Humidity control

[TonyBonvolanta]

@Fast-Eddie Good to hear. I live in Chicago too; just down Lincoln from Old Town school of music; where I bought my first guitar last year. My guitar seems to be holding up okay too without any humidity controls.

[markr31]

@Fast-Eddie @TonyBonvolanta The problem I have with that approach is that the first indication that there’s a problem is likely to be physical damage to the guitar. Waiting for a crack to appear just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. Keeping them in their cases with humidification devices in the winter and running a dehumidifier in the summer is a very small inconvenience compared to the possible downside of not doing that.

[stitch]

@Fast-Eddie

My oldest acoustic is 30 years old. Still looks and plays great!

What is your oldest acoustic guitar? If it’s a laminated guitar from the 80’s or 90’s then there is no need to humidify it. I have a buddy who keeps his 80’s laminated guitar in an un-heated work shop and has since it was new with no problems.
I would so that to any of my solid wood Gibsons.

So Id’s advise anyone who has a solid wood guitar not to follow Fast-Eddie’s advice.

@markr31

The problem I have with that approach is that the first indication that there’s a problem is likely to be physical damage to the guitar.

This also isn’t true. There are sign that a guitar is to dry or wet long before any damage will happen. Guitars do not dry out over night it takes months. Wood looses and regains moister very slowly.

[markr31]

@stitch

There are sign that a guitar is to dry or wet long before any damage will happen.

And what are those signs?

[judi]

@stitch

There are sign that a guitar is to dry or wet long before any damage will happen.

To @stitch’s point: I was practicing holiday songs in November, and noticed my chords sounded buzzy. Thought it was me at first. It took me far too long to realize that it’s winter, the air is dry, and my beloved guitar was suffering. It only took a few days with a case-based humidification solution to get it back in shape.

[stitch]

@markr31 see Judi’s post. If you know your guitar it will tell you.

If you don’t know your guitar here are some of the first signs,

Too Dry
Fret buzz even though your guitar has been set up.
If you like you action high you’ll notice your guitar has become easier to play.
Fret sprout, This is when you can fell the ends of the frets and couldn’t before.

To Wet
Your guitar will start to sound quieter or muddy.
Your action will feel higher.

Every thing I know about humidifying guitars I have learn over 50 years of playing and traveling with guitars acoustic and electric. In summer and cold winters, in heated and non heated vans and trucks. Guitars are not as fragile as some people think they are.
Just treat it like a close friend find out whether you need to or don’t need to humidify and you and your guitar will be fine.

[Fast-Eddie]

@markr31

The problem I have with that approach is that the first indication that there’s a problem is likely to be physical damage to the guitar. Waiting for a crack to appear just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.

I’m not telling YOU what to do. I’m only sharing with you what I do. You should do whatever you feel is necessary for you and your guitar’s circumstances and/or desires.