k3ng5hu1 Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I usually leave my guitars out on a stand. But people always say that if you leave your guitars out the temp. change during the day is bad for it. So, is leaving my guitars out a bad thing to do? My guitars are usually in a room where no sunlight can get in.
JefferySmith Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I usually leave my guitars out on a stand. But people always say that if you leave your guitars out the temp. change during the day is bad for it. So' date=' is leaving my guitars out a bad thing to do? My guitars are usually in a room where no sunlight can get in.[/quote']As long as it is room temperature without large fluctuations, it should be fine. I put mine away because my wife smokes.
Just Strum Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I agree with Jeffery. Keep in mind that music stores don't put all those guitars away at night. If you don't have sun coming in that will be hitting the guitars for a long period of time you should be fine. I would also keep them away from any direct exposure to heating and cooling vents. Another thing I would consider is wall hangers to get them out of the way from being bumped over. I don't practice what I preach, but I only leave mine out on weekends, so the exposure to accident is minimal. If there are kids or animals, hanging them on a wall is always a good precaution. If you are in a cold climate, you may consider a humidifier for the winter months.
Notes_Norton Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I'm not a luthier and I don't play one on TV, so the rest is from personal experience..... I have two hollow body archtop guitars (Gibson ES-330 and Epiphone Casino). Unless I am transporting them to the gig, I have them either hanging on the wall or on a stand. I've had the 330 over 20 years now, and other than a few minor scratches it is still in the same condition as it was when I bought it (used). I live in Florida and do not use Air Conditioning so I get humid days, and dryer nights. (Actually I had the A.C. on for about 2 hours this summer on one of "those" days). When transporting the guitar (I use the Casino on the gig), I put it in a flight case, and try my best to keep it out of extreme temperature changes and try to let it adjust to changing temperatures gradually. The hollow archtops should be more tender than a solid body electrics or semi-hollows. So if you don't change temperatures quickly, I think your guitar should be fine. Personally, I don't have the time and temperament to baby my guitars or other instruments. I keep them clean, transport them in flight cases, do not abuse them, and do normal maintenance on them. But they are tools. I use them, I play them, I practice on them, and I gig with them. By the time I'm done with them they should be worn out -- that would mean they fulfilled their destiny. Insights and incites by Notes
ef_in_fla Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I live in Florida and do not use Air Conditioning so I get humid days' date=' and dryer nights.[/quote'] Where I'm at (east coast) we get humid days and humid nights, so we usually run the AC. I keep mine in cases or gig bags and usually only leave out the one I'm playing. I have to retune every day, but otherwise no ill effects. Keep them out of the sun.
TWANG Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I've had my sheraton on the stand in the house for nearly fifteen years. Not a single problem. But, no direct sunlight. no heat or air conditioning vents blowing on it. Not stored near an outside wall.. they transfer heat and cold too quickly. also I use a room humidifier when it gets dry as it will in midwester winters.. I dont sweat humidity as the air cond. takes that down. a nice hygrometer near your guitar.. hardware store.. dollar store.. is a good thing to have. TWANG
alcorn429 Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 Seems like if you leave it inside and on the stand then it would be in controlled conditions. Atleast that is what common sense tells me. I leave mine on the stand because I'm more apt to play it if there where I can see it. Leave it out.
CodeMonk Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I leave mine out. Be it case or out in the open, temperature changes are going to affect it the same way, unless you have some kind of temperature controlled high-tech case .
Fcal124 Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I usually leave 2 guitars out at a time. My amps are in my basement, so I practice down there. I have a dehumidifier and have had no problems in over 5 years. I leave my better guitars (Guild D40, Gibson Historic 1960 LP, And Gibson ES335) in their cases in my bedroom, not because of humidity, but because I don't want them to get damaged. As long as there aren't any drastic temp changes, there is no problem leaving them out. Music stores leave most of their guitars hanging on the walls, and their doors are opening and closing all day. You usually only see the acoustics in separate rooms.
MarkW Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I'm not a luthier and I don't play one on TV' date=' so the rest is from personal experience..... I have two hollow body archtop guitars (Gibson ES-330 and Epiphone Casino). Unless I am transporting them to the gig, I have them either hanging on the wall or on a stand. I've had the 330 over 20 years now, and other than a few minor scratches it is still in the same condition as it was when I bought it (used). I live in Florida and do not use Air Conditioning so I get humid days, and dryer nights. (Actually I had the A.C. on for about 2 hours this summer on one of "those" days). When transporting the guitar (I use the Casino on the gig), I put it in a flight case, and try my best to keep it out of extreme temperature changes and try to let it adjust to changing temperatures gradually. The hollow archtops should be more tender than a solid body electrics or semi-hollows. So if you don't change temperatures quickly, I think your guitar should be fine. Personally, I don't have the time and temperament to baby my guitars or other instruments. I keep them clean, transport them in flight cases, do not abuse them, and do normal maintenance on them. But they are tools. I use them, I play them, I practice on them, and I gig with them. By the time I'm done with them they should be worn out -- that would mean they fulfilled their destiny. Insights and incites by Notes[/quote'] You live here without AC? What kind of deodorant do you use???????????????????? I am a semi-native and lived here in the 50's without, I just can't imagine living here sans a/c.
charlie brown Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 Play, Play, Play it! It will do, what it does, anyway. I take good care of my guitars, but I play them (a lot) too! If you need it to look new forever, (buy two)...one to play, the other to put in a glass case or the bank vault, for "safe" keeping (pun intended). ;>) CB
Notes_Norton Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 You live here without AC? What kind of deodorant do you use???????????????????? I am a semi-native and lived here in the 50's without' date=' I just can't imagine living here sans a/c.[/quote'] I've been in Florida since 1957 and back then homes were not air conditioned. I simply never got used to it. I live about 300' from the East Coast of the mainland of FL (Not on the barrier island) on an ancient sand dune that is 32' above sea level. I planted trees around my house, put an insulating foam roof on the house (the same foam that is on the liquid fuel tank of the space shuttle), and I painted my roof bright white. When it is 90+ degrees out, it is usually in the low 80s inside, and that is perfect for me. Personally, I think they should make AC illegal. It wastes a lot of energy and contributes greatly to global warming. Also, all the weather wimps will leave the state and it can be less crowded, like it used to be <big grin> It's all what you get used to. On the other hand, when it gets under 70F, I get chilly. And for the personal question, I use baking soda for deodorant, it works for me. My parents moved me to Pompano Beach when I was a small child, and I am now living in Fort Pierce. What city are you in? Notes
Notes_Norton Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 Where I'm at (east coast) we get humid days and humid nights' date=' so we usually run the AC. <...> [/quote'] I live on the East Coast too and the nights are definitely less humid than the days. What city are you in? I'm in Fort Pierce (grew up in Pompany Beach) Notes
ef_in_fla Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I'm in Melbourne. You'll be glad to hear that I only run the AC in the summer and we usually go from about Oct-May without needing it. I'm definitely not one of those leave-it-on-all-year type people. I know what you mean about the 60's feeling chilly. We've been down here for 8 years and the blood has officially thinned out.
JefferySmith Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 When I arrived in New Orleans in July, 1974, I couldn't believe that humans decided to settle here. I'm still not used to the humidity, so I have a $500 electric bill each month.
Ron G Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 Used to live in Philly, where the summertime humidity is legendary - I was an A/C freak, especially because I tend to get hot and sweat easily. Now, in the Pacific Northwet, the summers are incredible, with very low humidity and cool nights. It can be in the 90's during the day and go down to 60 at night, so nighttime A/C is almost never necessary. But the rainy season is a whole nother story. Oh, well......
JefferySmith Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 Used to live in Philly' date=' where the summertime humidity is legendary - I was an A/C freak, especially because I tend to get hot and sweat easily. Now, in the Pacific Northwet, the summers are incredible, with very low humidity and cool nights. It can be in the 90's during the day and go down to 60 at night, so nighttime A/C is almost never necessary. But the rainy season is a whole nother story. Oh, well......[/quote']I will probably retire either in Eureka, CA or Seattle, WA. I like drizzly (my British genes I guess).
Ron G Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I will probably retire either in Eureka' date=' CA or Seattle, WA. I like drizzly (my British genes I guess).[/quote'] I looked on the map for Eureka but I couldn't find it:-k
Guitar Chico Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 I usually leave my guitars out on a stand. But people always say that if you leave your guitars out the temp. change during the day is bad for it. So' date=' is leaving my guitars out a bad thing to do? My guitars are usually in a room where no sunlight can get in.[/quote'] An old, beat-up guitar is more beatuiful than a brand new guitar in my book. Don't worry about it too much. GC
Just Strum Posted October 4, 2008 Posted October 4, 2008 An old' date=' beat-up guitar is more beatuiful than a brand new guitar in my book. Don't worry about it too much. GC[/quote'] And even if they are not beat up, a guitar in a stand sure beats the sight of one in a closed case. Have you ever walked into a music store and have a case catch your eye, probably not.
Notes_Norton Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 The USA is a big country, with climates to match everybody's preferences. Here in Florida, for most of the year it's hot and humid. I spent some time on the road, including the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where my car broke down 2 miles from the nearest anything, it was 35 below zero F, the wind was about 40 mph and it was snowing. You could die in weather like that - fortunately none of us did as we walked to the nearest building, which was a strip-center on the outskirts of Marquette. But I prefer to live in South Florida where it only gets frost about once every 100 years, gets to the ninetys (F) in the summer, and is usually nice and humid. I like it that way. To all the people who whine and complain about the heat, I simply tell ask them, "Then why do you live here? There is someplace in the USA that has the perfect climate for you. Why not move there?" I've been in 49 of the 50 US states (I'll make it to Hawaii, but there are other places I want to see first), and the climate here is the best for me. That's why I live here. I could get a job as a musician in any state in the union. Really, life is too short to be stuck in a place where you don't like the weather. Insights and incites by Notes
Fcal124 Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 An old' date=' beat-up guitar is more beatuiful than a brand new guitar in my book. Don't worry about it too much. GC[/quote'] Yeah, but one that you beat up yourself! Not that VOS crap.
Notes_Norton Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 Yeah' date=' but one that you beat up yourself! Not that VOS crap.[/quote'] I treat my instruments with respect, but I do not baby them. They are tools, and tools are going to get worn. That's just the way it is. The only way to keep an instrument in pristine condition is to put it in a climate-controlled-museum-quality-display case. And what good is that? The instrument was made to make music. So when my instruments get old and worn, instead of thinking they look trashy, I think of it as experience or soul that the instrument as acquired. I'd never buy a "factory distressed' instrument, or do one of those home-brew distress jobs on it. For me, the age has to come with the playing so it ages in the right place and in the right way and is due to making music, not mistreating. But that is just me YMMV. The one exception for me is the saxophone. They tend to turn green and look very grungy. While this doesn't bother me, it does bother the audiences in some of the high-end (best paying) clubs I gig at. So I try to keep the sax from turning green. Notes
Guitar Chico Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 Yeah' date=' but one that you beat up yourself! Not that VOS crap.[/quote'] Yeah exactly. GC
Bender 4 Life Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 perhaps "relic" re-issue guitars......are supposed to be played while you're wearing $75 "distressed" (factory ripped, stained, and dirty) jeans?? I guess next, Cadillac will be selling "pre-wrecked" vehicles, new of course, for $5000 ABOVE sticker.
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