Humidity and the semi-hollow body guitar

[HapiCmpur]

I'd imagine that semi-hollow body electric guitars are not nearly as fussy about humidity as acoustic guitars, but I still wonder sometimes if I shouldn't occasionally put a Damp-it in one of the f-holes of my 335 during the winter. And that raises another question: What effect, if any, is a Damp-it likely to have on the guitar's electronics. Any opinions?

 

[Light]

Yes, you should. Even better, put a couple of soap dish humidifiers in the case with the guitar when ever you are not playing it. Dampits are just too damn small to be effective. Your biggest problem (with solid bodies as well) is going to be a shrinking fingerboard. Fret ends stick out, and get all nasty and rough. A dampit will do next to nothing about the fingerboard. A couple of soap dish humidifiers in the case will help a lot.

And don't worry about the electronics. No humidifier should ever be so wet it is dripping, which is the only way you are going to have a problem with the electronics.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[HapiCmpur]

Your biggest problem (with solid bodies as well) is going to be a shrinking fingerboard.

Yes, shrinkage has always been my biggest problem. (Oh, but you were talking about guitars.)

Thanks, Light. I had emailed the same question to Gibson and was told that the humidity level I've established in my home is already ideal and the only reason for me to keep the guitar in its case would be to protect it from getting knocked off the stand. I've got a whole-house humidifier that keeps the RH in my studio somewhere between 35% and 45% throughout the winter, but I was still surprised (and doubtful) to hear someone at Gibson describe that as "ideal."

On the other hand, I've had that guitar almost 25 years and have kept it out on the stand most of that time, all year 'round. The frets are still smooth as a baby's butt cheek. Go figure. Still, there's certainly no harm in giving the instrument a little extra TLC now that its in its golden years.

 

[gbdweller]

The tech at Gibson was not misleading you. 35% is on the low side of ideal but is okay. A 25 year old guitar is going to be stable to it's environment as yours seems to be. Sudden extreme changes to it's environment (dry or humid) would be more dangerous to it's health than a R.H. of 35% after the guitar has spent the last 25 years at or around 40% R.H. Leaving it on the stand is also asking for a disaster. Soap dish humidifiers in the case would be fine for that guitar as long as the guitar is in a closed case. Don't put a dampit in the f-holes.

 

[Light]

35% is a bit low (we had a cold snap last weekend, and we were all freaking out because the shop was only 41%, but then we have a different reason for the humidity in our shop). Ideal is 45-50%. But a guitar that old which is kept in a consistaint enviroment is PROBABLY going to be okay.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[notCardio]

I'd say if whatever you've done for 25 years has kept it in good shape, just keep doing it. But, yeah, don't knock it off the stand. That would suck. Of course, if I had a 335, it's be in a freakin' glass case on the wall!

 

[notCardio]

Oh yeah, and another thing

about the shrinkage. Stay out of cold pools, and fer God's sake don't wear a Speedo!