My guitar is exploding!

Heretic · January 2014

I use Oasis humidifiers in my instrument cases for my DG 300, and my hollow electric basses ( Hofner and Jack Casady), during seasons when the heating system is on. Wood likes to be at about 43% RH, according to my local violin maker. Here's a link to Oasis. I've used them for years, and found them to be better than any other design. I spent a year monitoring the RH in the case of my instruments to see what the effect of various humidifiers was on the case environment. Your instrument will play better and be far more stable with correct humidification.
http://oasishumidifiers.com/original.html

jonpowl · January 2014

OK, I've always played Gibson or Fender solid body guitars except for my old 00-18, which normally lives in it's case. Should I be keeping my Gitane DG-255 in the case? It usually lives on it's stand where I am impelled to play it as much as possible. It gets a little direct sunlight in the mornings and is close to the slider going out to the patio. I assumed that since it is coated with a thick poly finish, it is impervious to the elements. I, too, live a 15 min. walk to the California coast and it should be up to 70° today and the next few days.

pickitjohn · January 2014

A hygrometer will keep the guesswork out of this problem

Here is a good link to Bob Holo's post

Humidity Check... it's that time of year again.

http://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/9956/

GOOD INFO:

pick on

pickitjohn

Tele295 · January 2014

They are hard instruments to record. Don't put the mic near the soundhole, like you would on an American guitar. For our CD, I put the mic pointed at the wood on the treble side of the lower bout.

Steveareno · January 2014

Hygrometers are handy. Planet Waves sells a little inexpensive one you can put in the case, or in your music room. They also provide local humidity levels on the weather channel, which vary throughout the day. The link to Bob Holo's post has some good info. A small room humidifier might be a good investment for my one bedroom apartment?
Santa Monica is returning to better levels today: 20-53 percent. At least with Teles you don't have to worry about this stuff except for fret sprout... "Leo got it right the first time"....they also sound great for jazz on the neck pickup, if you take it easy. Gotta get me another. I'm missing the one I sold recently.
Swang on,

Jazzaferri · January 2014

Just so people understand the dynamics of wood, while the outside may have a thick costing of something as the insides are usually not coated all that does is make the expansion and contraction due to moisture content changed more asymmetric thus more stressful.

gitpicker · January 2014

Miles I know what you mean. Here in Beijing the air is almost as dry as where you're at. Don't rely on the weather reports for humidity levels. The reports here say humidity is 35% some days but my hygrometer says it's 20% or less.

My method here during the dry season is to keep a room humidifier on 24/7 in the room I keep my instruments in. Since I have a Planet Waves digital hygrometer I assume the reading should be pretty accurate. I keep the room humidity above 40% minimum at all times. I just have to add more water every morning and every night but it doesn't bother me. This way the guitars can be left out in the open. Once it's humidified (may take up to two weeks) taking it out on gigs and then back home won't hurt it.

Good luck!

Pugs47 · January 2014

Take George Benson's advice.......take the guitar into the bathroom and turn your shower on hot and steam-up the room

Tele295 · February 2014

I will be investing in a room hygrometer and humidifier this weekend. After a few weeks in the case, my guitar is better but still far from back to normal. Jill's guitar is still in the case soaking it up. We live close to the beach, but we are having bad drought. Rained on Sunday, but not much