actuweenie Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I'm looking for advice on a humidifier for my new Casino (as of Xmas). I've kept a couple of nylon strings in the basement without incident, but I live in a part of the world who's motto is "yes, but it's a dry cold". So I'd like to keep the new baby happy, especially as the wife and daughter worked hard to scrape together the sheckels to buy her for me. So advice please. Do I need a humidifier? (I assume yes) What type? Many of the ones that I've seen are built to go in the round sound hole on an acoustic not the f holes on a Casino. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyFingers Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I'm looking for advice on a humidifier for my new Casino (as of Xmas). I've kept a couple of nylon strings in the basement without incident' date=' but I live in a part of the world who's motto is "yes, but it's a [i']dry[/i] cold". So I'd like to keep the new baby happy, especially as the wife and daughter worked hard to scrape together the sheckels to buy her for me. So advice please. Do I need a humidifier? (I assume yes) What type? Many of the ones that I've seen are built to go in the round sound hole on an acoustic not the f holes on a Casino. Thanks From a fellow "Saskatchewanite" to another, if it makes you feel better go ahead... I doubt the maple on your Casino is going to crack or dry up...my Casino and various other guitars of the like just do fine the way they are... BTW Go Riders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I have the opposite problem. Here, in North Carolina, it tends to get just a bit warm in the summer. Last year the air-conditioning broke in my house, and it took me a few weeks to save up the cash for a new system. At one point it was nearly 90 degrees inside, and I was freaking out about my guitars. I kept them sealed up in their cases and just played my crappy old acoustic until the air-con was repaired. Then I had a new worry. Once it was fixed, how quickly should you reduce the heat from 90 degrees back down to 60 degrees? I figured very slowly... Once the house was back to its normal temperature, I didn't open the cases for another 24 hours. Nothing sustained any damage. Not even my Ric 360 which I've always regarded as my most sensitive guitar (when compared to my Strat, for example). I think electric guitars are more robust than we sometimes suspect, provided you're reasonably careful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majikalex32 Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 hey i have this problem as well. I live in Adelaide, South Australia and the weather here in summer often goes for periods of over two weeks above 100 degrees farenheit (and oftne way over that, last week for instance it was 45.7 celcuis) i too am worried about my casino. My house has aircon, but still the humidity level in the house is only about 30% - 40% when the aircon is on. any suggestions? should i worry? G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyFingers Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Just for your info...if you bought your guitar in Sask there is a chance that it was shipped in -40c weather in a unheated transport...mine was and it is perfectly fine...! Save the humidifier for your Martin accoustic :( lol... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actuweenie Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 hey i have this problem as well. I live in Adelaide' date=' South Australia and the weather here in summer often goes for periods of over two weeks above 100 degrees farenheit (and oftne way over that, last week for instance it was 45.7 celcuis) i too am worried about my casino. My house has aircon, but still the humidity level in the house is only about 30% - 40% when the aircon is on. any suggestions? should i worry? G[/quote'] Gee I wish I hit 40% humidity, that's practically a rain forest. It hasn't been over 27% in my house in a month and a half. When the temperature was stuck at the magic -40C mark over the Christmas break we hit 15% humidity in the basement (we freeze dry here). Of course in 4 months, I'll have to worry about the other end of the thermometer too - when we get the 30+C with either low humidity (or torrential thunderstorms). I've been watching the weather down under on the news, it sounds ugly this year. Keep moist and cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actuweenie Posted February 2, 2009 Author Share Posted February 2, 2009 Just for your info...if you bought your guitar in Sask there is a chance that it was shipped in -40c weather in a unheated transport...mine was and it is perfectly fine...! Save the humidifier for your Martin accoustic lol... Actually it was purchased in Calgary (not sure it that helps or not). As for transport back to Regina, it was stuffed in the back of my little car (which was heated). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyFingers Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Actually it was purchased in Calgary (not sure it that helps or not). As for transport back to Regina' date=' it was stuffed in the back of my little car (which was heated).[/quote'] One of mine came from Edmonton and the other from the Maritimes...unheated transport...Yours got better treatment than mine...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Move to Florida, it's always humid here!!! Actually, I don't know anything about all of this. I live in Florida where it is humid most of the year, hot in the summer, and a few days each winter it's dry (when the north is having a very cold after-blizzard experience). I never worried about temp or humidity, and my 1970 ES-330 is about like it was when I bought it except for some lacquer checking, a few unfortunate scratches on the back, and some corrosion on the metal parts. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svet Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 Ah, the old humidity battle!!! I am at war with the moisture in the air on a daily basis! Two of my hobbies have a need for my scrutinizing the air. Cigars and Guitars. The ideal environment for a guitar is 70 degrees Fahrenheit at a 50% humidity level. I have a small storage room where I keep my guitars and during the winter the humidity levels can plummet down into the 20's. This is not good for a guitar and if you have solid wood acoustics you should be very concerned. I use a console unit now and in the future I plan on integrating a whole house unit for convenience. Right now I fill up a five gallon bucket every night and feed it to the humidifier. I keep my room around the aforementioned 70/50 as much as I can. In the summer I need to use a dehumidifier as the basement easily reaches the 70% level! Oh, I use a Kenmore 12 gallon evaporative humidifier that is available in sears. IT is big and ugly but it works well for me. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03214416000P?vName=Appliances&cName=AirPurifiers&Dehumidifiers&sName=Humidifiers&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majikalex32 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Gee I wish I hit 40% humidity' date=' that's practically a rain forest. It hasn't been over 27% in my house in a month and a half. When the temperature was stuck at the magic -40C mark over the Christmas break we hit 15% humidity in the basement (we freeze dry here). Of course in 4 months, I'll have to worry about the other end of the thermometer too - when we get the 30+C with either low humidity (or torrential thunderstorms). I've been watching the weather down under on the news, it sounds ugly this year. Keep moist and cool. [/quote'] yeah it can get to 20% humidity here. the other problem i have of course is where i live in summer it often gets to over 100 degrees farenheit for two weeks straight or more, this year one day got upto 45.7 degrees celcius (work that out) i know you can get humidifiers and stuff, i have aircon to try and combat the really really hot days, but are guitars really going to suffer in extremes, or are you better off letting them experience the natural and modest change in temperatures and humidity, to toughen them up so to speak? the guitar shops here where i live, alot of them arn't even airconditioned. what do the professionals do? where would keith richards or eric clapton store their axes? G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 45% is as low as I let it get in the music room. Where I use a floor humidifier. It's a drag, uses two full containers of water every two to three days in weather like we're having in minnesota now. And then you have filters, and cleaning solution, etc. My house has a system for keeping the humidity down in summer, built in. so I don't have to sweat that. Dampit is a decent product for electric or acoustic guitars. A plastic tube with holes in it and a cap on one end. You unscrew the cap, soak the center foam in water, not letting it drip drops, put it back together and keep in in your case. Make sure it's somewhere the body and neck can actually get the moisture, not in the storage compartment. you can hang in in the f hole if you want. I don't really believe the body will suffer much, but necks are another thing. So I wouldn't say it's a waste to buy one. Even finished wood can dry out. But laminations are pretty sturdy. cold and heat have a more dramatic effect. Or you could always get a vault. You put your guitar in a wrap. then put it in the case. then you put the case in a bag. then you put all that in a flight case. then you put the flight case in your vault. Don't forget and lock the cat in there. tWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I have the opposite problem. Here' date=' in North Carolina, it tends to get just a bit warm in the summer. Last year the air-conditioning broke in my house, and it took me a few weeks to save up the cash for a new system. At one point it was nearly 90 degrees inside, and I was freaking out about my guitars. I kept them sealed up in their cases and just played my crappy old acoustic until the air-con was repaired. Then I had a new worry. Once it was fixed, how quickly should you reduce the heat from 90 degrees back down to 60 degrees? I figured very slowly... Once the house was back to its normal temperature, I didn't open the cases for another 24 hours. Nothing sustained any damage. Not even my Ric 360 which I've always regarded as my most sensitive guitar (when compared to my Strat, for example). I think electric guitars are more robust than we sometimes suspect, provided you're reasonably careful. [/quote'] Good Lord...(pun intended), you run your AC at 60 degrees?! I'd freeze at that, and the bill would be way beyond what I'd care (much less afford) to pay! LOL! I run the AC at 78, in 90-100 degree heat, which is normal for Kansas summers. And, live in shorts and t-shirts. Once you get used to 78, even 70-72 feels "chilly!" Of course, I have to admit, I've lost 50 lbs, due to my diabetes (and subsequent diet), and I get "cooler" much faster now, than I used to. So...??? Anyway...the guitars do just fine in 80 degree weather. Humidity is more a concern, in the Winter, here...but a room humidifier does wonders...both for them, and me! So... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm with charlie. and also diabetic. I argue with she who must be obeyed over 1 degree in winter. I like 72, but she'll only let me have 71. *L* TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Good Lord...(pun intended)' date=' you run your AC at 60 degrees?! I'd freeze at that, and the bill would be way beyond what I'd care (much less afford) to pay! LOL! I run the AC at 78, in 90-100 degree heat, which is normal for Kansas summers. And, live in shorts and t-shirts. Once you get used to 78, even 70-72 feels "chilly!" Of course, I have to admit, I've lost 50 lbs, due to my diabetes (and subsequent diet), and I get "cooler" much faster now, than I used to. So...??? Anyway...the guitars do just fine in 80 degree weather. Humidity is more a concern, in the Winter, here...but a room humidifier does wonders...both for them, and me! So... CB[/quote'] Well, thinking on, you're right. I tend to keep the A/C in the low '70s actually. I'd like it lower but have to be aware of money. The year I am speaking of, we had the worst drought for decades in North Carolina. When the air con broke and couldn't be fixed for a few weeks, it was kind of hard to explain how utterly miserable I became. The heat drove me mad. I live inland near Durham, so there's no sea-breezes. And the air is still, so opening the windows does nothing other than allow bugs to find holes in the screens and enter the house. Hot, humid, still air. And you sweat 24 hours a day. Going to work was a pleasure. Sitting in Starbucks for hours reading a book after work was a pleasure. Going home was hell. When I got my new system I cranked it to 60 degrees and lived in fridge for a few days until I got over it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Well' date=' thinking on, you're right. I tend to keep the A/C in the low '70s actually. I'd like it lower but have to be aware of money. The year I am speaking of, we had the worst drought for decades in North Carolina. When the air con broke and couldn't be fixed for a few weeks, it was kind of hard to explain how utterly miserable I became. The heat drove me mad. I live inland near Durham, so there's no sea-breezes. And the air is still, so opening the windows does nothing other than allow bugs to find holes in the screens and enter the house. Hot, humid, still air. And you sweat 24 hours a day. Going to work was a pleasure. Sitting in Starbucks for hours reading a book after work was a pleasure. Going home was hell. When I got my new system I cranked it to 60 degrees and lived in fridge for a few days until I got over it...[/quote'] Yeah, I've been in that situation, myself. Kansas gets really hot, in the summer, and humid too! No oceans near by, obviously, but a lot of little ponds and lakes! And, ducking tornados is fun too, isn't it? LOL! Anyway...as the old saying goes, "if you're comfortable, your guitars will be, too!" So, in Wnter...in house humidifier, in Summer...A/C, but not too much...seems to be the best compromise. When I gig in the Winter, I always warm the car up, before transferring my guitars...that way they never really get "cold." Same thing in Summer...turn on the car AC (to about 72-75), then transfer the guitars! Summer heat, in a car without AC (trunks, back seats, etc. gets pretty miserable... so, if you wouldn't leave your child or pet locked up in those conditions (well, most of us wouldn't, that is), then don't leave your guitar(s), either. Cheers, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 IMHO, one doesn't have to worry too much about the humidity when storing an Epi electric. As someone mentioned, humidity worry is mainly about solid-topped acoustics. The biggest threat to guitars is extreme heat, like in a car trunk in the sun, where the glue could soften and fail. Being as these guitars are virtually dipped in poly-whatever, they're effectively waterproof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Apparently the high-end Hofner Verythin re-issues come with a built-in humidity gauge and humidifier in the case: http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/vintagehofner/hofner2/very.html Mind you, for the price these go for I'd expect a few bells & whistles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiberna Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 What the hell, i live in a victorian house up in the north of england where the weather can go any direction it god damn pleases, we've had snow in april and may and scorching sun on Christmas day, not to mention we barely have single glazing and all the window frames are made out of wood (Thats rotting). Nowadays recently ive woken up to icicles coming off the top of my window, and when its rained in the past, cups ive drank from and left on window sills have been left for two days and ive found them full up of murky water. id also like to add one of the atics of my house has had its roof fall threw and its been ceilingless for about 20 years. oh yeah and my guitars seemed fine, i keep them in their cases. Thats my little ***** fit over. Being as these guitars are virtually dipped in poly-whatever' date=' they're effectivelywaterproof.[/quote'] awesome, seaworld here i come, im gonna rock out with the manta rays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm glad this topic came up. I am fairly confused by the information that I am getting from various guitar stores in Pittsburgh. I understand that my natural wood acoustics need to be kept in their cases and well humidified. I was told that the laminates do not need to have the humidty watched. Is this accurate? I have most of my laminates hanging on walls in my family room since we moved in about a year and a half ago. I have seen no problems with them, they stay in tune fairly well and nothing with the bodies. Any advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiberna Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Not really any advice, but i think it depend on the lacquer used to finish the geetar but i havent a clue bout that sort of stuff. there are tons of people around here that know, just need to wait for one of them to find this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actuweenie Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 I just wanted to follow up and say thanks for the advice on this one. Sorry for not getting back earlier but been dealing with a nasty virus and then completely different moisture issues. We had our water heater thank burst (six months after the tech said "Oh that's good for another 10 years), and the tap in the kitchen sink started spraying water everywhere. And in the midst of the (simultaneous) repair work, the city shut off the water unannounced for emergency water main work. I think we've cursed the local water gods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hmmmm .... here in TN, I run 69 in winter, 80 in summer ..... Mrs RSDx might complain, but she'd complain more if we had even less $$$ after paying for more heat or cool.... dames :D Gets a lil dry in winter, but not bad - my acoustic has been fine for 10 years, never cased, just on a stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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