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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Dubai | Hellooooooo
i have a super lipstick red elite T which i shipped over from the states back in january. i live in Dubai and from now till november it is time to keep the air con on all the time. i read somewhere aircon kills guitars????...has anyone any decent advise to help me :confused: |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | You need to keep the humidity at 40% to 60%. If you don't the wood will dry out and shrink, possibly cracking the top or causing other problems.
Get a good humidifier, not a cheap small one. The ones with a fan and a wet filter work well. Get one rated for more square footage than just the one room it will be in, unless that room is fairly isolated and has a door on it.
The in-the-guitar or in-the-case humidifiers will help if you keep your guitar in the case, but you will have to refill the sponge quite often. |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Dubai | thanks for the super fast responce. i tend to keep the guitar in the case when not in use, when i get the humidifier is it best to keep case open or shut? sorry for dumb questions but dont want to screw this up |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4044
Location: Utah | If your whole room is humidified where you store your guitar it won't really matter if the case is open or shut, the humidity will seep into the case just fine.
If you use one of those Damp-it style sponge things, you should keep the case closed so the humidity is trapped as much as possible.
Is humidity controlled in your home? You can buy cheap humidity meters which will tell you fairly accurately what your humidity is currently. With such a dry climate they may introduce some humidity into the air if you are in a climate controlled building. If your air is already at maybe 30% humidity, you could easily get away with a Damp-it style in-the-case humidifier. But if the humidity is in the single digits I would want something more effective at humidifying. |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | I have been to Dubai numerous times and I don't think you have to worry about a lack of humidity. I really like Dubai but it is HUUUUMID!
I understand your concern about the A/C, but I bet you don't see too many cracked tops from being too dry there.
I'm cheap and just use a damp sponge in a zip lock bag with a couple slits cut in it.
UGH! Now I want to go have some fun in Dubai. I wish I didn't see this post. lol |
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Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 29
Location: Texas | ETB, I don’t think you need to worry too much about low humidity in Dubai. The temperature in Dubai ranges from about 50°F to 110°F, and the dewpoint ranges from about 50°F to 75°F. The temperature difference between the room temperature and the outlet temperature for most air conditioners is about 20°F. When you’re running the air conditioner there, it will be, almost always, condensing water from the air. Therefore, the air conditioner outlet air will be just above its dewpoint (100% relative humidity). If you keep your house at 72°F, the room relative humidity will be between about 35% and 55%, based on vent outlet temperatures of 45°F and 55°F, respectively.
Cheer,
Daniel |
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Joined:
November 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Milford, MI | Wow! That was a pretty high tech answer. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Get a GOOD humidifier.
All my cheap ones read different amounts. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Without the technical detail supplied by leapin, I lived in Brisbane where the summer humidity hovers around 90% just about all the time. With the air con running almost continuously it still struggled to get the humidity down to 60%. I doubt the guitar will get too dry.
HOWEVER, if the air con is being switched on and off, you will find some very rapid changes in humidity between 60 & 90%. That might not be so good for the guitar, in which case I'd leave it in the case so the changes will be slower (or just leave the air con on 24/7). |
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Joined:
December 2009
Posts: 13
Location: Dubai | well guys thanks for the answers. i'll get myself something to measure the humidity and buy a spongy thingymagiggy for the case and once i have tracked the humidity decide n whether or not to buy a decent device. it's already touching 40 degrees now, my veg patch is dwinddling every day and the air con is in on off mode for now
again cheers for all the advice esp from Leapin! |
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protection my guitar from heavy air con