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I will be receiving an Eastman AR610ce archtop next week. Solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides. It is being shipped in its case from a relatively high humidity (77% annual average) city, across a couple thousand miles of varying weather over the course of a week, and received in another relatively high humidity (75%) city.
Eastman says a guitar should be kept between 40-60% humidity.
My home has central heat and AC via air ducts, and no discomfort related to either too-high or too-low humidity. I’m going to purchase a hygrometer to measure this going forward. My question, I suppose, is: would 75% average humidity require de-humidification in order to care for a solid wood acoustic guitar? Or can such instruments ‘live’ at this humidity level if it stays essentially constant?
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05-06-2023 06:32 PM
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Are you planning on leaving the guitar outside? Regardless of the average humidity outside, I doubt the relative humidity inside is even close to 75%. Heck, a cigar humidor is only 72%. I typically shoot for 45-55% relative humidity (RH). You don't have to spend a lot for a decent hygrometer, but it's an essential tool. With central heat/air, you may find it's drier inside than you think.
One more thing, congratulations on the new addition to your family.
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Thanks! That’s why I mentioned the forced-air HVAC; I know it’s keeping the humidity lower than outdoor. I just was wondering. I’ll be getting a mechanical hygrometer, which will sit in my basement studio with this instrument (which of course will live in its case).
Originally Posted by jazzshrink
Are you planning on leaving the guitar outside? Regardless of the average humidity outside, I doubt the relative humidity inside is even close to 75%. Heck, a cigar humidor is only 72%. I typically shoot for 45-55% relative humidity (RH). You don't have to spend a lot for a decent hygrometer, but it's an essential tool. With central heat/air, you may find it's drier inside than you think.
One more thing, congratulations on the new addition to your family.
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Don’t make too much of this, your guitar will be fine. It can take a lot more than you think. As long as it is not in direct heat or sun, or moving from cold to hot quickly it will be fine. You live in a house not a museum, play the guitar daily it will tell you what it needs.
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I’ve got a few in the Northeast. I know things dry out in a serious way over the winter when running the heat system but I’ve never given it much thought and haven’t had a problem yet. Heck I use a dehumidifier the rest of the year.
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Originally Posted by coyote-1
HVAC should do most of the work. But if humidity is high it may not do all, especially in the morning. Use your case when not playing, because they are vapor barriers! Home Depot has de-humidifiers for approximately $250. Recommended!!!
I have a hygrometer and watch it closely. I shoot for 50% relative humidity. (Taylor Guitars' recommendation). If it's creeping over about 57% on a consistent basis, take action (i.e. with your above mentioned "de-hu").
The opposite problem of course, is dryness. In that instance you would need a humidifier, so don't move to Aspen.
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Be consistent and avoid extremes. Period.
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It arrived
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Play them above and below the artic circle, guitars have no idea where they are.
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I live in south central Florida 100 yards from the Atlantic Ocean. I have half a dozen solid wood carved archtops. They hang on the wall. The AC generally runs 24/7 all year and the humidity is constant around 70%. I’ve never had any issues. I’ve discussed this issue in detail with Ted Megas, who builds in a constant 40-50 % environment. He says no problem with my environs, the danger is in super dry environs. Originally Posted by jazzshrink;[URL="tel:1264642"
1264642[/URL]]Are you planning on leaving the guitar outside? Regardless of the average humidity outside, I doubt the relative humidity inside is even close to 75%. Heck, a cigar humidor is only 72%. I typically shoot for 45-55% relative humidity (RH). You don't have to spend a lot for a decent hygrometer, but it's an essential tool. With central heat/air, you may find it's drier inside than you think.
One more thing, congratulations on the new addition to your family.
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FWIW I had this over on a different thread…
I have a 1952 L-5C and a 1973 Martin D-35. Up here in Minnesota, we have dry (humidity) winters. The guitars are stored in their hardshell cases. In each case is an Oasis humidifier that I check and refill weekly, on Mondays.
This past duration was longer, 2-weeks. The flat top (Martin) humidifier was about 2/3 full. But the arch top was almost empty.
Hard to believe the arch top was so much more thirsty than the flat top. Maybe worth thinking about as we care for our spendy arch tops.
Tom
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It's great to hear you've found a system that works for you. As to the discrepancy you noted, it might have something to do with the amount of wood in each guitar. More likely, it could be due to differences in the construction of the cases. More wood, more to humidify. If neither of these is a factor, it could be a case Originally Posted by TAA
of demonic possession.
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The guitar is amazing. I changed to flatwounds… it just sounds so alive! You hear the wood in every note. Every chord is clear. Sounds just as great thru the amp as well. No dead spots, no wolf tones.
I now have to get my fingers accustomed to the new spacing. And the rear strap knob is also the output jack. Ordinarily I like that, but with a jazz guitar that is frequently played sitting it puts that jack directly on my thigh. A cable with a right angle plug is an imminent purchase, and then we’ll have to figure it out from there.
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I might be a bit slow, but I might get it…..jazzshrink….demonic possession…..!
Overlooked and really didn’t think about it, but yes, the influence of the case in how humidity is measured or seen. Looked closely and compared how tight the two cases close or seal. The 1973 Martin case appears to close tighter than the unknown year of the Gibson case. So if the Gibson case is “looser” closing, dry air can inward migrate and get the case humidifier to give off more “dampness”. But….only a theory.
Tom
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Dont be too cavalier with conditioning, I witnessed a few moisture caused tragedy's. From a practical point of view you cant change the weather, so get an inexpensive digital hygrometer and bear in mind a dramatic change in humidity will still only change very slowly in the guitar. If you watch your hygrometer when you are using any kind of conditioning you will be surprised how different it will be from outside. Monitor the guitar environment, if for example you were running heat your room will be drier also often with AC but different conditioning systems will react to humidity differently. Above 40% below 50% is where all the "experts" say is a good range. If you had a sudden change in condition your guitar will still react slowly(guitar wont change to much over a couple days) so store as conditions dictate but safest is in the case. Extreme climates should be taken seriously. I have a friend who lost 2 fine instruments when he moved from the coast to Phoenix in the summer....it took a lot of single malt to take the sting from the tears! You can also use a wall cabinet just the size of the git, gasket the door use humi packs if necessary, grab and play. I like to keep them where I can grab them but I really dont want to see a crack in my axe (no jokes). Im a retired cabinetmaker so have had some experience with wood movement.
NICE NEW AXE!!!
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So that's why I keep finding my nightstand in the living room. Cheeky nightstand. Originally Posted by Rickco
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its always when your not lookin
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even if you nail it down, its still gonna move
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This nice new axe is stunningly unforgiving. The box is so good that it amplifies every movement of my fingers/pick on the strings. Even the tiniest. Brush a string even slightly while moving, and you hear it. It’s gonna force me to really hone my technique. I have my old Robelli jazzbox and a classical guitar. Both good, but both have laminate construction; neither comes anywhere close to this level of sensitivity.
Makes me wonder about my upright bass. That too is laminate. I’ll have to explore the local shops a bit, see about what a solid top might sound like on that instrument.
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Just don't put your eye out with that pick!
Generally I've found in my house, Spring/Summer humidities are usually not the problem...we do start using the AC early, as my wife and I have terrible seasonal allergies, and a house full of open windows on a warm day is usually torture
But the AC is enough to keep humidity from getting too high.
For the winter months, I do have a whole house humidifer, which keeps me in the 40% range even during the coldest, driest spells. That was a very worthwhile purchase.
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I'm in Arizona ... officially I'm in a high arid plain as opposed to a desert like Tucson or Phoenix, but the humidity levels from January to June can still dip down below 10% here.
The rainy season usually kicks in around late June or early July and humidity levels are higher for the next few months.
I've been running a humidifier from January or February till the first week or so of rain. Trying to keep my guitar room around 35 to 45 percent humidity. That seems to help my guitars quite nicely.
Once the rains kick in my guitar room maintains reasonable humidity without the humidifier until things dry out again sometime between December and February.
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Below 10%. Wow. Originally Posted by Bluedawg
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had to bump this convo... Originally Posted by coyote-1
This nice new axe is stunningly unforgiving. The box is so good that it amplifies every movement of my fingers/pick on the strings. Even the tiniest. Brush a string even slightly while moving, and you hear it. It’s gonna force me to really hone my technique. I have my old Robelli jazzbox and a classical guitar. Both good, but both have laminate construction; neither comes anywhere close to this level of sensitivity.
Makes me wonder about my upright bass. That too is laminate. I’ll have to explore the local shops a bit, see about what a solid top might sound like on that instrument.
mr. coyote, if you bought that axe used from sweetwater, it very possibly might've been owned by me!
here's the crazy part... your description of it is the reason i had to let it go! seriously, a beautiful, well built, gorgeous toned box... i loved it but it was soooo sensitive, i just felt i wasn't good enough to handle it!!
like breaking a wild horse!
i thought i was crazy! so glad to hear you confirm my thoughts! if you breathe on it, it will make a sound... but yes, i did own that exact model and violin finish... beautiful!!
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