Archtop guitars and climate

[cmajor9]

Here's a subject I haven't seen much discussion about. What do guitarists here, particularly those with full archtops, do to keep their instruments from suffering the effects of changes in climate, both hot/cold and humid/dry? Do you use HumidPaks or other humidifiers in your case? What else?

Besides general considerations, I have a specific situation I'm wondering about. The place where I live has a cellar, which I've started using as a practice space (I can play there without disturbing family or neighbors, and without being disturbed). The cellar is 'cool;' typically about 5 degrees cooler (Centigrade) than the rest of the house, and changes temperature less from day to night. I'm wondering if it would be good to keep my guitars down there full time to help 'preserve' them a bit, or if the potential benefit is outweighed by the difference when I take them out to gig with them.

Hope I don't sound like a flake asking about this; I'm curious how serious of an issue others on the forum this this is. Thanks for taking time to read this far!

[NiAg]

>>> Hope I don't sound like a flake asking about this;

I think wearing a red shirt and a white hat and saying you are a bottle of ketchup would be more flaky,... a little more anyway.

The only archtop I have that really moves much with humidity changes is my Eastman 805CE. So that guitar gets a humidifier in the winter. I use a damp sponge inside a "custom made" travel soap dish with lotsa holes drilled in it and a clip to hold it inside the case. Works great and lasts for more than a week even in extremely dry air.

>>> The cellar is 'cool;' typically about 5 degrees cooler (Centigrade) than the rest of the house, [...] wondering if it would be good to keep my guitars down there full time to help 'preserve' them a bit,

I do not think there is much of anything about a guitar that would be better preserved (over time) with a 5 deg. C drop in temp.

But if you practice down there, then bringing a guitar from a 20 deg. room to a 15 deg. basement will very likely give you a noticeable change as you are playing and the guitar adjusts to the lower temp. Nothing crazy, but you may need to re-tune after a while.

All in my opinion.

[Patrick2]

>>> Hope I don't sound like a flake asking about this;

I think wearing a red shirt and a white hat and saying you are a bottle of ketchup would be more flaky,... a little more anyway.

The only archtop I have that really moves much with humidity changes is my Eastman 805CE. So that guitar gets a humidifier in the winter. I use a damp sponge inside a "custom made" travel soap dish with lotsa holes drilled in it and a clip to hold it inside the case. Works great and lasts for more than a week even in extremely dry air.

>>> The cellar is 'cool;' typically about 5 degrees cooler (Centigrade) than the rest of the house, [...] wondering if it would be good to keep my guitars down there full time to help 'preserve' them a bit,

I do not think there is much of anything about a guitar that would be better preserved (over time) with a 5 deg. C drop in temp.

But if you practice down there, then bringing a guitar from a 20 deg. room to a 15 deg. basement will very likely give you a noticeable change as you are playing and the guitar adjusts to the lower temp. Nothing crazy, but you may need to re-tune after a while.

All in my opinion.

I have quite a few full size 17" and 18" arch tops. They do not like radical swings in temperature or humidity levels. You typically want to keep your guitars in the 45 (ish) percent relative humidity level. If you want to spend any time withyour archtops in the basement . . get a humidistat so you can accurately measure the humidity level. Digital is best. Also, look for fluctuations in the humidity. I'm assuming that your basement will be above the 50% mark in humidity. If so, you may want to buy a dehumidifier. Regarding the temperature; the same rule applies. No dramatic and rapid exposures to temperature fluctuation. The wood will expand and contract at a faster rate than the nitro lacquer. That's when you're gonna get finish checking. Rule of thumb is .. . try to adhere to the levels I've mentioned above. ANY change in temperature or humidity should be gradual and not dramatic

[jscjr64]

My 5th Avenue is noticeably affected by seasonal changes in humidity. During the winters (here in the Northeast, when the central heating runs constantly and dries the air inside the house to around 25% RH) I keep an Oasis humidifier in the case and full at all times.

[Patrick2]

My 5th Avenue is noticeably affected by seasonal changes in humidity. During the winters (here in the Northeast, when the central heating runs constantly and dries the air inside the house to around 25% RH) I keep an Oasis humidifier in the case and full at all times.

I too live in the North East . .. . New Jersey to be exact. I keep all of my arch tops out of their cases, in my study, sitting on nitro friendly, non reactive guitars stands where I can see them and enjoy the every day. I have an April Air whole house humidifier mounted on my furnace (Google them) and in my study I have an independent console humidifier as well. The needle on my humidistat stays between 40% and 50% RH all year around. All of my arch tops are . . . . happy!

[keith]

I'm also in the northeast and I have problems with the dryness during winter in both the Eastman and Godin (which is a laminate ). I keep them in the cases with humidifiers and still the action will change. It's like keeping up with watering plants! I wouldn't have thought too much about the temperature change you describe but for me the humidity is an issue.

[fws6]

No problem with humidity but definately too dry in winters. Not just for the guitars but I have wooden floors and lots of antique furniture in the house, too

So I use a Venta humidifier in winter --- noiseless, no heat, works excellent. I have no affiliation but can recommend to anyone as the absolute best

better for your skin and lungs too !

[caravan]

I remember reading an article about guitar humidifiers. One of them actually dripped enough water (inside the guitar) to create a crack in the wood. Make sure that the moist object that you use is suspended inside your guitar so that it does not touch the wood.

Anyway, do NOT take my friend's advice by placing an apple core inside your guitar. My dreadnaught smelled like rotten apple vinegar for more than a week!

[NiAg]

I have worked on many guitars with stains and/or mold inside from enthusiastic humidification with Damp-its, or other interior humidifiers.

In my opinion, it is not the device itself that causes the trouble, but rather just over-doing it with a drippy wet sponge, or just more moisture than necessary over a long enough time to start new life forms.

Nonetheless I prefer an in-case humidifier over an in-axe one.

[fws6]

I tried those f hole humidifiers but impossible to control well. First hour they leak, a day later wen you check they are completely dry. So they do not really provide stable humidity. And having constant abrupt changes is think is the worst you can do.

I greatly prefer to have the whole living room humidified through winter. I have the guitars on the wall, and in between is a simple hygometer to check humidity. The Venta is at the other side of the room. I have to fill it once every two days, as said it is (almost) noiseless and does very well to keep the humidity level constant. The venta humidifies at room temperature, so no steam on the windows, nor risk of children/pets to burn themselves.

as said, no affiliation but I love it:
Venta, the manufacturer of the Venta airwasher humidifier, air purification system air washer, LW14, LW24, LW44

[Vegas_Low_Rider]

Good morning all,

I have a D'Angelico EXL-1 Archtop. Using two Oasis case humidifiers (one clipped at cutaway and one at headstock....see photo attached). Best I can get in the Nevada desert with this system is 30% in the case. Have looked at the Boveda pouches and I can see using one a the headstock but at the body, the only openings are at the cutaway or behind the heel. Has anyone had good results with either of these setups?

(All of my guitars are stored in-case in a home office. My last resort would be a room humidifier and keeping the door closed ......but I would do that if that is the best solution).

New user to this site, appreciate any comments.

Thx

[wengr]

I'm a long time flat top guy, so I've been dealing with this for many years. All my instruments that are not being used are stored in a dedicated small room with a large evaporative humidifier. For me, in case humidifier gadgets were far more trouble than they were worth.

[Bluedawg]

Good morning all,

I have a D'Angelico EXL-1 Archtop. Using two Oasis case humidifiers (one clipped at cutaway and one at headstock....see photo attached). Best I can get in the Nevada desert with this system is 30% in the case. Have looked at the Boveda pouches and I can see using one a the headstock but at the body, the only openings are at the cutaway or behind the heel. Has anyone had good results with either of these setups?

(All of my guitars are stored in-case in a home office. My last resort would be a room humidifier and keeping the door closed ......but I would do that if that is the best solution).

New user to this site, appreciate any comments.

Thx

I'm in southern Arizona at about 4700 feet above MSL. Humidity here can get below 10% outside.

I have too many solid wood guitars to do case humidifiers for them all.

I went for years just relying on my room to stay at decent levels, but that was getting down around 20% during the driest seasons.

I got a cheap humidifier for the room and I keep the door closed. Usually gets the room up to around 40% .... eventually ....

On the drier days it struggles to keep the room around 35%, but even that has helped my guitars significantly.

The water is rather hard here so I use distilled water in the humidifier.


For long term trips outside the humidified room I picked up the D'Addario case system which uses the Boveda pouches.

D'Addario Accessories

I haven't really tested it, yet. All of my gigs lately have been with a solid body bass.

Good Luck

[TedBPhx]

I am in Phoenix and it is dry. I use the Oasis + dropins but the f holes on the 2016 Memphis 175 are too narrow. Guess I’ll try that Humidipak system.

[Marty Grass]

A general rule is to not travel with anything you don't want stolen or destroyed.

I'm in Michigan. Winter can be hard on guitars. Tops can crack, nitro can check, necks can bow, nibs can split.

I have used a room humidifier like Patrick recommended. But if I had only typical solid or semi-solid bodies, I wouldn't bother.

[Vegas_Low_Rider]

I'm a long time flat top guy, so I've been dealing with this for many years. All my instruments that are not being used are stored in a dedicated small room with a large evaporative humidifier. For me, in case humidifier gadgets were far more trouble than they were worth.

Thank you for responding. I agree the Case Humidifiers you have to fill are a pain. I have purchased a Boveda kit for my accoustic (haven't received yet). If the pouches fit in the cutaway or behind the heel in the Archtop case, I may try a second set for that one.

Regards

[Vegas_Low_Rider]

I'm in southern Arizona at about 4700 feet above MSL. Humidity here can get below 10% outside.

I have too many solid wood guitars to do case humidifiers for them all.

I went for years just relying on my room to stay at decent levels, but that was getting down around 20% during the driest seasons.

I got a cheap humidifier for the room and I keep the door closed. Usually gets the room up to around 40% .... eventually ....

On the drier days it struggles to keep the room around 35%, but even that has helped my guitars significantly.

The water is rather hard here so I use distilled water in the humidifier.


For long term trips outside the humidified room I picked up the D'Addario case system which uses the Boveda pouches.

D'Addario Accessories

I haven't really tested it, yet. All of my gigs lately have been with a solid body bass.

Good Luck

Thank you for your reply. I have purchased a Boveda kit for my accoustic (haven't received yet). If the pouches fit in the cutaway or behind the heel in the Archtop case, I may try a second set for that one. Although, by the time I finish purchasing new gadgets, I may have spent more than I would have for a decent room humidifier...LoL