Members hangwire Posted February 16, 2014 Members Share Posted February 16, 2014 i have a gretsch resonator guitar I bought new this summer, and since then we moved for work and are in an apartment short term. It very very very staticy and I think that is because it seems drier [but it has been a long time since having a place with carpeting so maybe its just staticy] and I am worried that this could damage the guitar, so my questions are: - is there a cheap way to test humidity to know if it is even a problem?- what are the first signs of damage that could be happening?- what are realistic options to increase humidity for the guitar? I have seen these curved nerf gun bullet/arrow looking things that go in the soundhole... but I don't know if that will fit in the gretsch as they have small f holes. - I assume keeping it in a case is protecting it for humidity, or is that a misconception? I would rather keep it out because it looks so nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oldguy64 Posted February 16, 2014 Members Share Posted February 16, 2014 I have a dampit (the tube thingie) in one guitar, and a Kyser soundhole thing in another.That one also has a clay humidifier in the case as well.You can get a cheap hygrometer at Radio Shack to keep in the case.If you have a sponge and a zip lock bag you can make a simple humidifier.poke some pin holes in the zip lock bag. Wet the sponge and wring it well. Put it it the baggie and check it every couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted February 16, 2014 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2014 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=28959236&retainProdsInSession=1 like this? the sponge idea, not sure I can fit much of anything in these small f holes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted February 17, 2014 Author Members Share Posted February 17, 2014 I bought a hygrometer at radio shack when out and about today so I'll know in a bit where the humidity is in here, and likely a room humidifier is what we will be doing because the static is comical at this point... (Corn baller running gag for Arrested Development fans) Thanks for the tips provided especially in the last few responses! And re: the guitar questions, I play it in standard no slide. It's a little small but I like it a lot. I think quality I got an exceptionally good one as the other 4 resonators next to it all sounded like and played like the cheapest line stuff conpared to the gretsch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 17, 2014 Members Share Posted February 17, 2014 Inexpensive hygrometers should be calibrated. Cigar buffs are pretty anal about keeping their stash at exactly the proper humidity - here is a simple way to calibratehttp://cigars.about.com/od/humidors/qt/hygrometers.htmIf you really want to get talking about the effects of humidity (or lack of) I'll show you the pictures of the guitar that I built for my daughter. Took it from my shop (50%) into the house (probably 25) and was so proud of it I left it out on a stand for a few days. Rosewood makes a very sickening sound when it splits.....Thanks for the review of the guitar - I'm always interested in what people find in reasonably priced resonators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted February 17, 2014 Author Members Share Posted February 17, 2014 Well I could calibrate, but this $20 digital hygrometer/thermometer was put on the guitar stand where I would be keeping the gretsch and it is reading right now after being out for about an hour at 26% so regardless a humidifier is necessary it seems It's been snowing all day too so I imagine it might be more humid in here than it has been :| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted February 17, 2014 Members Share Posted February 17, 2014 some humidifiers have digital readout as to what a room is at for humidity -I own two humidifiers - funny thou but the original one is still running and the second one i bought to replace it when it dies is about to die .thou this post makes me feel i need a new hygrometer/thermometer for peace of mind .Amazon has a few of them on the cheap side of 20 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted February 26, 2014 Author Members Share Posted February 26, 2014 Well the humidifier was on for 3 days and it did not help the static and barely impacted the hygrometer... So I did the sponge-distilled water-Baggie with holes poked in it. Left it under the headstock in the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 26, 2014 Members Share Posted February 26, 2014 I;ve kind of given up on trying to humidify my house and just do as you did with the guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members codecontra Posted February 27, 2014 Members Share Posted February 27, 2014 "Well the humidifier was on for 3 days and it did not help the static and barely impacted the hygrometer... So I did the sponge-distilled water-Baggie with holes poked in it. Left it under the headstock in the case"This makes no sense unless you have a massive open space and/or a small humidifier. It's kind of like saying, "I have the heat in my house cranked but it's still freezing in here". Something is not right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted March 1, 2014 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2014 Should the sponge rotate in the case? It's under the headstock now and there is a little wiggle room to put it near the body if the answer Is yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Neal Posted March 1, 2014 Members Share Posted March 1, 2014 It doesn't matter. Some would say so, thus the "controversial" nature of the conversation. You'll find that the humidity in the part of the case that has the device is higher, go figger. Whaddya gonna do? Some put 2 in the case to feel safe, one top, one bottom. I do not, and have never had a problem, and I'm in the midwest, land of cracked dry instruments. On some instruments I have them near the body, as that is the convenient place for the device, on some the headstock area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hangwire Posted March 3, 2014 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2014 Fight fight figh ! Kiss kiss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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