The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #89847   Message #1702602
Posted By: Justa Picker
25-Mar-06 - 12:43 PM
Thread Name: Keeping my Martin in tune
Subject: RE: Keeping my Martin in tune
Another thing that can affect tuning stability (in addition to the remedy of having a compensated saddle and proper setup done by a luthier) is the environment where the guitar is stored.

Too much humidity and the top rises, throwing things out of whack. Too little humdity and the top sinks - again throwing the tuning out(and can also cause cracks/seam separations, etc.)

Humidity issues can also cause the frets or the fret ends to rise or the fingerboard to shrink - again ALL affecting tuning stability and intonation.

If you care about humidity issues the target R.H. you want year round (which, depending on location - can require a humdifier in the winter months and a dehumidifier in the summer months) is between 45 & 55%. (I keep my pups in a climate controlled environment year round with an average R.H. of 50% and 3 hygrometers at different points in the room and average the readings from all three.)

I have zero tuning issues with my 6 Martins some of which include OO, OOO, OM and dreadnaught sizes.