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question re guitar humidifier
Yesterday I took my old Aria Elecord acoustic-electric to the local
music store hoping that they could do a setup to make it easier to play.
The techie took a quick look at my guitar and said that the problem is
that it is seriously dehydrated and that the bridge is gradually pulling
away from the front of the guitar. He sold me a dampit humidifier and
said that the guitar should be ok if I humidify it for a week or so. He
said that, if I don't follow his instructions, I will end up paying a
large sum to have the bridge reattached. Does this make sense to you?
If his advice sounds right, then how exactly do you use the dampit? It
looks like a large worm that you are supposed to dampen with water and
leave inside the guitar, even while you are playing it. How well does
it work? Thanks. Mike
music store hoping that they could do a setup to make it easier to play.
The techie took a quick look at my guitar and said that the problem is
that it is seriously dehydrated and that the bridge is gradually pulling
away from the front of the guitar. He sold me a dampit humidifier and
said that the guitar should be ok if I humidify it for a week or so. He
said that, if I don't follow his instructions, I will end up paying a
large sum to have the bridge reattached. Does this make sense to you?
If his advice sounds right, then how exactly do you use the dampit? It
looks like a large worm that you are supposed to dampen with water and
leave inside the guitar, even while you are playing it. How well does
it work? Thanks. Mike
On Apr 12, 6:38 pm, tenplay <tenp...@mail . com > wrote:
> Yesterday I took my old Aria Elecord acoustic-electric to the local
> music store hoping that they could do a setup to make it easier to play.
> The techie took a quick look at my guitar and said that the problem is=
> that it is seriously dehydrated and that the bridge is gradually pulling
> away from the front of the guitar. He sold me a dampit humidifier and
> said that the guitar should be ok if I humidify it for a week or so. He=
> said that, if I don't follow his instructions, I will end up paying a
> large sum to have the bridge reattached. Does this make sense to you?
More or less. I say less only because, if the bridge has come
uncoupled from the top, then I question any amount of humdifying can
help...more a job for glue and clamps. However, if there if still a
good mechanical bond, then the advice seems sound. Humidifying the
guitar may help stabilize the top so that the bridge is not strained.
Having said that, unless extreme, I don't think humidity alone can be
your only culprit and if you do indeed have a bridge that is become
uncoupled from the top, you may wan't to look into the bridge
plate...the strings should not be exerting upwards pressure on the
bridge (which, realistically is just about the only thing that would
rip a bridge of a top), unless the bridge plate is chewed up and the
string balls are resting on the bottom of the bridge when they get
trapped by the pin! So look at the bridge plate and see if it is
healthy.
As to how you should use the dampit, well, first you should read the
instructions, then you should fill it with water and put it in your
axe. It works by releasing its moisture. Some people just put a damp
sponge inside a film can with a few pin holes on the top and stick
this in the accessory box in the guitar case...with the guitar inside
the case.
As fo the relationship between guitars and humidity? Thing is, guitars
are made of wood, and if wood dries out it shrinks and if wood that
has been glued shrinks too much, it cracks or warps. In any event,
wood prefers to be in a humidity range of about 35-55%Rh (Rh=Relative
humidity)...Hygrometers measure in Rh. To be safe, it is best to keep
your guitars at around 40%Rh. Drying out occurs below 30% and warping
becomes a pretty good possiblity at around 75%Rh...Wood...go figure.
In temperate zones where there are climate fluctuations, it is
typically best to humidify in the winter (when the Rh becomes low
indoors due to indoor heating (which evaporates the humidity in the
air)), and, if required, dehumify in the summer (when the heat of the
summer makes everything muggy).
>
> If his advice sounds right, then how exactly do you use the dampit? It
> looks like a large worm that you are supposed to dampen with water and
> leave inside the guitar, even while you are playing it. How well does
> it work? Thanks. Mike
I personally prefer to humidify the room where my guitars are
kept...saves a lot of grief.
HTH, CS
> Yesterday I took my old Aria Elecord acoustic-electric to the local
> music store hoping that they could do a setup to make it easier to play.
> The techie took a quick look at my guitar and said that the problem is=
> that it is seriously dehydrated and that the bridge is gradually pulling
> away from the front of the guitar. He sold me a dampit humidifier and
> said that the guitar should be ok if I humidify it for a week or so. He=
> said that, if I don't follow his instructions, I will end up paying a
> large sum to have the bridge reattached. Does this make sense to you?
More or less. I say less only because, if the bridge has come
uncoupled from the top, then I question any amount of humdifying can
help...more a job for glue and clamps. However, if there if still a
good mechanical bond, then the advice seems sound. Humidifying the
guitar may help stabilize the top so that the bridge is not strained.
Having said that, unless extreme, I don't think humidity alone can be
your only culprit and if you do indeed have a bridge that is become
uncoupled from the top, you may wan't to look into the bridge
plate...the strings should not be exerting upwards pressure on the
bridge (which, realistically is just about the only thing that would
rip a bridge of a top), unless the bridge plate is chewed up and the
string balls are resting on the bottom of the bridge when they get
trapped by the pin! So look at the bridge plate and see if it is
healthy.
As to how you should use the dampit, well, first you should read the
instructions, then you should fill it with water and put it in your
axe. It works by releasing its moisture. Some people just put a damp
sponge inside a film can with a few pin holes on the top and stick
this in the accessory box in the guitar case...with the guitar inside
the case.
As fo the relationship between guitars and humidity? Thing is, guitars
are made of wood, and if wood dries out it shrinks and if wood that
has been glued shrinks too much, it cracks or warps. In any event,
wood prefers to be in a humidity range of about 35-55%Rh (Rh=Relative
humidity)...Hygrometers measure in Rh. To be safe, it is best to keep
your guitars at around 40%Rh. Drying out occurs below 30% and warping
becomes a pretty good possiblity at around 75%Rh...Wood...go figure.
In temperate zones where there are climate fluctuations, it is
typically best to humidify in the winter (when the Rh becomes low
indoors due to indoor heating (which evaporates the humidity in the
air)), and, if required, dehumify in the summer (when the heat of the
summer makes everything muggy).
>
> If his advice sounds right, then how exactly do you use the dampit? It
> looks like a large worm that you are supposed to dampen with water and
> leave inside the guitar, even while you are playing it. How well does
> it work? Thanks. Mike
I personally prefer to humidify the room where my guitars are
kept...saves a lot of grief.
HTH, CS
tenplay wrote:
> If his advice sounds right,
> then how exactly do you use the dampit?
If his advice was right, I would have
expected him to explain how he suggests
you use it.
Here's what to do -
< * reviews.ebay . com /Guitar-Humidifiers_W0QQugidZ10000000000138983>
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
w w w .LumpyMusic . com
> If his advice sounds right,
> then how exactly do you use the dampit?
If his advice was right, I would have
expected him to explain how he suggests
you use it.
Here's what to do -
< * reviews.ebay . com /Guitar-Humidifiers_W0QQugidZ10000000000138983>
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
w w w .LumpyMusic . com
