Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Can you tell me whether using guitar humidifiers during the winter months (those little clay pots soaked in water)is helpful from your point of view. During the winter, particularly with electric heat the humidity in many homes in the north drops to well below 40 percent. I guess the question really is, what sort of climatic conditions should be maintained to insure that the instrument does not become too damp or too dry. I have used the 40 percent rule but cannot tell you why I have decided on this number either than that is what is comfortable for me.

I live in the Seattle area and we don't have the humidity problem that you do.We do however dry out the air with the constant winter furnace and wood stoves going .

I use a jar of water in the furnace filter area and check it twice a week.When I run the wood stove ,I keep a pot of water on it all the time.

I don't have any specific numbers concerning this ,but don't let the winter air get too dry inside or acoustics will crack wide open.Rickenbackers will (at least the hollow bodies to a greater degree) re-act to fluctuations just like any other brand.The rule of thumb here is ...when the heat gets turned on the moisture goes down and when the air conditioning turns on the moisture goes up and if you are running a de-humidifier to keep the mold down and the stickiness of summer away you need to just keep it to about 65 %.

Any extremes aren't good .And NEVER store your instruments against an outside wall.You might as well put them in your car trunk.

What effect will higher summer temps have on a guitar? I live in Texas.
I have noticed over the years my 4001 needs rod adjustment 2-3 times a year due to seasonal changes.

as to the Texas question ,you have a hot and humid situation or a hot and dry situation.It depends on where you live.

The rule of thumb is 65% humidity is ideal but no way will you get that all the time.
Going from indoors to a gig and where ever else you will put it to the test thats for sure.
Try to minimize this as best you can .You are stuck with the rod adjusting though .there is no way around it.I don't think that this is only for Rickenbackers.
When I toured with international recording acts in the 1970's I had to adjust more ,east of the Rocky Mountains than I did on the west coast.
As to the effects of summer...well a good tan,iced tea and air conditioning.as to the 4001,well it should be okay as long as you don't live in El Paso and leave it out in the noon sun for a long time.If you are uncomfortable then assume the bass is too.

65% is way too much humidity for the long term. The instruments are designed to function properly and maintain adjustment at a constant 35%. This translates to about 6.5% moisture retention in Maple.

The storage temperature is of no concern, except that you don't want to freeze it. Baking your guitar in the trunk of the guitar isn't harmful because of the heat per se, but rather that it dries the instrument out very quickly.

The 35% figure is very close to the 40% humidity that I try to keep my instruments in. I got this 40% from discussions with piano technicians who design humidifiers and dehumidifiers for the inside of pianos. Where I live we have humidifers running most of the winter and dehumidifers in the summer. What I have always wondered is how humidity affects instruments that seem to be sealed (albeit imperfectly) by layer after layer of lacquers and then waxes. I guess it is not possible to beat mother nature on this one.

Baking your guitar in a trunk will lift the bridge off an acoustic.But that is like a relief valve on a water heater.If it did not come off then the braces would come off first.Or the top.

As for electrics ...I have seen guitars that start in the 65% humidity of western Washington and go to eastern Washington where the climate is arid and very desert like.Upon opening the case the moisture from the damp air has "rained" on the instrument.This can cause all kinds of finish problems as well as the steaming effect it has if left on a hot summer day in a trunk ,while someone goes into a restaurant to eat something.

If you want a terrific book on finishes/finishing this is what I recommend ;
"Understanding Wood Finishing"
'How to Select and Apply the Right Finish'
by Bob Flexner ISBN # 0-87596-566-0

This will explain the different types of finishes and the application,It has side columns that have myth/fact notations and this is in easy to read format with lots of good photos.