Guitar dried up!

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Guitar dried up!

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rombsix

Posts: 7815
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

Guitar dried up!

Hello,

I have been staying in Michigan for the past 3 or so weeks, and I've had the heating turned on all that time. My guitar has been in the room with the heating, and I was surprised a couple of days ago to notice that the 11th fret on the 4th string was no longer playable, and now sounded like the 12th fret. In a matter of 2 or 3 days, the 11th fret on most strings now has that problem, and now the 10th fret is no longer playable anymore.

I realize the guitar has dried up from the heat and the neck probably is warping or bowing, but I don't have a humidifier. I am working on getting one. I was told to fill a bathtub with water and keep my guitar in the bathroom for it to get some moisture, but I can't do that since the guitar will most likely get stolen (shared facilities).

Do you have any solution that I can use while keeping the guitar safely in my room, and humidifying it without having to resort to the bathtub trick?

Thanks.

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 18:29:11

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

I would say just get to your local music store ASAP and pick up a case humidifier of some kind like a Dampit. You do have a case don't you

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 18:49:08

Ricardo

Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

keep it in the case.... ALWAYS.... except when playing it. Every time you store the guitar overnight, get a paper towel or cloth or spounge, get it wet and keep it in the case with the guitar. It will take a week to get the guitar neck to swell back up to normal, at which time you may notice what damage the dryness has really done. On one guitar I had that was already dry when I acquired it second hand, after humidifying it for a week one fret popped up. Luckily that was a minor repair compaired to what could have happened to a guitar that suffered that much.

ricardo

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 19:57:58

rombsix

Posts: 7815
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to Ricardo)

I DO have a case, and I always keep the guitar in it (even when I am playing it

). However, it's a soft-case, and I can't actually place a sponge or towel anywhere in there without it getting in contact with the actual wood. I guess I'm going to try to wrap a wet paper towel around the G string, and have it dangle into the sound hole, while keeping the guitar flat on the ground.

We'll see how that goes... I just hope whatever happened is still reversible.

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 21:01:32

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

get a plastic garbage bag or two (double bagging a good idea).

put guitar in bag with humidifying article.

close bags.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 21:14:17

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

Planet Waves do a humidifier that sits inside the guitar but is supported by the strings over the sound hole

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Kevin Richards

http://www.facebook.com/#!/kevin.richards.1048554

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2010 23:48:01

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

Found this online:

Once a guitar has been dried out, the humidity needs to be restored. To do this often humidifiers must be put into the guitar such as a Dampit and the soundhole sealed off. Be very careful in doing this. All of the excess moisture must be wrung out and the guitar should be put in the case for about 3 days and then rechecked. It will help to also have a humidifier under the headstock to make moisture available to the bridge and fingerboard. They should also be oiled. Expect this to take about 2 weeks before the action is restored and the guitar can be assumed to be re-humidified.

You may find that not all of the symptoms are completely resolved. Some problems such as sharp fret ends, may need further professional attention, but this is a relatively inexpensive procedure that can be done by any competent repairman.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2010 0:29:36

Ricardo

Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

quote:

However, it's a soft-case, and I can't actually place a sponge or towel anywhere in there without it getting in contact with the actual wood.

Lie the case down flat, but the wet paper towel or cloth or whatever under the neck so it does not actually touch the guitar. Zip it up. Don't move or touch the case until your next practice session. Check it out at least at night if you don't practice and the next night do the same, etc, for a week. Don't be afraid to play the guitar though, the main thing is storage.

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 30 2010 5:20:39

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

In the dry periods I humidify my work shop with wet towels. you can leave them on the heater that will get some moisture back into the air.

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 31 2010 1:07:24

Exitao

Posts: 907
Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada

RE: Guitar dried up! (in reply to rombsix)

So how did your guitar re-hydrate for you?

Maybe this is a necro-post, but as someone who recently had problems with (lack of) humidity, it's a good idea to get a hygrometer.

My apartment has a built in dehumidifier, and I always kept it between 45 and 50, but it doesn't actually tell me the humidity level. It only kicks in when it's too humid. It doesn't care if it's too dry. When I did get a hygrometer I was surprised how dry my place was.

You can get one on eBay for $5 including delivery if you look.
Just search for "digital hygrometer" but don't do it in the music or guitar categories.

There's one model I've seen that sells under at least 3 brand names (one is for reptile terrariums) and the one marketed for guitars sells for like $10 more than the other branded ones.

Later on, I would recommend getting a proper case for your guitar. My next purchase is a humicase metro.
The model I've chosen is around $200, but considering that the repair I needed cost around $100, I think this is preventative insurance.

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Callidus et iracundus.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 3 2010 0:56:39