in a small tupperware box & putting in a piece of sponge which you can place in the accessory compartment of your case. Don't soak the sponge so much it leaks water & check the humidity level by putting your hygrometer in the case. |
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Location: Colorado | First off, I didn't mean to start a disagreement or any sort. But I'm glad to have the input nonetheless.
Temp in the closet was 74F, +/- 1.5F. Humidity was pretty steady at 28%. Seems dry to me. Now that I know where the range is, I don't want to "wait and see" too long. With winter coming and the heat running, I'm more afraid of chancing it without a humidifier than buying (or making) one. The heat doesn't run too much in our home, but it may be enough.
Have a good week everyone.
Todd |
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Location: NJ | keep the guitar in the case and never play it, that way the resale value is greater for those who sell it after you die. |
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Location: Scotland | Thanks for the reality-check Al. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | One of the selling points for an adamas CVT I saw in Hong Kong (besides its easy action and great intonation) was its resistance to the high humidity/air con changes over all wood construction. I checked the Ovation website and somewhere in there they mention that adamas are well regarded in the caribbean for their resistance to humidity. I don't believe that's puffery. Now, if I only won the lottery, I could be on a beach front veranda on a tropical island with an adamas ... Sounds nice. |
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Location: Colorado | Thanks to everyone. I'm sure it will be O.K.
Todd |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Just go for it. When the neck starts to move you'll know that the guitar is adjusting to the surroundings. Tweek it as needed.
Play on. |
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Location: Las Cruces, NM | Todd
You are buying a guitar that, compared to wooden Martins, Gibsons, etc., is very well built to survive adverse playing conditions. It will survive any conditions that aren't abusive, take it to the beach like we used to do in San Diego in the 70's, and keep on pickin' as the fog rolls in and all the wood guitars collapse into a kind of sicky looking piece of beach flotsam (or is it jetsam?), and the Ovation keeps on singing.
Bailey |
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Adamas 1881 from Mass. being sent to Colorado--humidity problems?