GITANE DG-270

Michael Bauer

Sketch--

Normally new strings will improve volume slightly. But the occasional guitar comes along that actually loses volume with new strings, and I merely wanted you to be aware of that possibility. Humidity sounds like the more likely problem with your guitar. Dampits are great. I use a humidifier for the whole room my guitars live in, and use Dampits when I take them out. The room humidifier seems to keep the guitars in a pretty steady state, and helps avoid the long term affects of constant chages up and down in humidity level. Make sure you have a good case if you use a Dampit, so that the moisture stays inside. Let us know how it works out.

Michael

Bones

Be careful though, as I think it is possible to over humidify as well...

Don't over do it. Watch the curve in the top and see if it changes (comes 'up') as you use the Dampit.

Let us know how it goes.

Shawn

I'm just going to throw this out there...

Just make your own case humidifier if you need one. Dampits are fine, but I'd rather just save on the cost, and make one that will fit a Selmer guitar perfectly. Plus, with Dampits, if you have a really dry instrument you might have to buy several of them...and at around $10 a pop I'd rather spend money on something else. I have a video on my youtube channel showing how to do this, and I can post the video if you want.

Basically just use a cheap Ocello sponge and half of a ziplock bag. It won't mold, it keeps my guitars humidified perfectly, and cost practically nothing.

Shawn

Heretic

Lacking an in-case humidifier, you could move to the Heberdies and the dryness problems will go away. Just keep your guitar out of the kitchen if you have an AGA cooker.

sketch

well, i've searched the around shops, and ended with a chinese hygromether which ended by not being an hygrometer, and had no luck in finding the dampit. tomorrow or in the next few days i'll go find them, but for today i took inspiration from this this tutorial: ( http://www.bryankimsey.com/humdifier/index.htm ) i quickly headed for the nearest supermarket and bought the sacks and the cellulose, and i sort-out what i think could be a reliable home made humidifier... Before inserting the holed plastic bag into the guitar between the strings i've checked the mute frets and the strings which are giving the lower volume. The table seems still round to me. A problem, still, may be the hard case: i've noticed it makes a moderate pressure on the bridge while closing (the upper part even bends a bit while closing it). Do you think this could be a bad influence on the table taking back it's form? Do you think putting the guitar in a soft bag could work too? (still i'm a bit pissed with the hard case becoming useless if the pressure thing could be a problem) Tomorrow morning i'll check again the guitar, and take back one of the two little squares of sponge. And i'm definitely goind to buy the hygromether....

frater

You'll have to wait a bit to see the first results... my Eimers recently had a similar problem and it took me more than a week of Dampit to solve it. And I use a Double Bass one!

P.S.
I don't think the case has anything to do with it...

sketch

before going to sleep i've recorded something with the guitar just to keep memory of the changes this therapy is hopefully going to make to my dear "Coquette" apart my mistakes, to me it seams very clear the lack of harmonics and of dept. And it's clear the notes around 12th fret aren't producing a clear sound at all. I'm recording this also because i trust your ears and experience better than my limited ones.Tomorrow i'll make a video of the humidifier i've quickly made this evening. Again, thank you very much for your help!

sketch

Here's an immage of the plastic sack. One bigger hole where the index finger is, and many many other little one made with a needle




and here's the sack inside the hole. The upper open part cover the hole diameter, while the center part where the sack is being closed is embed between the 4th and 5th string.



May seem strange, i've noticed the very first little improovements after just one night. I've got good feelings about this, i owe you the life of my guitar. thank you guys! I'll keep you informed.

Shawn

Great job sketch, and good to hear you've already noticed some improvement in the sound. My guitars all require high levels of humidity to function and utilize their potential. I wasn't going to post this, but I figured for comparison here is the homemade humidifier I am using (pardon my "looking like I haven't slept in a week" look):

frater

Nice work. This is certainly a good solution if you have (like me) a lot of guitars to humidify! On the other hand, Dampits are real "miracle workers" when the problem get really serious. There was a fantastic video on the Taylor Guitars website where you could see Taylor himself use a couple of Dampits to save a cracked guitar body: not sure it's still there but worth checking out...