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John
`Olu`olu
656 Posts |
 Posted - 03/06/2003 : 4:18:22 PM
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Edited by - John on 06/27/2003 4:44:40 PM |
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 5:07:46 PM
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Good topic.
John, rattles in the soundboard are actually caused by bombardment of terciary Gorzon rays, influenced to a degree by spatial MIS-alignment of the minor planets, usually on or before the 2nd Tuesday of the months when the Sun is in opposition to the celestial nodes.
The main humidity related problems are caused by excessive dryness. As important, is the speed at which the humidity changes take place. If your guitar sits in your house thru the year, it is slowly acclimated to the varying humidity, and will usually not cause serious problems. The main KILLER can be the winter when people tend to hyper-dry the interior air by using furnaces, heaters etc.
That said, everyone knows that a 'dry' guitar sounds far better and brighter than a 'wet' one. Wet is what you tend to get in the summer when the humidity is higher, and say, it rains for a couple of days. The guitar will sound a bit muddy sometimes. Kinda dead. Of course you tend to get the opposite in the winter, the tone sounds better, but you can develop rattles as the wood shrinks to a degree and 'loosens up'.
The point of this is that if you have a reasonably well made instrument, (insturment for Craig) you may get these rattles this time of the year. 40% humidity actually sounds pretty ideal. I would look for the sounds to fade away as the spring comes on. Its usually the amount of heat in the house that is the real culprit.
You can always try some of the commercial humidifiers, about the size of the soundhole, that you just leave in the case, or put in the soundhole itself. They can work well, but work best if you have your guitar in the case. (read leave in the case)
Heard a very native Hawaiian last summer recommend taking a bite out of an apple, and putting the apple in your guitar case. Does the same thing. But Hawaiians probably dont really understand the problems associated with a lack of humidity.
Not to get off the subject, but I read your descriptions of the best places in Maui for various things. I read this at 1000 am local, as I was starving, having neglected breakfast to rush to the Korporate world. That was just cruel. I may not recover. When I bust outta here at 1800...I'm heading for Yokohama Rice Bowl for a #4, Chicken teri over 2 scoops. Ya baby!!!
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my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 5:08:14 PM
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John,
I've heard of microclimates. Your house must be in a Desert Vally microclimate. You know we're sorta neighbors, and I've never needed to humidify my guitars. My ebony fretboards haven't shrunk. One time, I think the action got too high on one guitar because of excess humidity. And I do keep hygrometers around.
Of course, I also keep my house on the cool side which keeps the RH higher.
You're right about the icky weather. Today there was even a little hail or snow mixed into the rain. Seattle Rain Festival is held each year, September thru June. In July and August we get together to talk about our trips to sunny places.
I've read that humidifying the room is better than humidifying the case, so you must be on the right track. Good luck.
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 6:04:38 PM
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I've never taken humidity into consideration...do those of us in Southern California even need to be concerned about it? (Because I need something else to worry about..."Yeah, I was thinking about duct taping all my windows but I'm worried about how it's going to affect the humidity for my guitars.")
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Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 6:10:33 PM
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40% does sound pretty ideal. From what I'm told anywhere from 40% - 60% is the target. On the east coast, we've had the coldest winter in years so our heat is on and the rh really tough to keep above 40%. I run a little humidifier in the bed room and one in the living room almost 24 hours a day. Have to fill each one up every night (with regular tap water) before going to bed. The minerals in the H2O cause build up in the humidifiers which should be cleaned once a week (soak some vinegar in there and scrub with an old tooth brush).
I have a D'Addario Planet Waves in my guitar case which is one of those guitar humidifiers that goes in the sound hole. For that, I used distilled water. The gadget comes with this little syringe thingy so I squirt about 15 ml of water in every few weeks.
I've also tried taking an old film canister, poking a bunch of holes in the lid, putting a sponge in it as a home made in-case humidifier. Seems to work fine too if you want to DIY. If you want to get really fancy, you add a paper clip and bend it so you can hang your gizmo off a sting so that it hangs inside the guitar. All depends whether you want to be MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson). Sorry, I watch way too much TV.
I'm definitely a believer. Don't want any cracks. It can happen. My worry is my `ukulele's which do not get cared for the same. Any of you guys humidifying your `ukuleles? That's where my homemade gizmo is right now. |
Andy |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 6:15:13 PM
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cpatch,
The Santa Cruz, CA luthiers on another board think they live in humidity heaven and don't worry much about it. I don't know if that helps. |
Pauline |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 6:39:35 PM
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Breedlove...what a great name. Should be part of everyone's job description.
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Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 6:44:06 PM
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Hey Pauline,
Ya, they're right. I live in Santa Cruz, and don't really have any problems.
Solution: John, you need to move to Santa Cruz.
His Holiness,
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my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 8:19:51 PM
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If you're pronouncing it like a local, it's San-tuh Crooz (Sanna Crooz is also acceptable). If you're pronouncing it as originally intended, it's closer to SAHN-tuh Croos.
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Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 10:17:52 PM
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My uncle used to use a humidifier for his cigars. Said it made them taste better. Smelled like old skunk to us.
Raymond
San Jose |
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 10:45:08 PM
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John,
I pay my therapist damn good money to swear that I'm sane.
And the proper way to say it is sannaKrooz
Chicken teri is good good good......I'm eating right now, at home at last. More for me.
I continue to be...
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my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2003 : 10:54:32 PM
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Dearest cmdrpiffle,
I am a psychologist. I will charge you $10.00 for certification than you are paying now, and you gets to support ki ho'alu in the process.
RJS |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 01:09:39 AM
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Ah, Raymond's a psychologist. That explains a lot.
(I have an M.A. in Applied Psychology so I'm allowed to tease him :-)
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Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2003 : 02:27:39 AM
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Want to understand more?
I also have degrees in Classical Greek (AB), Hermeneutics (MA), a Masters in Divinity (that's why I know I'm always right) and two more just for fun. And I played the accordian as a kid. That's also why my wife and I don't have the money to go to Keola's Summer Camp.
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