Rabs Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 As you may have read in my other thread ive just moved flats.. In my old flat I ALWAYS had my guitars out on their stands as I like to look at them as much as I like to play them.. BUT since ive moved I haven't taken them out yet... What im wondering is if I should start casing them more, more specifically the LP Classic as its over ten years old now... Ive never had any issues before with warping necks or cracks in the lacquer or anything like that (yet ) but should you start treating them differently the older they get? Or is it kind of a case of if it was going to happen it would have by now? Whats the opinion of people who have old Gibsons or have owed one for ten years plus? Is it a good idea to start being more careful with it? Cheers :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I treat my 1978 SG Standard since September 1982 the same way: storage in its hardshell case at living room or sleeping room conditions. It's the same with my 1982 Ibanez Blazer Bass, my 1985 Weimann Blues Bird, and my 1987 Ibanez RG 430. There never has been serious trouble with any of these up to now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quapman Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 My guitars live in their cases. Not saying that's right or wrong. That's just where they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 My '71 LP looks like it was drug down a dirt road so it doesn't much matter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I don't think it matters much. I find I play them a lot less in their cases, so I leave them about and hang them on the walls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHTom Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I have a stand I use when I'm playing and take a break, etc, but when I'm done, I put them back in their cases. I just feel its safer that way. NHTom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 I made the mistake of setting my J200 within 10' of a heater for over a year. The neck started to warp. Had it not been for helpful folks here I probably would have smashed it in disgust. However after "hydrating" it... it plays perfectly again. Now its stored in the case unless I'm doing a gig with it. The guitar is 8 years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 21, 2013 Share Posted September 21, 2013 My lot are never in their cases except when I'm away on holiday (when they're put in storage). They are presently 22, 20, 18 and another 18 years old and I've never once had any issues leaving them out all year round every year. Like surfpup I tend to play them more if they're within easy reach and available. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 Thanks for the replies.. If its good enough for Pippy its good enough for me :) However I think ive resolved it now... A friend (a guitar playing one) just came over for the last few hours and wanted to play some of my LPs as hes starting to dig them a bit more in his older age (he has Fender and Jacksons)... So of course I had to oblige :) They are now all out on show again and I am happy about it (feels more like home ;)) On a side note he had never really played my 2008 Standard before and REALLY liked it.. :D I just thought it may be good to get some input from the guys who know.. but as always everyone has their own answer anyway.. So I think I will chance it.. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlo Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I have a stand I use when I'm playing and take a break, etc, but when I'm done, I put them back in their cases. I just feel its safer that way. NHTom I'm with Tom on this one, I play them and when I'm done they go back in their cases. Like he says it's safe that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHTom Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I'm with Tom on this one, I play them and when I'm done they go back in their cases. Like he says it's safe that way. I should also specify that I can buy a used guitar with a million dings, chips, etc, but if I put so much as a scratch on it myself, it kills me.......I know........OCD kicking in.....lol. My other issue is that between my family and pets, accidents can happen. I know I would have a melt down if anyone else damaged one, so rather than have that accidental situation come up...........I keep them in cases........lol. .............typing this makes me realize what a sickness this is......lol NHTom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 I should also specify that I can buy a used guitar with a million dings, chips, etc, but if I put so much as a scratch on it myself, it kills me.......I know........OCD kicking in.....lol. My other issue is that between my family and pets, accidents can happen. I know I would have a melt down if anyone else damaged one, so rather than have that accidental situation come up...........I keep them in cases........lol. .............typing the makes me realize what a sickness this is......lol NHTom Lol.. yeah I take care of my guitars but am not that weird about it.. When I had a cat he had a snotting problem.. so he would sneeze all over the place and sometimes they would end up on the guitars as they are out.. But it cleaned off easy enough.. Hes not around any more so 98% of the time its just me.. As I say I love to look at them as much as I enjoy playing them.. Now they are out again I happy with it :) (until one day something happens im sure ;) :P) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 One, maybe two out, on a stand or laying on the couch so the cats can lay on it. The other 7 or 8 stay in their cases, until they come out and the other one or two go in their cases. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 ...When I had a cat he had a snotting problem........Hes not around any more so 98% of the time its just me... You can probably get something to treat that, Rabs. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight959 Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I have two very energetic little boys!! So my guitars are either in there cases or on my knee! Period!! Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 perhaps the U.K. has a retailer such as the U.S.s Rondo music where this is less than $80 C.N.B. brand form fit, plexiglass faced display cases for LPs & Strats/Teles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I keep my Martin and my Gibsons in the cases most of the time. My parlor guitar is always hanging in my house and the Strat is whatever. I play outside in my workshop which isn't climate controlled, so I don't like to leave them out there overnight. I bring a couple out there in the morning and bring them back in at night. I think the strings don't corrode as quickly when they're in the case, too. Fresh strings are good, so the case is safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Older guitars require no special care, only "normal" care. In fact, in light of a recent thread that talked about celluloid pickguard off-gassing, I'll go so far to say that the worst thing you can do to a guitar is leave it sealed up in it's case. Between the chemicals used in the lacquer, plastics and glues, a guitar sealed in it's case is laying in a virtual smorgasbord of toxic chemicals. As we all say the concerning temperature and humidity for guitars "if it's comfortable for you, it's comfortable for your guitars", I'll even extend that general theory to guitars sealed in their cases. The best environment for everything is FRESH AIR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Older guitars require no special care, only "normal" care. In fact, in light of a recent thread that talked about celluloid pickguard off-gassing, I'll go so far to say that the worst thing you can do to a guitar is leave it sealed up in it's case. Between the chemicals used in the lacquer, plastics and glues, a guitar sealed in it's case is laying in a virtual smorgasbord of toxic chemicals. As we all say the concerning temperature and humidity for guitars "if it's comfortable for you, it's comfortable for your guitars", I'll even extend that general theory to guitars sealed in their cases. The best environment for everything is FRESH AIR. I prefer to keep the toxic chemicals close in the cases rather than to inhale them in my sleeping room. Fresh air is a vital part of aging since oxygene eats up everything with time. Rubber and finishes are polymer substances sensitive to oxygene, so it is valid to compare them in this respect. The long molecules are cut into pieces and cross-linked with time, so both become brittle and disintegrate to dust finally. There is not a big step from polyesters to polyethers, and it is done by oxygene. Nitrocellulose is a polyester, too, but since cellulose is a proprietary name for the widestly spreaded polymer on earth (followed by starch, by the way, and both consisting of glucose aka grape-sugar only), there appears no poly- in the name. They are polysaccharides both. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polysaccharide in case of interest) The best thing for keeping tyres and guitars including strings in shape is to keep them from oxygene, and so from fresh air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 You can probably get something to treat that, Rabs. P. In this case there was no cure... He had some disease when he was a kitten which left him with a snotting issue. We tried treating it a few times but it never cleared up :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 The way that I look at it every guitar deserves to be well taken care of regardless of make or model.I treat all of mine equally from my no-name Strat-like copy that my daughters gave me for Father's day a few years ago to my '65 Strat.All my guitars are carefully wiped after playing,both the strings and the body plus they are all kept in cases or on stands with old sheets draped over them to keep any dust from collecting.I live about 200 ft. from the North Atlantic and consequently humidity is a year 'round problem so I have a dehumidifier always going in our basement to keep the air to a proper humidity that's kind to guitars.The only guitars that are kept out of their cases are the ones that I keep out for every day use and they are only kept out one at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 The environment plays a big part on how to care for guitars new or old. Up north near Chicago it gets very cold in winter so we always have the heat on, and the ground is frozen so there is little humidity. The low humidity can dry the wood out, it shrinks in places and you have problems. Not such a problem if sealed up in a case and maybe add a "damp-it" or other hydrating device to keep the moisture in the wood at a reasonable level. Now I have moved South and it rained everyday for about two months so very humid - too much moisture in the wood also bad, can swell up and create all kinds of problems. Better off in the case when not being played. Dogs, cats, small children running around the house - guitar sitting out on a stand not a good idea - knocked over, bent tuners, chips in finish - better off stored in a case. Live in Denver at high altitude (or the Alps) very dry air, same with Phoenix area in a desert - keep it in the case. Live in New Orleans below see level, near the ocean, salt air - keep in the case. London or Brussels where it rains 300 days a year always damp - keep it in the case. Smoking the pipe, cigs, or cigars and your guitars are hanging on the wall all the time? Nicotene gradu builds up and ruins the finish. The old laquer finishes are going to crackle eventually that is the nature of the beast, but I see no advantage to leaving a guitar out of it's case. If you are too lazy to get a guitar out of it's case to play - then you don't want to play bad enough. Would you like me to tell you how I really feel about this? Just keep it in the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 One, maybe two out, on a stand or laying on the couch so the cats can lay on it. The other 7 or 8 stay in their cases, until they come out and the other one or two go in their cases. rct +1 I mean, even when they are all out I tend to pick the same two for weeks and weeks...may as well let the others rest with the strings loose in their cases until I feel the need to change it up or if I feel like a different sound is needed for a recording. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 +1 I mean, even when they are all out I tend to pick the same two for weeks and weeks...may as well let the others rest with the strings loose in their cases until I feel the need to change it up or if I feel like a different sound is needed for a recording. When saying strings loose, do you mean they are not in tune when in their cases? The best thing especially for necks is to keep them correctly adjusted and the strings well tuned. Works for me since 33 years without complaints. I experienced several instruments of pals of which the necks needed months to recover from storage without being set up to play. Moreover, strings adapt to the magnetic fields of the pickups, and so their positioning is important e. g. for proper intonation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 I live about 200 ft. from the North Atlantic and consequently humidity is a year 'round problem... The environment plays a big part on how to care for guitars... I agree completely with these sentiments but as Rabs lives about 20 miles from me to the north-west of London I don't forsee him experiencing many problems as a result of extreme weather-changes. Hereabouts the yearly cycle goes from 'a-bit-chilly-to-a-bit-breezy-to-rather-pleasant-to-nicely-warm-to-a-bit-damp-to-a-bit-chilly' and that's about it. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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