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January 2006
Posts: 25
Location: La Quinta, Ca. | Just wondering how many of you use humdifiers. With Ovations being notoriously sturdy I've tended not to use them on my Ovations yet would with my other acoustics. In the last year or so though I've been throwing in sponges in plastic string pouches in the cases and they seem to be much happier. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Depends where you live. Phoenix is very dry (10-20% humidity), so YES absolutely I humidify. Guitar room is kept at 38-40% which is actually on the low end of what's recommended. Dave |
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January 2006
Posts: 25
Location: La Quinta, Ca. | Hmmmm, I put this in the wrong forum. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Dave's answer was compreshensive. If you humidity is less tha 40%, you should probably have something in place. While laquer cracks can add character to the appearence and not effect the sound, it does do wonders at lowering your resale valve. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Philboyd, La Quinta is near Palm Springs correct? I know I see signs for it when I drive from Phx to LA. If so, that's pretty DRY territory. I would definately recommend you do something.
Martin guitars are SEVERELY more sensative to humidity that Ovations and because of this their users manual consists of about 2 full pages of recommendations. Many of these recommdations are of course way overkill for Ovations. But it's interesting reading anyway. I'mm make a scan and post it here later or tomorrow. They recommend NOT using the in-hole humidifiers (dampit, planet wave, etc.) not sure why. They even go as far as saying if you hang your guitars on a wall, do NOT hang them on an outside wall because the temperature difference between the back of the guitar (wall) and front (room) can cause stress in the wood. Jesus, you winder if the things are even built to be played at all. Anyway, I'll post it. In the mean time, go buy yourself a humidifier. Dave |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I only humdify when I don't know the words.
It's also a lot less hassle to live somewhere where it rains all year round. |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I was with a customer last week and she wanted to show me her guitars. A beautiful Martin D-28 and a Taylor. Both guitar were split at the seam in the soundboard; bridge to endplug. So sad, she is an older lady and I am sure keeps her furnace high and in a Ohio winter it must have dried them out. I wouldn't have believe it would happen to two of them.
Steve |
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January 2006
Posts: 25
Location: La Quinta, Ca. | Yeah, La Quinta is the same weather as Phoenix, and I've been living here since '83 settleing down from many years in ski resorts.....now that's dry.
Still, it's been my contention that guitars can take nearly any reasonable condition as long as the change is slow. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I didn't believe the guy at the local GC who told me a Martin D28 had a finish crack that happened when their humidifier broke down in the acoustic room. There were a hundred other guitars in there with no finish cracks and the Martin had a ding right in the middle of the crack.
As usual, Dave has way more information. If anyone wants a new D28 with a 6 inch finish crack, marked down from $2500 to $1500, let me know. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | A ding will act as a catalyst for a finish crack. I dropped a CD jewel box once on my Legend. I was a little pissed that it made a 1/4 inch circular ding. I was really pissed two years later when the ding had grown in to a 4 inch long lacquer crack. It's like the windshield of your car when a pebble ding grows into a full spider web crack. Dave |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | In my new place I have to run a de-humidifier most of the time. Using either a humidifer or a de-humidifier is a mistake unless you know the relative humidity of the storage conditions. Electronic hygrometers can be had for around $20, invest in one before you go using dampits or whatever. Ideal R.H. is 45% though +/- 10% won't cause problems.
A very unscientific rule of thumb is: Don't store your guitars in conditions that would make you uncomfortable yourself. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The most important thing is that the conditions be stable, whatever they are. Then once your instrument has adjusted to it, you're set. Going from 70% tropical beach to a dry heated room in Ohio at 20% and back will cause problems. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
A very unscientific rule of thumb is: Don't store your guitars in conditions that would make you uncomfortable yourself. [/QB] That would eliminate England. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Actually, I've never been comfortable being naked on a stand or nakie in a case...... |
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February 2006
Posts: 140
| I thought ovations used polyurethene finishes. |
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June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | Aprilaire in house central humidifiers keep my house at least at 38%...
i use dampits when it gets really cold out here for more than a week straight..
this past january the system was able to maintain 43% RH in the house due to the warm weather.. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
A very unscientific rule of thumb is: Don't store your guitars in conditions that would make you uncomfortable yourself. That would eliminate England. [/QB] |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by KG:
I thought ovations used polyurethene finishes. polyester |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Polly put the kettle on. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Esther take it off again |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | . . . f@ckin' Brits :rolleyes: . . . |
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January 2006
Posts: 16
Location: PNW | I certainly don't hum-dify but my girlfriend does... |
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Do you humdify?
