humidity

[dkijc]

hey guys, just one quick question

my guitar is about to go into hybernation for 3 to 4 days +)

because the bridge part of the face sunk in a little. should i untighten the strings or should i leave it the same?

and what would be the best humidifier? i have planetwave acoustic humidifier...
lifeguard from kyser, maybe?

thanks abunch! have a great weekend

 

[Light]

The Planet Waves humidifier does not, in my view, have a large enough sponge. It is also a real pain to fill. The Lifeguard is much better, particularly if you already have a sunken top. It will concentrate the humidity inside the box. Make sure you throw out the plastic ring that comes packaged with it. You don't want it.

If it is only going to be for a little while, there is no need to remove the string tension, but it is not a bad idea either. If it was going to be for a long period of time, (several months) you would need to loosen the strings.

You should also use a soap dish humidifier, see THIS THREAD for information.


Light

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

 

[onlyfingers]

Interstate Music?

Hi, Light.

Your link takes us to about four other humidity discussions, each with a THIS THREAD link. The fourth one takes us to the home page of Interstate Music. Is something broken?

 

[onlyfingers]

Gibson says keep 'em dry (sort of)

Take a look at this: Gibson says that humidifying all the time will wreck your guitar. I kind of like the "humidify-all-the-time" technique, cause I don't have to think, and I don't have to use judgement or experience (which Gibson says to use) to tell when the instrument is too dry.

http://www.gibson.com/absolutenm/templates/FeatureTemplate.aspx?articleid=153&zoneid=2

If the link doesn't work, it refers to www.gibson.com, the "Features" section, and an article posted on November 18, 2004, titled "Fight Dry Guitar Syndrome."

My present technique, they recommend against. I h\umidify year round. I check my sponges every couple of days. When they are drying out, I wet 'em down.

(BTW: I changed strings the other day on my 12-string, and the new ones, which had been stored in my "damp" guitar case, had oxidized here and there. Seems they sound OK anyway.)

 

[Light]

Gibson says that humidifying all the time will wreck your guitar.

Flat out, unmitigated bullshit. Barring pouring a bucket of watter into it, you can NOT overhumidify a guitar. I will grant that, in very humid parts of the country (like the everglades, or the Mississippi Delta, you MIGHT have mold problems (unlikely, but possible), but barring that, it ain't gonna happen. Ever.

HERE is my original thread on the subject.

Only YOU can prevent top cracks. Humidify your guitars.


Light

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

 

[dkijc]

haha thanks guys... i found the best way.. at least for me to re bump up the sunken belly....

it's a new invention called Press 'n' Seal by Glad.... yes.. they made me glad not mad +)

i soaked a cloth and put it in a lunch bag, then placed it inthe guitar then i used press 'n' seal to seal the sound hole.. left there for 3 days or so... and man... did it do wonders... =)

thanks! and god bless!

happy new years

 

[Light]

haha thanks guys... i found the best way.. at least for me to re bump up the sunken belly....

it's a new invention called Press 'n' Seal by Glad.... yes.. they made me glad not mad +)

i soaked a cloth and put it in a lunch bag, then placed it inthe guitar then i used press 'n' seal to seal the sound hole.. left there for 3 days or so... and man... did it do wonders... =)

thanks! and god bless!

happy new years

The only concern I would have is that some plastics can react badly with some finishes, particularly the nitrocelluos which is still the standard for high end guitars. Keep this in mind before trying anything like this.


Light

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