The effects of humidity (or the lack of) on an acoustic guitar.
- Thread starter Mark Wein
- Start date
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
did he drive or fly?
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
wouldn't driving be better for the guitar? it also makes me wonder if he uses a humidification kit.
To be honest he doesn't even use cases most of the time when he comes to lessons.
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
:hmm:
Kerouac
weird musical dildo
I love the Masterbuilt acoustics. Terrific sounding models an not just in a "bang for the buck" situation.
Denverdave
Resident Ragamuffin
Hmmm....
I'm not sure a climate change from Vegas to LA would cause that unless the guitar was in a really cold room then got really hot very fast, but usually that will only cause finish checking. How old is the guitar? I would think that the humidity in SoCal is good enough that the guitar would not need a humidifier, but if you have had a dry winter that could do it. That is a 'drying too fast' crack. If it is a less expensive Martin then they probably do no dry the spruce quite as well than with the more expensive models and the wetter wood drying too fast is what would generally cause that type of top crack. Living in Denver I always case my acoustics and keep them humidified as well - especially in the winter.
I'm not sure a climate change from Vegas to LA would cause that unless the guitar was in a really cold room then got really hot very fast, but usually that will only cause finish checking. How old is the guitar? I would think that the humidity in SoCal is good enough that the guitar would not need a humidifier, but if you have had a dry winter that could do it. That is a 'drying too fast' crack. If it is a less expensive Martin then they probably do no dry the spruce quite as well than with the more expensive models and the wetter wood drying too fast is what would generally cause that type of top crack. Living in Denver I always case my acoustics and keep them humidified as well - especially in the winter.
Alex_DeLarge
Little Hot Wing
Why is important humidity for an acoustic guitar??
I have one and I wasn't aware of this...
I have one and I wasn't aware of this...
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
wood expands and contracts. your guitars will always play differently depending on the season because of this. in the winter, your home loses humidity because you're kicking dry heat into the air. so the guitar will lose or gain water content based on it's surroundings. while this affects electrics to a certain degree, it's not as much as acoustic guitars. this is because an acoustic guitar isn't completely sealed. while the outside might be painted, the inside of the box is bare wood. so by using a soundhole humidification system, you can keep the right amount of moisture in the box so the top doesn't crack.
Denverdave
Resident Ragamuffin
It also only affects solid wood tops....
Alex_DeLarge
Little Hot Wing
It is mandatory to have an humidifier if I don't want my guitar to crack??
Help!I'maRock!
Mediocringly Derivative
it's a good idea if you'd like to extend the life of your guitar. if you don't care, then don't worry about it.
BEACHBUM
Margarine Advocate
Before retiring I lived in Vegas for 15 years. I used to keep all of my guitars in a 10'x10' bedroom with a 14 gallon floor model humidifier running 24/7. One day while I was at work my power went out and in about an hour or so the temp. in my guitar room went from 72 to 110 degrees. At the same time the humidity went from around 45% to 0%. By the time I got home my Taylor 810's top looked almost exactly like your students. $500+ for a top replacement by Taylor.
I live near the beach in California now where the humidity averages about 70%. More recently I took one of my solid body guitars from So. Cal. to Vegas to give to my Son in Law as a gift. It went directly from my air conditioned truck to his air conditioned house with no radical temperature shift. Never the less even that solid body guitar developed hair line cracks along the fret board binding within 3 days. Remember we are talking about a place that when you get out of your swimming pool your body will completely air dry in less two minutes. Here's my advice.
Vegas is a humidity war zone for guitars. Don't take them there.
I live near the beach in California now where the humidity averages about 70%. More recently I took one of my solid body guitars from So. Cal. to Vegas to give to my Son in Law as a gift. It went directly from my air conditioned truck to his air conditioned house with no radical temperature shift. Never the less even that solid body guitar developed hair line cracks along the fret board binding within 3 days. Remember we are talking about a place that when you get out of your swimming pool your body will completely air dry in less two minutes. Here's my advice.
Vegas is a humidity war zone for guitars. Don't take them there.
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B Valley
Rattlesnake Shaker
I was concerned about my D-18 when I moved to Phoenix from the Bay Area, but I haven't had any issues. The edges of my pickguard have begun to raise, but that is due more to the aging plastic and not a humidity issue. Even necks will dry and shrink here over time, exposing the sharp fret ends. There's not much you can do.
