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Topic: Effects of low humidity... |
David Ziegler
From:
Lancaster, Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Jul 2007 9:38 pm |
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Just as a point of infomation(because of my own curiousity) do those of you living in very dry areas do anything special to keep the wood in your steel guitars from becoming too dry? I know I was always told with regular guitars that wood drying out would cause cracking.
Dave Ziegler |
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2007 6:19 am
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| It is pretty arid where I live and I have personally seen the effect it can have on acoustic instruments (cracks!). I always keep humidifiers in my guitar and mandolin cases. I have never had too much concern with my Tele or my steel, being that they are solid chunks of wood. The climate does not appear to have had any adverse effect on them. |
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Jack Francis
From:
Queen Creek, Arizona, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2007 6:31 am
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I have lived in Arizona for over 17 years and see no effect on any of my instruments...but, I have only solid body stuff.
It would be pretty hard to find a place dryer than here. 
_________________
DESERT ROSE D-10 8/5...Joe Naylor "SteelSeat"...
Gallien-Krueger MB200 amplifier through an Alessis MicroVerb w/15'Peavey cab.
TELES & STRATS...
FENDER TWIN & SEYMOUR DUNCAN 50W tube amps...1-12" 2-12" & 4-12" cabs and a FENDER MUSTANG-3
Last edited by Jack Francis on 23 Jul 2007 6:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 23 Jul 2007 6:33 am Instruments in dry weather
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David,
It's plenty dry here in Az. I keep the air conditioner on 24-7 in my music room during the summer months. I keep a cover over my steel and all of the guitars that are out of thier cases in stands. Works well for me, only had a problem with one instrument, and I believe the problem started prior to me getting the guitar.
Larry
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Carter SD/10, 4&5 Hilton Pedal, Peavey Sessions 400, Peavey Renown 400, Home Grown Eff/Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY" |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jul 2007 12:45 pm
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David,Anchorage gets very dry...Almost a desert environment,I've seen a lot of solid body guitars suffer from shrinkage where the frets needed filing on the edges,and I've had my favorite acoustic guitar crack in about 20 places,I've never had any problems with any of my steel guitars .Stu
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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David Ziegler
From:
Lancaster, Ohio, USA
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Posted 24 Jul 2007 5:22 pm
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| Thanks guys! It makes sense that a thick soild piece of wood would not suffer ill effects so it is nice to know that experience bears out what reason would tell us. |
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Dennis Coelho
From:
Wyoming, USA
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Posted 25 Jul 2007 5:31 pm Effects of low humidity..
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I run a large humidifier in my music room from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and keep it between 35-40%. Granted, I have a number of acoustic instruments, guitars, fiddles and the like, but I find that a change in humidity outside even affects my Tele's, my GFI SD-10, and my Superslide. The change is usually on the order of half a step, sometimes up, sometimes down, but there is always a change. We are up at 6,200 feet here in Cheyenne and the humidity in the winter can easily drop well below 10% indoors without a good humidifier.
Once summer comes , the humidity seems to stay around 40% in the music room which is in the basement.
Another problem with very low humidity is that wooden instruments will flex and eventually crack, sometimes fatally. There are a lot of very dead violins in museums around the state because of this.
And, you should see what low humidity does to people! Chapped hands, cracked lips, eye irritation, itchy and flakey skin, but more seriously: some folks get constant nose bleeds from broken capillaries in their nose and sinuses. That's why all those old cowboys (and cowgirls) have such rugged weathered faces. We always warn newcomers to spend the money for a good humidifier, but it usually takes a winter's experience before they believe us.
Dennis |
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