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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2014 16:58:07 GMT
I imagine and hope that none of you have quite my living conditions, battling with damp and no heating etc. My best guitar is kept in a decent Martin case and is in sound condition. Two others are in padded gig bags, very impressively padded I think with regards to knocks and whatnot - but what do you think about their safety in my home regarding cold and damp? Should these bags be adequate? If you've ever seen a Seagull bag for instance, you'll know it's not like putting a Primark jacket on a guitar.
With five guitar hooks on the walls it's enough of a swine to need to pack the guitars away in bags and cases, but I'm aware belatedly that some of my past guitars didn't survive well here.
I think my electric and my almost solid nylon string would be safe in gigbags, they look like they couldn't have stability problems and that the electronics just need to be protected, but if I have to get another case or two I will. If a bag like the Seagull's is very adequate though I won't.
Thanks for any thoughts.
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Post by melodeous on Mar 4, 2014 4:45:54 GMT
Over humidification is a problem if maintained in it for any appreciable length of time. Glues become soft over time when exposed to elevated RH.
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Post by raggy on Mar 4, 2014 9:01:23 GMT
All of my guitars (4 off) are sat on a stand in my home office/music room. RH hovers around 45 - 50
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Mar 4, 2014 9:08:56 GMT
Have you attempted to measure the conditions inside the case and gigbags, @tpprynn ? I've no idea what protection they may or may not offer - could be worth knowing though.
Keith
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Post by andyhowell on Mar 4, 2014 15:10:07 GMT
Keeping guitars in cases for an extended period is asking for trouble. I've had bits fall of my guitars as a result!
I keep mine attached to wall hangers. Access is quick and easy as well!
In this country you should not be having any real trouble with humidity with a guitar hung on the wall or on a stand. I prefer to have them on the wall as there is less chance of damage than if they sit for long periods on a floor stand.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2014 15:25:03 GMT
Yes, I've now tried the hygrometer in the gig bags and the case. It's not great news really, and I suppose as a guitar doesn't have body heat to retain (!) it was never going to act like a coat... There is very little difference in the readings given from the case and the gig bag, and this was just under 60%.
Maddeningly enough it has dawned on me also that a second hand guitar I bought extremely recently had probably suffered the opposite problem. Where the seam is on the top it feels raised, between the soundhole and the bridge and for a couple of inches behind the bridge. It explains the very low saddle. I think it's in the early but significant stages of being split. I suppose it could just be the finish but it seems unlikely.
I've given the guitar up a few times and I think I may take this as a message/omen kind of thing. I'm not going to be able to move out of this home for the foreseeable future or change anything about it. I think what I'll be doing is keeping one guitar for in case of cravings, selling the intact ones and giving away the one that seems doomed, with an honest warning. I doubt the seller was aware of the issue and it's not worth the grief of discussing it with him. There are other things I should be doing with my time - I love the sound of the guitar and it's been therapeutic but I'm not a guitarist in any productive sense, I've been doodling, faffing and bluffing.
I see that a top split like this can be repaired with 'cleats' but I doubt it's economical and my experience of two repairers has been 100% negative.
Sorry to be dark but I could faff away like this for another ten years easily, decisiveness is needed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2014 15:39:12 GMT
Keeping guitars in cases for an extended period is asking for trouble. I've had bits fall of my guitars as a result! I keep mine attached to wall hangers. Access is quick and easy as well! In this country you should not be having any real trouble with humidity with a guitar hung on the wall or on a stand. I prefer to have them on the wall as there is less chance of damage than if they sit for long periods on a floor stand. Having just seen your reply... I'm not quite clear on humidity and damp, as naive as it sounds (not very science minded...) Both seem to be about water content in the air or something like that? But seen at different times of the year... Basically I have lots of condensation on the windows many mornings, the council have put in air bricks and so on. I almost never cook or wash clothes here and think that supposedly independent inspectors that have been round about this have erroneously called the issue 'lifestyle'-related when I think the place is just badly designed and badly made. I had guitars out or on the wall for 18 years and a few had developed issues. I think my Telecaster and my Crafter CT125, an almost solid nylon electro, are safe, they're tougher structurally, but maybe bolt on neck acoustics have been the worst thing to have here. Anyway I'll sleep on it but I am so glad I didn't buy a 00028 last year when I could briefly afford it (due to a death in the family), as I'm sure it would be in a bad way now.
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Post by earwighoney on Mar 4, 2014 16:42:46 GMT
Have you thought about getting a dehumidifier?
I recently bought one myself, the amount of water it sucks out is quite surprising.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Mar 4, 2014 22:17:52 GMT
Not one of my guitars is kept in a case. All of them hang on the wall. No trouble at all during the last 10 years. Average humidity in here is appx. 50 to 65%.
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Post by jonnymosco on Mar 4, 2014 22:19:49 GMT
All mine in cases - damp is an issue... doesn't stop me playing them though!
Jonny
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Post by brianr2 on Mar 5, 2014 9:22:29 GMT
Mine too. Also prevents damage by clumsy fools not watching where they are going, i.e. me!
Brian
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Post by sigmadel on Mar 5, 2014 9:46:46 GMT
Mine always live in their cases and Only come out when playing . I don't like dusty instruments plus with 4 kids I don't trust them not to touch them . I've only 1 gig bag which houses an electric , its a Fender deluxe bag and is extremely well padded . When I owned the Breedlove it came with a gig bag but wasn't that well padded . I've never had humidity issues even going out to the open mic or gigs .
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Post by martin130161 on Mar 6, 2014 11:50:32 GMT
Very sad to hear your comments, typprynn...
The perceived wisdom I've always understood was that they are better kept in cases, thereby reducing the airspace around them, and at least minimising the risk of over-exposure to changes in temperature/humidity.
That said, my girlfriend said the other day: 'I've been thinking, what could we do to display your guitars, rather than looking at those horrible black cases'!
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Post by sweyne1 on Mar 6, 2014 18:33:22 GMT
On another thread posted a short while ago I explained that, when ordering a new guitar Roger Bucknall gave me a tour of his workshop. In the mezzanine where he keeps his stock of wood the humidity level was 41%. He said as long as it's below 50% (may have been 55) he's happy.
Someone else suggested dehumidifiers. Even the disposable ones pick up a hell of a lot of water. With a humidity measuring thingy (what are they called ?) I imagine that would be a cheap and cheerful way of controlling the damp.
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Post by Akquarius on Mar 7, 2014 14:34:05 GMT
You mean a hygrometer ? I've got one hanging on the wall close to most of my guitars. Works fine and helps to stay in control.
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