Rickenbacker 381/12V69 - should I humidify?

[rooster16]

Hi all, 1st post but was hoping to get a bit of advice. I am potentially purchasing a brand new 381/12V69 in the next day or two from a dealer in NY. I'm in Calgary, Canada and it's insanely dry here in the winter months. Does anyone have any insight into how susceptible these tops would be to cracking due to the extreme change in humidity? I was thinking of asking the dealer to throw a humidifier in the case before he ships but odds are the guitar will get held in customs for ages, some couriers warehouse for a weekend or two... etc so I don't know if I'm being paranoid or not. Does anyone have any 1st hand experience they could share? Thanks to all who reply!

Cheers,
Glenn

[deaconblues]

This thread might help:

viewtopic.php?f=106&t=404874&hilit=humidity

If you use the search function, there are a ton of threads about humidity.

[rooster16]

This thread might help:

viewtopic.php?f=106&t=404874&hilit=humidity

If you use the search function, there are a ton of threads about humidity.

Thanks so much for the quick response Dan - you're right, that thread did help a lot.

Best,
Glenn

[jdogric12]

*warning: this post not for the squeamish or easily grossed out*




IIRC Ricks like 35%. I try to maintain 40% in the studio and a whopping 60% in the living area, being from Florida, and still not accustomed to blowing red into a tissue every morning.

[ken_j]

*...and a whopping 60% in the living area, being from Florida, and still not accustomed to blowing red into a tissue every morning.

Sadly, it's a way of life for some of us.

[rooster16]

I'd read that about the 35% humidity (which is actually better for me living in a dry climate particularly in the winter months). I'm not overly concerned about this once it arrives, my big worry is in the shipping. I did pull the trigger on this axe yesterday and asked them to ship on Monday to avoid spending the weekend in a Fed Ex warehouse. The problem is the dealer (out of NY) will I'm sure ship the most economical way possible (= really slow) and then no way of telling how long it'll get jammed up in customs as I'm in Canada. Oh well, I'll probably know in a couple of weeks. The smart thing to do would've been to order one locally but I did want this for a rapidly approaching recording project and I'm told it can be a 3 year wait sometimes to have one shipped in which obviously wouldn't do. Not to mention, from everything I've seen the woods on these guitars seems to really vary hugely from instrument to instrument and I found this one and really liked it. (Ideally I would've loved one with a bird's eye as that's a bit of a fetish for me but the flame is really pretty as well). In the meantime I'll be chomping at the bit waiting for this beautiful machine to show up! Many thanks again to all who've replied.

[Folkie]

I have a related question about Rickenbacker guitars and humidity. The winters get very dry here in Ohio. I've been storing my guitars (including two Rick 12's) at 50% humidity, which is generally recommended for most acoustics and solidbodies. But, as has been stated in this thread, the factory recommends that Rics be stored at 35% humidity. Am I at risk of damaging my Rics by storing them at 50% humidity? Is there a happy medium between 35% and 50%?

[rickyfricky]

I'd read that about the 35% humidity (which is actually better for me living in a dry climate particularly in the winter months). I'm not overly concerned about this once it arrives, my big worry is in the shipping. I did pull the trigger on this axe yesterday and asked them to ship on Monday to avoid spending the weekend in a Fed Ex warehouse. The problem is the dealer (out of NY) will I'm sure ship the most economical way possible (= really slow) and then no way of telling how long it'll get jammed up in customs as I'm in Canada. Oh well, I'll probably know in a couple of weeks. The smart thing to do would've been to order one locally but I did want this for a rapidly approaching recording project and I'm told it can be a 3 year wait sometimes to have one shipped in which obviously wouldn't do. Not to mention, from everything I've seen the woods on these guitars seems to really vary hugely from instrument to instrument and I found this one and really liked it. (Ideally I would've loved one with a bird's eye as that's a bit of a fetish for me but the flame is really pretty as well). In the meantime I'll be chomping at the bit waiting for this beautiful machine to show up! Many thanks again to all who've replied.

I would suggest waiting 24-48 hours to open it if it's been out in the cold for any length of time.

[rooster16]

I'd read that about the 35% humidity (which is actually better for me living in a dry climate particularly in the winter months). I'm not overly concerned about this once it arrives, my big worry is in the shipping. I did pull the trigger on this axe yesterday and asked them to ship on Monday to avoid spending the weekend in a Fed Ex warehouse. The problem is the dealer (out of NY) will I'm sure ship the most economical way possible (= really slow) and then no way of telling how long it'll get jammed up in customs as I'm in Canada. Oh well, I'll probably know in a couple of weeks. The smart thing to do would've been to order one locally but I did want this for a rapidly approaching recording project and I'm told it can be a 3 year wait sometimes to have one shipped in which obviously wouldn't do. Not to mention, from everything I've seen the woods on these guitars seems to really vary hugely from instrument to instrument and I found this one and really liked it. (Ideally I would've loved one with a bird's eye as that's a bit of a fetish for me but the flame is really pretty as well). In the meantime I'll be chomping at the bit waiting for this beautiful machine to show up! Many thanks again to all who've replied.

I would suggest waiting 24-48 hours to open it if it's been out in the cold for any length of time.

Very true! I had a 70's strat with a lovely spider web lacquer finish on it that I'm sure was the result of just such an occurance.

[rooster16]

I have a related question about Rickenbacker guitars and humidity. The winters get very dry here in Ohio. I've been storing my guitars (including two Rick 12's) at 50% humidity, which is generally recommended for most acoustics and solidbodies. But, as has been stated in this thread, the factory recommends that Rics be stored at 35% humidity. Am I at risk of damaging my Rics by storing them at 50% humidity? Is there a happy medium between 35% and 50%?

Hi Robert, if you refer to the link that was sent to me at the beginning I think it touches on the "over humidifying" topic a bit if memory serves? To the best of my understanding (and I don't have a degree in wood sciences or anything) but it can be just as dangerous as dry humidity. It causes the wood to swell which can still still cause structural damage I would think, and it would also affect the tone. Are your Ric's solid bodies or semi acoustics (assuming they aren't acoustics)? No idea about a happy medium point myself but I can tell you from experience (not with Ric's but with many other brands) - humidity and lack thereof can be such a lousy thing for guitarists to deal with and the numbers that manufacturers recommend I think can be taken as a guideline. I just try my best not to stray too extreme one way or the other and try to keep it as close as possible to make every member of the family happy. My biggest concern (and the reason for this post) is when the instrument is brand new and coming out from the "perfect environment" where they were created into the real world. After being pointed out that Ric's are built at around 35% I'm not as concerned as I was before. I don't baby my instruments too much as I'm a touring musician and the humidity changes can be so radical I can't keep up. I'm of the mind that the worst damages occurs with extreme and sudden change. One thing I can tell you the tone in my acoustic instruments varies tons with the different climates, or at least it does to my ears. Hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge on the subject may be able to answer with a more technical precision but there's my two bits which is worth substantially less than a quarter...

Best,
G.

[jdogric12]

I lived in Florida for years. I think you'll be fine LOL

That said, I wouldn't go purposely overhumidifying a Rick. So don't leave it next to the humidifier or anything like that, but I wouldn't worry nearly as much about peaks as I would valleys.

[rooster16]

Update - new Ric arrived without a hitch. Can't say how amazed I am with Fed Ex. Shipped from New York Monday at 6:00 pm, in my vehicle going home a day and a half later in Western Canada. Guitar is gorgeous and I'm shocked by how good it plays. Love it!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Congrats Glenn! Nice to have another RIC in Canada...

[rooster16]

Thanks very much Brian - I love it. Exceeded my expectations!