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Joined:
October 2009
Posts: 78
Location: Keene, NH | Hey guys -
Did a quick search looking for a posting about general guitar tips (and hoping for specific ones for specific guitars, if it works like that).
I didn't find anything so I'd like to start up a post for anyone looking for tips on guitar care. Being a complete newb on the subject, I'll start with what I know to be true:
Keep the guitar in its case when it's not being used during the Winter.
Avoid subjecting the guitar to harsh temperature/moisture changes whenever possible.
Beyond that, I don't know much - nor do I know if that's 100% accurate in all cases! |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Get a guitar Humidifier($12-25.00) and keep it in the guitar while it is in the case or out.
Wipe your guitar down after playing (strings included) to get rid of dirt or "body oils".
DON'T let Trader Jim handle it, He'll sell it on you! ;) :D :p |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Buy a hygrometer and a humidifier for your case. If the hygrometer indicates that you need to humidify, use the humidier.
As to temperature, I keep mine in a place with small temerature variations, and in the winter keep them no less than 55 degrees.
think about it. if the it's too uncomfortable for you, it's probably too uncomfortable for your guitar. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't agree with your first one. If you have more than a couple of guitars, you will spend all your time trying to keep them humid in the case. Keep them out in a room with a room humidifier with a humidistat built in. That will keep the room and all guitars humid. A decent room humidifier will only cost you the same as 3 or 4 guitar humidifiers and will do a better job. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Agree, humidify the room not the case |
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Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
Agree, humidify the room not the case The idea/intent was to keep the Guitar humidified correctly. My suggestions maybe s/h started "Aleast" :rolleyes: :) |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Certainly a case humidifier is better than none at all. The only issue is if you have a dry room and a humidified case every time you play the guitar you are moving it from one condition to the other and then back again, which is not good either. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | 9th, if you haven't already, try a search through the vaults for "humidifier". The topic usually comes up in the late Fall. By the time I realized that it was a problem, I had more than 3 guitars and figured out that I could get a small room humidifier for less than the price of 3 or 4 Dampits or the like. Plus, I wouldn't have to buy another humidifier every time I bought another guitar. Since I have a room that I can close off for the most part, one humidifier worked for me. The first one was too small and didn't have a humidistat, so I bought a bigger one that holds a couple of gallons that has several different options. Even though it is dry here most of the year, I'll go for months without having to fill it, until the heat comes on about this time of year and then I have to fill it about every three days.
BTW, the 1976 Matrix that I've owned since new, wasn't humidified for almost 30 years and has no cracks. Most of it's life has been outside the case on a stand or hanging on the wall. |
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Joined:
November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | OK Mark, what humidifier do you use? I just crank up the one on my furnace but I have doubts about how well that works as I turn it all the way up and I still can't get condensation on my windows. My guitars stay on the wall behind my couch so I don't have to get my lazy butt up to play them. I find they spend a lot more time in my hands that way. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | I would have told you, but it's at home and I forgot the brand. Condensation on your windows isn't a good test. Your windows might just be good. You can get a decent hygrometer, even with an indoor-outdoor thermometer and stick it by the guitars. 45-55% should be good.
When I lived in the Midwest, we used dehumidifiers. I suppose if it's really cold and your furnace is running a bunch, it would really dry out the house, but my Matrix survived a couple winters in the Midwest without cracking. |
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Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 602
Location: Hanau, Hessen, Germany | Originally posted by 9thAnimus:
Hey guys -
Did a quick search looking for a posting about general guitar tips (and hoping for specific ones for specific guitars, if it works like that).
(...) Advice from the mothership |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 354
Location: nashville | Move to Tennssee and avoid buying any of that stuff. We got plenty of humidity. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | No problem with it in SoCal.... |
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Joined:
March 2009
Posts: 416
Location: On the Coast - Halfway between SF & OR | No lack of humidity here (N. CA coast) either. Problem here is too much - esp. during the winter when buildings are closed up - and everything molds. Of course a wood stove helps dry things out but not equally so you end up with wooden furniture joints opening if near the stove and the wall behind the furniture becoming covered with mold/mildew.
Leaving guitars in their closed cases during winter here is not a good idea unless you like having them coated in a fuzzy green patina. |
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Guitar Care