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RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
yeah I agree with that.
But I always think as well that when there is less humidity, there will be more tension on the strings, created by the top. and this small tension makes your guitar sound a bit louder. No?
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Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
Ok it's true, more crisp etc....but be careful because along with this comes physical changes in wood that can result in warping, or the action raising, or frets poking off fingerboard, and worst of all, cracking.
I would try to keep the guitar at a certain humidity level if possible.
I want to add that I have experienced changes in my guitars regardless of humidity changes. Strange to have killed a set of strings then suddenly a few days later you are playing the same guitar and the strings sound like bright and new again for no reason!!! Guitars can be very moody.
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Ricardo)
quote:
Strange to have killed a set of strings then suddenly a few days later you are playing the same guitar and the strings sound like bright and new again for no reason!!!
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
I read once that your guitar sounds the best, right before it cracks from dryness. I might have read that on the Foro but I don't remember. It makes sense however, if the instrument is drying out, less moisture, less weight more sound. The problem is of course, a cracked instrument, which isn't worth the little bit of extra brilliance or clarity... If its a good instrument, it will sound good at normal humidity levels around 40-50%. Sig--
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
It could also just be your imagination that your guitar sounds better.
I know tons of people who think they play really good but you have to cover your ears when they start bulerias. And everybody in the room is always so polite to say..oh nice bulerias dude. ^^ Happened a lot in past. I always got a cold shower when I recorded myself. Video and sound records do not lie. (Except you put a reverb from hell in your record. That covers 90% of **** playing)
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Doitsujin)
Higher humidity = more water in the air
More water in the air means the wood in your guitar is wetter and heavier, and sound (vibrations) doesn't travel across the grain of the wood as well with water present.
Lower humidity will make your guitar sound better and be much more responsive (i.e. better by projection and crispness), however if it's too low, the size of the wood will change which can crack your guitar. I read somewhere that less than 30% Humidity is that low threshold.
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
Hey Rking, If I were you, I would invest in a dehumidifier, put in it the smallest room of your house, and store our guitars in there when not playing them. Hardwoods can absorb moisture, which can cause an unstable guitar not to mention foster the growth of mold and mildew. You would also get the benefit of playing a better sounding guitar. My two cents.
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
I used to have a 180!gal fish tank and that combined with the terribly humid weather here during Wisconsin summers made it difficult to keep guitars happy. I stored them in my office with a dehumidifier running 24 7 with all doors shut. Now, no more fish tank and I have the opposite problem to deal with during the dry winter.
RE: Why does my guitar sound so much... (in reply to Guest)
Well here in the South West the UK we have no problem finding humidity, in fact some more of it is falling from the sky right now. Typically indoor RH would be 60-70%. On rare occasions when the hot shining thing is in the sky for a few days, I do notice the guitars changing in sound
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"Let me assure you that I am playing all the right notes...... but not necessarily in the right order." Eric Morecombe
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Guitars can be very moody. 
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