Solid wood guitar storage

Mellish

@Zonular ; it's all been said. Aim for 45-55% RH. I target 50% and I'll aim for that all year. To help me, I'll use a D'Addario Humidipak which I'll keep in the case. I'll use an hygrometer so I can monitor room RH. Then, in summer when humidity climbs, I'll use a dehumidifier to knock it back down to 50%. Some might say "overkill" but I'd rather be safe than sorry  

sev112

Yes, calibrated all 3, all 3 were surprisingly accurate  

PS the other useful advantage of buying a dehumidifier is for when you drop your birthday present book in the bath, like it did yesterday !

Mellish

I'm off, got to walk Mrs Mellish home from our daughter's. Hope the book is OK  

ToneControl

crunchman said:

munckee said:

My all solid acoustic is on a wall hanger in the lounge and I don’t seem to get any issues, apart from the occasional feedback from the sound hole. 

I have a Furch out on a stand full time with no issues.

Unless you are up in the wilds of Scotland and/or have your central heating on "cook me" settings, it shouldn't be a major issue.

depends on your house
some houses get very dry in the winter

ToneControl

bertie said:

in the UK, unless you live in a pond,  or have central heating on full blast with no ventilation,  there's nothing to worry about 

central heating plus ventilation can get you to 30% humidity in my house

ToneControl

I use a humidifier, with a hydrostat
When it's cold, the heating is on, aiming for 22C-23C
when it's frosty or snowy, humidity can get really low indoors: the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors is what drives the low RH indoors, especially if you ventilate your house. I can explain the physics

Aside from damage, the other things that happen if you let your guitars vary in humidity and get dry are:

• large variation in neck relief and action from day to day = playability
• Sharp Fret ends sticking out - permanently = playability
• guitars going out of tune all the time = playability
• as well as acoustics risking damage

Zonular

I don't know if the UK has the same energy rating system, but I've a few things to get sorted before I'm worried about the heat inside the house, on the upside I have a nice selection of jumpers

crunchman

ToneControl said:

I use a humidifier, with a hydrostat
When it's cold, the heating is on, aiming for 22C-23C
when it's frosty or snowy, humidity can get really low indoors: the temperature differential between indoors and outdoors is what drives the low RH indoors, especially if you ventilate your house. I can explain the physics

Aside from damage, the other things that happen if you let your guitars vary in humidity and get dry are:

• large variation in neck relief and action from day to day = playability
• Sharp Fret ends sticking out - permanently = playability
• guitars going out of tune all the time = playability
• as well as acoustics risking damage

If you cook yourself like that, then it's a bigger issue.  Our thermostat is normally set around 20C.

It still depends on where you are in the country.  Down South it doesn't get that cold outside, so the temperature difference with outside isn't that big.  Like you said, it's the temperature difference that is the big issue.

That's why it's a much bigger issue in places where it gets colder.  The temperature difference with outside is much bigger.  I bought a Furch guitar in Sweden once, when nobody was importing them to the UK.  They gave me a case humidifier as standard.

bertie

sev112 said:

In humid times, and in modern houses which are (too) well sealed - open your windows, or don’t close them fully

most "good" modern windows do have vents in the top of the frame to allow for this.....or at least have a "notched catch" do you can leave them securely "ajar"

sev112

bertie said:

sev112 said:

In humid times, and in modern houses which are (too) well sealed - open your windows, or don’t close them fully

most "good" modern windows do have vents in the top of the frame to allow for this.....or at least have a "notched catch" do you can leave them securely "ajar"

Yes, found the upper ones don’t have much of an effect but the notched catch does an excellent job

BigPaulie

You're overthinking this.

The answers to the last time you asked a similar question are still valid.

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/219770/all-solid-guitars-and-humidity-control/p1

bertie

I keep mine in the fridge   -  for all my cool choons

artiebear

It's a guitar. It should've  been  built to be played.,toured with, and lived with. It's not a delicate artefact and is is certainly not to be considered precious.. 

Zonular

Grand lads, sorry for over posting on the same topic 
The faith insert of keeping the guitar flat in the case threw me.
Tbh never had a acoustic as nice as this before, just need to get over the babying stage

Mellish

@Zonular ; no worries, hope we've been able to help  

sev112

PS my book is still in the process of drying out with the airing cupboard and dehumidifier - nearly there

Mellish

@sev112 ; have you regularly opened the book rather than leaving it closed while drying?  

artiebear

In an interview with a world famous cellist, she nonchalantly stated that if her crazily ex[pensive 18th century cello felt tight and dry after getting home from touring, she would stick it out on the balcony of her Italian apartment for a day or two in damp weather to rehumidify it. She said the process worked perfectly. I like her way off thinking.

Lewy

artiebear said:

In an interview with a world famous cellist, she nonchalantly stated that if her crazily ex[pensive 18th century cello felt tight and dry after getting home from touring, she would stick it out on the balcony of her Italian apartment for a day or two in damp weather to rehumidify it. She said the process worked perfectly. I like her way off thinking.

Cellos and flat top guitars are made so differently you may as well cite an anecdote about someone leaving their bike out
on the balcony!

artiebear

Lewy said:

artiebear said:

In an interview with a world famous cellist, she nonchalantly stated that if her crazily ex[pensive 18th century cello felt tight and dry after getting home from touring, she would stick it out on the balcony of her Italian apartment for a day or two in damp weather to rehumidify it. She said the process worked perfectly. I like her way off thinking.

Cellos and flat top guitars are made so differently you may as well cite an anecdote about someone leaving their bike out
on the balcony!

Not really, the effects of humidity present in many of the same ways.