Members suprswd Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 i got a larrivee P-05 spruce/hog on the way... will i need a humidifier? im in california, near san fransisco, about an hour away south. the weather here is usually between 60-80. i dont think ill be needing one, as it hardly rains and NEVER snows here... right? ~Logan
Members Fireproof Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 Did you see the "humidifier" thread right below this one?
Members kwakatak Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 If you heat your home with forced hot air you will need a humidifier. Unless your home has serious insulation problems then the RH reading outside means absolutely nothing. Get a hygrometer and keep it near your guitar. If it dips below 40% for an extended period of time then you should definitely think about getting some sort of humidifier (room type, in-case, dampit, whatever) just to be safe. Hygrometers and humidifiers don't really don't cost all that much after all.
Members Hendrix95 Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 I'm not really sure how dry or humid the climate is in CA, but it rains when the climate is too humid, so I'm going to assume its on the dry side, since you said it never rains. If thats the case, then you probably should get a hygrometer to monitor the humidity levels and use a humidifier if its getting too dry.
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 There is one person on the other thread that has strong feelings that you do not need one, but almost everyone else - Maury at Maury's music, Bob at Taylor guitars, Bryan Kimsey (one of the top Martin techs in the country, Frank at Gryphon, and so on, -thinks they are necessary. It will be very difficult to over humidify a guitar and it doesn't cost much to add some sort of a humidifier (I make mine from a sponge and baggie) so why not?
Members mhackney Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 Fact: many woods expand and contract with changes in humidity Fact: most woods used in guitar building - and especially the soundboard - do expand/contract with changes in humidity Fact: this expansion/contraction movement is significant across the grain and minimal along the grain Fact: in many parts of North America, humidity can cycle from 0% to nearly 100% throughout the year Fact: as air cools down, its ability to hold moisture decreases. This is why humidity typically decreases in colder climates in the winter Fact: as air warms up, its ability to hold moisture increases. This is why summers are frequently "hot and humid" Fact: guitar builders typically aclimate their woods and build guitars in a controlled environment between 40 and 50% relative humidity and 65 to 70 degrees F. Fact: guitar wood movement occuring where the wood is constrained in some way (for instance a bridge glued to the soundboard, soundboard glued to a cross brace across the grain, soundboard glued to kerfling and the side) leads to stress Fact: stress built up in a guitar can lead to warping (of the top for instance) or even cracking Does your guitar experience humidity changes throughout the year? Unless you keep it in a humidity controlled environment, the answer is "yes". Will these humidity changes cause problems for your guitar? Maybe. Most certainly, it might cause small problems like changes in action due to the top bulging, or sharp fret ends protruding from the fretboard. After years of cycling from low to high humidity, the guitar (soundboards are especially prone to this) may just not have the ability to deal with the stress without cracking. You choose whether to humidify or not. I argue that if you have made a $500 or greater investment in your instrument, the cost of a hygrometer and humidifier (homebuilt or purchased) is very cheap insurance for your baby.
Members Dave W. Posted April 14, 2006 Members Posted April 14, 2006 same questions over and overr... __________________~BALOGANA! yamaha FG-04 LTDlarrivee P-05 hog/spruce (on the way ) http://www.myspace.com/suprswd reppppin.
Members suprswd Posted April 15, 2006 Author Members Posted April 15, 2006 dave? why do you have the same siggy as me
Members Mr Handman Posted April 15, 2006 Members Posted April 15, 2006 Originally posted by suprswd i got a larrivee P-05 spruce/hog on the way... will i need a humidifier? im in california, near san fransisco, about an hour away south. the weather here is usually between 60-80. i dont think ill be needing one, as it hardly rains and NEVER snows here... right? ~Logan what was it that other guy said?.........put a small damp rag in your guitar case wrapped in a baggie inside a soap dish with a ham and cheese sandwich. As the abundant amounts of moisture absorb into the bread take a bite out of the Ham & Cheese.... after awhile the rag has dried out and the sandwich has been eaten.... heck, you'll have to start all over again.... I guess until the summer? What was it last year?.... light a candle and place it on the mantel. Every time the candle goes out, open the case; add a few drops of water on the rag.... ha ha ha make a sticky, man..................ha ha ha Proper Humidity levels are very important...read some REAL information on the subject and decide (on your own) what type you should get...whole house...whatever
Members rising1000 Posted April 15, 2006 Members Posted April 15, 2006 Originally posted by suprswd i got a larrivee P-05 spruce/hog on the way... will i need a humidifier? im in california, near san fransisco, about an hour away south. the weather here is usually between 60-80. i dont think ill be needing one, as it hardly rains and NEVER snows here... right? i also have a larrivee om3 i use "oasis" humidifier in my guitar its lot easier to use than the others and you definately can tell when its empty because it shrivels up
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