guitar in afghanistan

Subject: guitar in afghanistan
From: alex s
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 06:47 AM

A soldier mate of mine is taking a guitar with him to Helmand province - will he have problems with temperature? It's a solid cedar top.
Any Arizonans got advice?

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:12 AM

I have had my old D35 in HONG Kong , Singapore , Uk , Bermuda and USA with o problems ! Dont leave it in the sun , and dont leave it outside if its snowing ! Basic common sense .

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: alex s
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 07:58 AM

what about a humidifier to prevent drying?

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: JedMarum
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 09:06 AM

Definitely get a humidifier. He WILL have problems with the guitar in desert climates without a humidifier. Check the climate conditions for the region he is going to ... but if it's described as desert or even very dry, get a humidifier. They're cheap and effective.

here's one and here's another.

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: alex s
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 09:48 AM

Thanks Jed

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: PoppaGator
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 01:22 PM

Just wondering...would it help to refinish the guitar with multiple coats of tung oil or some such penetrasting oil?

I'm only asking because my own guitar recently sustained some minor water damage (no structural problems, just a nastily marred finish), and I took a local luthier's advice to sand it down with 320 grit sandpaper and apply tung oil, at least five coats.

Instructions on the can of oil directed me to sand the wood, rub in a coat of oil, buff to a dry shine after an hour or two, and repeat (i.e., sand again and re-oil) after thoroughly drying for 24 hours. I did this for a week ~ seven applications ~ and was amazed at how much of the tung oil had been soaked up by the wood ~ at least two cups (16 oz), maybe even a little more.

One would think that an instrument would be better able to stand up to a dry environment after such treatment than before.

I completed the refinishing job with a coat of paste wax and a good final buffing. The results are BEAUTIFUL, by the way.

My guitar is 40 years old, and while it has endured all kinds of dinks and scratches, I had never dared to intentionally attack the factory lacquer finish with any kind of abrasive. I was quite irrationally reluctant to even touch my guitar with sandpaper, but that reluctance completely disappeared the moment I made my first sanding stroke. Once I had gotten started and passed the point of no return, I no longer felt the slightest hestitation.

I did not nearly, nor could I possibly, sand off all of the original lacquer finish and gotten down to the bare wood, except perhaps in a few small well-worn areas. The factory finish is thin-to-nonexistent in same areas and good-as-new in others, but the tung oil seems able to penetrate into the wood everywhere, regardless of how much or how little of the earlier coating remains in place, and the resulting overall look is quite smooth, not at all "patchy" as I had feared.

Of course, a soldier about to deploy to a combat zone probably has more urgent demands upon his time ~ but perhaps a friend or family member could devote an hour or so each evening for a week (or less) to "oiling up" his instrument.

(It's advisable to remove the strings for the final couple of coats. if not for the entire process, in order to evenly treat the top of the sound box and of the headstock ~ so you do need to be willing to give up a few days of playing.)

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: GUEST,Songbob
Date: 30 Dec 09 - 02:17 PM

Refinish a guitar to prevent damage, and in doing so add several coats of penetrating oil finish? And if it doesn't penetrate, it's because there's already a finish there, so just add a bunch of stuff and see if the tone is improved? Are you daft?

Unless it needs refinishing, don't refinish it! Get a decent cheap guitar and leave the good 'un home, if you're that worried. But refinish?

Are you daft?

Bob

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: alex s
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 06:14 AM

Thanks Poppagator - I'll ask our local luthier for his opinion on this.
As for Songbob.............

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: PoppaGator
Date: 31 Dec 09 - 12:40 PM

Maybe I am daft, but I first sought the advice of a reputable guitar-maker before proceeding. FWIW, I haven't noticed any perceivable degradation of the instrument's sound.

As previously noted, I avoided messing with this instrument's finish for forty years (since June of 1969), precisely because I had my doubts about the effect of any such cosmetic procedure upon the guitar's most important quality, its sound.

The mold which had begun to form on the surface of the guitar may or may not have some effect on the sound, but it was ugly enough to want it gone ~ especially as it was likely to grow and spread. In any event, THAT damage was already done, and had to be recified whether or not the guitar's original "pure" state could ever be completely recovered.

I'm still curious as to whether such treatment would serve as a partial preventative measure against dry desert heat...

(Note: Wrote this yesterday, but filed to post until today.)

Subject: RE: guitar in afghanistan
From: alex s
Date: 01 Jan 10 - 08:43 AM

Cheers Pop and Happy New Year