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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Get Some Flowers And Save Your Guitars

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 9 2013, 01:30 PM

During to some of my issues with new workspace and some of the "well know truth rules" I wanted to share some of the observations.

There is a lot of articles about humidity and it's importance for storing the guitars. Lot's of them advice some humidifiers but the truth is we have already some very good an natural solution for this issue - GET SOME FLOWERS - alot of small or even just a one, huge will solve the problem.

Lately I was wondering about what made my previous workspace so perfect in a matter of 50% humidity. I've never used any humidifier and always (even on the winter, when the air is dry) had very close to 50% humidity value. Now when the winter came I have something like 30%. It's killer value for most instrument - mostly acoustics from solid wood (not the laminate).

Sooo...I was thinking and thinking and I found it....Flowers. I had a lot of flowers in my previous workspace and I have absolutely none right now. So...what I'm gonna do i buy a few like this:

I've went to the net to confirm what I suspect and I found flowers or little trees are best natural humidity regulators. Also consumes some toxic things from the air and make You overall home comfort increased.

So if You care about Your instrument and You have some humidity problems then...BUY SOME FLOWERS and save your guitars from drying out.

If You never though or read about humidity issues then You should do it right now

Here is a short article. You might found a lot more, detailed information i the web.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/11997

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 9 2013, 03:01 PM

Very interesting topic Darius!

How can one measure the humidity in the room?

Posted by: Headbanger Dec 9 2013, 03:13 PM

I followed your advice Darius...I hope this will work.

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 9 2013, 03:19 PM

QUOTE (Bogdan Radovic @ Dec 9 2013, 03:01 PM)

Very interesting topic Darius!

How can one measure the humidity in the room?

Some of very cheap, digital electronic temperature meters have a humidity meter too. Something like this:

It's a must have for a wooden instruments players.

QUOTE (Headbanger @ Dec 9 2013, 03:13 PM)

I followed your advice Darius...I hope this will work.

ha ha ha! Perfect example of taking things too seriously

Posted by: Headbanger Dec 10 2013, 06:51 PM

I was thinking about this thread again Darius, and I was wondering why you don't see flowers or plants in Guitar shops. Those Guitars
are often hanging up in there for a few years aren't they? Maybe they would sell you a dried out Guitar and it would be too late to start looking after it in your house. How can you tell, apart from the obvious cracks in the woodwork?

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 10 2013, 06:59 PM

QUOTE (Headbanger @ Dec 10 2013, 06:51 PM)

Yes - I'm also interested in learning about this.
How can you identify a dried out guitar that needs more humid environment?

I have a hollowbody guitar here but no plants so I'm getting worried.

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 10 2013, 09:10 PM

1. Flowers are not a must have - some places just have a friendy humidity (good to have the meter anyway). At the music shop I work there is always around 40-50 % humidity and we have no flowers

2. People use electonic humidifiers but...flowers are cheaper and do not need a power supply...they also affect our healt in good meaning;)

3. Very often people don't care and just readjust the truss rod when guitar starts to have some more fret buzz. Very often dried out guitars are readjusted and still working - it's a not o promise something will happen but the more solid wood is in Your guitar, the more risk You have. If You feel frets ends became sharp...that's a one of the low humidity marks. Fret buzz is another.

With acoustic guitars (classical, hollow body etc) it's even worse. Top of the guitar starts to deform ...can even self-break (very rare but happens). But it gets bad for sure - You can see how it collapses in the middle and this creates unwanted convexity in the neck joint point.

I'll try to add some photos later.

Posted by: Darius Wave Dec 11 2013, 06:18 PM

Here comes the Savior:

It will takes some time to keep constant humidity but it already gives huge effects.