Cold/Heat/Humidity effect on guitar?
Home > Home Recording Forum > Gear Gab > Cold/Heat/Humidity effect on guitar?
Posted on Mar 11, 2007 04:55 pm
Bloodsoaked
Death Metal Freak!!!
Member Since: Feb 05, 2006
Does anyone know the effect (good/bad or other wise) extreem cold, heat or humidity has on a guitar and guitar amp?
I just got a practice space in a storage place and it does not have any heat or air conditioning. I am wondering how leaving my guitar, amp and other equipment in the room will affect the equipment?
Anyone know?
Thank you.
[ Back to Top ]
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Mar 11, 2007 05:05 pm I wouldn't leave a guitar in a place with extremes of cold/heat/humidity. Humidity would probably be the bigger problem with an amp. Acoustic guitars would suffer the most from the extremes, I left my guitars in the garage during the 18 years I stopped playing and I can say without a doubt the Acoustic guitar suffered the most and is almost unplayable, the Electric survived pretty well due mostly I'm sure to it being solid body.
I would guess humidity would be the biggest enemy, for damage in a short time. So if you're in an area that has high humidity I would take precautions for that especially.
Dan
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Mar 11, 2007 05:10 pm the biggest concern is radical changes in the environment...
going from cold and dry to warm and humid will cause condensation
going from cold to warm /vice versa will cause cracks
The changes will also effect tuning... so if you find yourself going sharp as you practice you probably need to reconsiter your environment.
Mar 11, 2007 05:55 pm well, heat, cold and humidity will do to a guitar what it does to any wood product...expands, contract, warp, etc...
BloodsoakedDeath Metal Freak!!!Member
Since: Feb 05, 2006
Mar 11, 2007 11:58 pm What if it is just humid or just cold? Not humid one day and cold the next?
Or is just 100% humid for the entire summer not good?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Mar 12, 2007 11:17 am With temperature changes I'd probably suggest that you arrive early to your practice space, and let the guitar adjust to the room temperature before you start playing it.
If you have high humidity, you might want to toss a small pack of silica gel in your case (don't mummify it though! Too much dryness is bad) just to take the edge off the expanding.
Don't leave your guitar in the practice space.
Mar 12, 2007 06:50 pm Aaaahhh. So THAT's what those little packets are for!!!! Learn something new everyday. Thanks for that, TallChap.
Dec 08, 2010 08:12 pm I just bought one of these "ClimaStands" from Acoustic Remedy Cases and I just thought I would give a shout out to them since I have had nothing but the best results from it ever since it showed up at my house. Check out their website - www.acousticremedycases.com - and you will see for yourself. Although they are expensive, I received an email from them recently saying that a wall mounted version was coming out soon that will be quite a bit less. Considering the amount of money that can be spent on guitar repairs - I put something like $300 into mine for damages that I was told were humidity related - I felt it was a good investment for my 1961 Martin D-18. Just thought I would share with everyone what I consider to be the best thing out there for the money.
