Where to keep axes?

[NattyBumppo]

For the 15 year period when I wasn't playing, I kept my only two guitars unstrung, in the cases and under my bed. Now that I'm back to playing and have aquired two new guitars, I've been keeping them on stands in a section of my basement. Sort of a little studio-ette, so to speak. I keep a de-humidifier set at 50% (the lowest it will go) about 6 feet from the guitars and all seems well.

My concern is that during the summer months the de-humidifier is going non-stop so I suspect that humidity levels are routinely over the 50% mark (otherwise it would automatically shut off). Is this bad? I've read that optimum humidity levels are anywhere from 35-50% for guitars but even though it has never got even a drop of water, I'm sure humidity levels in the basement exceed the 50% range during july/august. By how much and for exactly how long, I don't know.

So howz about it? Is a couple months of over 50% humidity bad for them? Should I relegate three to under the bed again and only leave the one I'm playing out? I managed to keep the Paul and ES in fine working shape all these years the last thing I want is to have them ruined by being kept somewhere that could damage them.

[mandough]

By now, your guitars have experienced these climactic changes so many times that you're more than likely safe from humidity. Brand new guitars have to be looked after a bit more, but only for the first five years, according to Dan Earlwine in his book "Electric Guitar Repair and Maintainance" After that period, the woods have lost most of the water that they are going to, and start to really stabalize to their environments.

[Steelpriest]

A humidity of 50 % is already a very dry condition... here in Germany many people are worried about their guitars especially in winter when the heating is on in every room so they put up humidifiers! I would not spend too much attention on this, as long as you feel comfortable the guitar will as well... simply watch the neck thoroughly from time to time, especially if you prefer a real low action. I had guitars that required a special winter- or summer-setup, no kidding!

Keep a guitar always in a stand or in its case standing upright or lying flat on its back, that is what I suggest. Never keep a guitar without strings, especially not over a longer period. Keep it away from the heating in winter, don´t expose it to direct sun shine in summer, and in any case be careful in winter when you haul the guitar around... from a warm home into a car, then into a rehearsal room and back... never leave it in the trunk of a car, even not in summer, the temperature differences between day and night can be tremendous. Always treat a guitar like you´d like to be treated...

Steele.

[NattyBumppo]

Thanks guys.

Mandough....Makes sense that the Paul and ES are stable by now. That makes me feel better. What I have noticed (as you've pointed out) is that in the one week I've had the EPI on stand next to the others in the basement, the action seems to have chenged. The high"E" string now buzzes, almost mutes when pressed at the first fret, "F" note. The rest of the fretboard seems fine, just that one spot.

I remember last December when I purchased the Washburn acoustic....the dealer told me to bring it home, play it and let it sit in my house for three months before I bring it back to be adjusted. He knew things would change and they did. I guess the EPI will do the same.

priest....That's the way I've always kept my guitars except that I either completely loosened the strings or removed them. I guess that wasn't a very smart thing to do. Many years ago my guitar teacher told me to unstring a guitar if it was going to sit for a long period of time.

Thanks again for the responses. You've put my mind at ease.

[Steelpriest]

It´s good to loosen the strings slightly when you are not going to use it for a longer period, so the strings will not put too much tension on the neck when the climate/temperature changes, but never put them off completely... this may damage the neck in the worst case and you won´t be able to adjust it with the trussrod.

[CAFeathers]

I usually tune down 1/2 step when a guitar is going to sit unplayed for a while.

Don't go overboard with a de-humidifiers and such. Remember this and your guitars will be fine:

If you are comfortable, then you guitar is comfortable.

[supedupviper]

I actually have a de-humidifier in my basement where I keep my guitars, and they're all perfectly fine