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Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
Can I play my guitar today (low humi...
SoCal got hit with Santa Ana winds and temperature over 100 degrees and the humidity was 13%. Right now at 7pm the temperature has dropped to 87 and humidity is 23%. I am wondering if I should leave the new expensive guitar in the case and play the old cheaper one. I was also wondering if I should get something to put in the case like this:
The humidity here is usually pretty moderate but we can have swings of high and low humidity.
Thanks
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: Can I play my guitar today (low ... (in reply to Cervantes)
I doubt the humidity inside your house is anywhere near %13 unless it's an ancient piece of junk like mine. Maybe get a humidity sensor if your really worried. Or play in the bathroom after a shower, great acoustics!
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Can I play my guitar today (low ... (in reply to Cervantes)
Well after making dinner I am so tired from the heat will probably just skip playing tonight. At least tomorrow its supposed to be only 90.
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
Posts: 219
Joined: Jun. 22 2012
From: Seattle, USA
RE: Can I play my guitar today (low ... (in reply to Cervantes)
Do not humidify/dehumidify your case without knowing what the humidity in your case is. That sounds obvious, doesn't it? Buy a small, cheap hygrometer to monitor your humidity. I have https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153KVYG which I bought four years ago - there may be better choices these days, but this one will certainly work.
Once you know your humidity in your case you can make an informed decision about how to control it. A damp sponge will work to humidify, IF NECESSARY, but you should check every day to make sure you're not getting it too humid. I keep my guitar between 40% and 50%, but that's pretty easy to do where I live - I rarely have to add or remove humidity here.
And as Leñador said, your indoor humidity is not the same as the outdoor humidity - heating/air conditioning as well as just living in a sealed box will affect the indoor humidity, so unless you have a hygrometer I don't think you really know what your indoor humidity is.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Can I play my guitar today (low ... (in reply to timoteo)
quote:
ORIGINAL: timoteo
Do not humidify/dehumidify your case without knowing what the humidity in your case is. That sounds obvious, doesn't it? Buy a small, cheap hygrometer to monitor your humidity. I have https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00153KVYG which I bought four years ago - there may be better choices these days, but this one will certainly work.
Once you know your humidity in your case you can make an informed decision about how to control it. A damp sponge will work to humidify, IF NECESSARY, but you should check every day to make sure you're not getting it too humid. I keep my guitar between 40% and 50%, but that's pretty easy to do where I live - I rarely have to add or remove humidity here.
And as Leñador said, your indoor humidity is not the same as the outdoor humidity - heating/air conditioning as well as just living in a sealed box will affect the indoor humidity, so unless you have a hygrometer I don't think you really know what your indoor humidity is.
I was looking into getting some time ago mostly for my woodworking, so I guess it is time to invest in one. We don't have AC so we have all the windows and dorrs open with fans running.
_____________________________
Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: Can I play my guitar today (low ... (in reply to Cervantes)
13% humidity is very low. It may be dangerous or it may not be dangerous depending on the humidity in which the guitar was originally built. If it was built in a very dry atmosphere then it is not dangerous when the humidity is low. If it was built in a wet environment then the wood may crack when the instrument dries out.
I can only recommend that you get one of those small hygrometers. Monitors how the instrument behaves as the humidity changes. You may find that the sound changes with fluctuations in humidity. Another test is to put a ruler across the back and see if the back becomes more or less curved as the wood dries out. One of the reasons for a curved back is to allow the wood to move. When you have observations have a talk with an experienced luthier.
I have seen instruments seriously damaged both from too much humidity and too little humidity.
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