guitar humidity survey

Subject: guitar humidity survey
From: Spartacus
Date: 20 Feb 02 - 03:57 PM

Just out of curiosity...I have two acoustics- A gibson dove and a Taylor 410k. I can leave the taylor out year around and it never warps. THe gibson takes a turn for the worse around january, and I have to keep it in the case. THis is the first year that despite being in the case with (2) sound hole dampeners (one on the sound hole and one in the top of the case, I ended up taking the advice of a guitar shop and buying a "winter" bridge, and using my old bridge during the summer. Anyone else have this sort of trouble?

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: GUEST,Extra Stout
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 11:45 AM

My Hummingbird and other instruments never needed any special attention, but we do make an effort to keep the house humidity and temperature stable through the winter. What's a winter bridge?

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: Spartacus
Date: 21 Feb 02 - 02:40 PM

A "winter bridge" is just like the normal bridge only alot taller. It raises the action and eliminates the "fret buzz" i get every year around january. What are you using for humidification in the house?

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: Kaleea
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 02:20 AM

Nope, I never had any trouble with my 1964 Gibson J45. When I first got it (used in the mid 70's), I had a cheapo little humidifier, which was a clump of claylike stuff in a plastic container with holes poked in the top of the thing. You were supposed to soak the clay thingie in water & put in in the container inside your case & it would maintain the perfect humidity. Or in the summr when it's humid, one supposedly put it in the case dry to soak up the humidity in the summer. (or whenever) I used it for a few months, then I decided it was unnecessary.

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: Mike Byers
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 09:17 AM

A few years ago, I came across a Taylor newsletter that had a good article on guitars and humidity. I don't recall what issue of the newsletter this was in, but I imagine you could find it through Taylor. After reading this article, I started using a humidifier, one made out of surgical tubing that you soak in water for a few minutes, wipe off and then place in the sound hole. I've noticed my guitar tends to require less tuning since I started using the thing, particularly in the winter when indoor humidity around here is low. But I once forgot to take it out: as I stopped playing to remove it, somebody in the audience yelled, "Oooo, look! It's got a tapeworm!"

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 09:48 AM

Just so's we're all clear what we are talking about, can we agree that it is the saddle that might need adjusting due to humidity levels.

The bridge, on a flat top guitar, is fixed and immutable (unless you leave the instrument in the trunk on a sunny day ...)

Murray

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 10:10 AM

Well Murray, that's true unless you're Cranky Yankee who seems to like his bridges sliding all over to hell and begone............

Spaw

Subject: RE: guitar humidity survey
From: GUEST,vrdpkr
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 10:24 AM

We live in Northern Arizona and keep two humidifiers going in the house all the time. Go to Radio Shack and get a hygrometer to measure humidity. We try to keep it up around 30-40%. With two harps, several gutars and mandolins, and I'm not sure how many ukuleles we pay close attention to this. Outside humidity can often be in the single digits. We never have to worry about excessive humidity. One unexpected benefit has been the way it helps keep dust down. Sinuses, lungs and skin benefit, too. Good luck.