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Author Topic: Keeping your guitar at home  (Read 2235 times)

7thSon

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Keeping your guitar at home
« on: April 29, 2010, 06:25:45 PM »
Do I need to keep my guitar covered in the house when not playing it, or is it okay to leave out on a stand indefinitely? I've read that changes in humidity with weather and central heating can cause problems, or at least require adjustments in Winter and Summer.

Would something like this be any good http://ten4products.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7, or just a gig bag.

Stevepage

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2010, 06:36:44 PM »
As long as you keep it in a hard case or something well protected, it'll be fine. I've left guitars for a couple of weeks in their cases and had no problems. depends how long you're leaving it though, I guess leaving it for months would probably need a set up.

Afghan Dave

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2010, 06:45:19 PM »
I leave alot of guitars on stands and in cases away from direct sun, radiators, excessive humidity or drafts...

I read somewhere what seemed to be a sensible statement... "if the temparature is nice and comfortable for you, it should be fine for your guitar"   :D
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Matt77

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2010, 06:49:00 PM »
keep them in a case. 10 years later you will be glad you did

7thSon

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2010, 06:52:57 PM »
Hard case or would a gig bag be okay?

Thinking this one http://www.axemusic.co.uk/products/Warwick_Deluxe_Gig_Bag_for_Electric_Guitar.html

Philly Q

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2010, 07:08:24 PM »
Cases or gig bags are fine, just don't prop anything really heavy on top of the gig bag....

I think the whole weather changes/humidity thing is a bit of a non-issue in the UK.  Most of the sites which talk about "seasonal adjustments" are from America, where they (in some regions) have far greater extremes of weather and temperature.
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

Antag

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2010, 08:14:44 PM »
As an owner of many guitars :roll: :lol: I've obsessed about it for ages.

It's sudden changes in temperature or humidity that do the real damage more than any particular level.  In other words, if you make a long journey on a hot day with the guitar in your car boot, don't run into a cold basement & whip it straight out (the guitar Afghan, this isn't a Koch thread) but leave it in the case for the temperature to even up a bit.  Likewise, don't walk 20 miles in driving snow to get to that gig at the local sauna & open the case as soon as you're through the door.

PhillyQ sort of has a point - this country rarely sees the really high levels of summer humidity that, say, the southern US sees.  My hygrometer rarely registers >60% (& almost never >65%).  However, it's not high humidity that does the real damage but the low humidity you typically get in cold winters.  Anything under 35% & I don't get my acoustics out.  Really low humitity can lead to cracking in untreated wood (i.e. fretboards & the inside of acoustics).  In my experience a house kept at reasonably comfortably temperatures rarely sees humidity outside the 35-55% range which is OK for most guitars.
BKPs: HD, MM, NB, PK, CS, Ab (b&n); Am (b only); VHII, Tril (n only); IT, Slow, Sult (m&n)

Philly Q

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2010, 08:58:14 PM »
PhillyQ sort of has a point

Gee, thanks... I think.  :|


 :wink:




BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

Antag

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2010, 09:07:28 PM »
PhillyQ sort of has a point
Gee, thanks... I think.  :|

 :wink:
:lol: sorry, that wasn't meant as it came out.  What I was trying to say was that you were correct about high humidity beng a non-issue, but that low humidity is still a factor...
BKPs: HD, MM, NB, PK, CS, Ab (b&n); Am (b only); VHII, Tril (n only); IT, Slow, Sult (m&n)

Philly Q

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2010, 09:11:48 PM »
 :drink:
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM

Afghan Dave

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2010, 10:04:13 PM »
I keep my most prized instrument in dark conditions of consistent humidity and only whip it out when the area which I intend to use it in has been adequately warmed up.

If it hasn't been used for extended periods I also try to keep my wood clean and well oiled.  :?
"There's more knowledge on these boards than there are necks under PhillyQ's bed"

dave_mc

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Re: Keeping your guitar at home
« Reply #11 on: April 29, 2010, 11:23:50 PM »
i keep my guitars on stands. if i left them in their cases i'd never play them. :lol: I also don't have any room to keep them in their cases.

i was working on the basis of what philly was saying about the climate, our climate is pretty temperate.

I'm talking about electrics, not acoustics, by the way, i don't have an acoustic.