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What's the deal with humidity?

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mikdup123
Posted 2008-07-01 7:13 AM (#32233)
Subject: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
June 2008
Posts: 4

Location: Massachusetts		Any thoughts on how to store your guitar with respect to humidity? I have just aquired a 1981 Balladeer that is in great condition and don't want to cause myself any problems.

Thanks guys - this forum has been very helpful.
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Gallerinski
Posted 2008-07-01 7:53 AM (#32234 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996

Location: Phoenix AZ		40-60% RH
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Paul Templeman
Posted 2008-07-01 8:19 AM (#32235 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750

Location: Scotland		First you'll need to get a hygrometer to monitor the room where your guitars are kept. That will tell you if you need to humidify or de-humidify. As Dave said 40 to 60% is an acceptable range, though consistency within that range is pretty important too.
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stephent28
Posted 2008-07-01 10:30 AM (#32236 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303

Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066		temp between 65-75 degrees F if possible
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Mitchrx
Posted 2008-07-01 10:37 AM (#32237 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071

Location: Carle Place, NY		The weather and humidty conditions in Mass are the same as where I live. Firstly, keep the guitar in its case at all times when you're not playing it. In the summer, I don't really do anything other than keeping the guitars in their case. In the winter, I put humidifiers in the cases. More than anything it's sudden changes in humidity/temperature that will cause damage. I learned that the hard way.

Obviously, if you can keep your guitar room at a steady 70 degrees and 50% humidity, that would be ideal.
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John B
Posted 2008-07-01 11:30 AM (#32238 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225

Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey		I invested in a good room de-humidifier, and a large humidifier for the winter. The cost of both is far less than a major guitar repair, and is a lot less trouble than using the soundhole humidifiers on 6 guitars.
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2008-07-01 11:49 AM (#32239 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR		Air Conditioning in the summer can Kill your guitar.
(AC de-humidifies, usually down to 20% or lower)

Dry Forced Air furnaces and Radiant heaters will Kill your guitar in the winter.
(same thing, strips moisture from the air)

It is nice to get a Hydrometer Humidity Gauge so that you know what you are dealing with. The local weather service is No Help, cuz you want to know the humidity in the Room.

I live it the Rain Belt of the NW, but I still use a cheap humidifier in my room, because the central HVAC system dries out the air in my Building.

The "Keep it in it's Case" advice is a real good Idea. I still keep two or three Guitars in rotation on stands, but any others are in their case, with humidifiers in the case. I was using plastic film canisters with holes drilled in them, and a damp sponge inside them... Placed in the case.
I just got some of these from Sweetwater
These have clay instead of a sponge but the same idea. Your local music store may have something similar.

I haven't had anything bad happen, but I have seen photos of the aftermath of some folk's bad experiences.

An Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure.

And Welcome! :cool:
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an4340
Posted 2008-07-01 12:22 PM (#32240 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389

Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands		Basically, living on an island off the coast of north america, and now about 120 miles inland, it actually was the lack of humidity caused by heating systems in the winter that posed a problem. You'll only know what the real deal is unless you get a hygrometer. Other advise I have is keep your guitars in their cases until ready for use. Get one of those sweetwater humidifiers. You'll need it in the winter.
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Beal
Posted 2008-07-02 9:46 PM (#32241 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127

Location: 6 String Ranch		what they said.
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Joe Rotax
Posted 2008-07-03 9:18 PM (#32242 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747

Those humidifier things that you put in the case.

I was told that they aren't that great and mess up the guitar because the humidity in the case goes up and down ie. you put the thing in there and it goes up then the sponge or whatever dries out and it goes down etc. so that isn't so good.

The guy that told me that was a good musician and serious about looking after his instruments; he kept them in a controlled room

Thoughts ?
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Slipkid
Posted 2008-07-03 9:31 PM (#32243 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan		True... I'm not in an extreme dry climate and the type of heat we have in the house keeps it from getting real dry in the winter. That said, I've never done anything or checked anything. All 5 acoustics stay out in the open all year long for years with no problems. No cracks, no bulged tops, no popping bridges.

Besides all the other benifits, that's one good reason why I own Ovations.
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FlySig
Posted 2008-07-03 11:10 PM (#32244 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4081

Location: Utah		All the experts say keep the humidity at least 40%, which requires a decent humidifier around here.
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TAFKAR
Posted 2008-07-03 11:34 PM (#32245 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?



Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985

Location: Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by FlySig:
keep the humidity at least 40%
Not a problem in Brisbane. Even with the air conditioning running its lucky to get under 60% in Summer here. As for heating, we don't use much of that here.
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Northcountry
Posted 2008-07-04 9:04 AM (#32246 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487

What they said and.......someone mentioned temperature, this is as important as humidity. Yes, Yes. Wood will expand and contract from differences in moisture but metal can do the same with temperature. I guess the biggest problem would be extreem cold, the strings will contract causing higher tension and you know the rest.
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Fridave
Posted 2008-07-04 7:17 PM (#32247 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?


Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 247

Location: Delaware		Yes,yes,yes I bought a whole house humidifier from Sears. Self contained unit, 14 gal capacity, under 200 bucks, great for the winter months. Summer where I live your lucky if the central ac gets you down to 50%. Temp is also very important, learned the hard way, I left my '79 1612 in it's case in my van for a couple hours on a cold Dec. nite (in the 20's) opened the the case the next day to find a nasty crack from the bridge down to the bowl, UGH !! Well it was 1981 when I was young and stupid. Well I'm still stupid, just not young !!
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2ifbyC
Posted 2008-07-04 7:32 PM (#32248 - in reply to #32233)
Subject: Re: What's the deal with humidity?
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268

Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast
Originally posted by The Artist (FKA Richard):
Not a problem in Brisbane. Even with the air conditioning running its lucky to get under 60% in Summer here. As for heating, we don't use much of that here.
Same climatic scenario down, err, umm, up here!
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