Guitar case or not for an extended period ?

[d2_racing]

Hi Greg, I used to play 2h a day between 2012 and 2016. So basically my Gibson Les Paul Standard 2013 was all the time on my guitar stand next to one of my Marshall 1w

My music room have a humidifier and I keep all the time the humidity around 45%-50% during the winter and during the summer I use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity  around again 45%-50% .

Now since 2016, I have 2 childrens, my son of 4 years old and my little  daughter of 1 year old, I don't play that much and because of my 2 littles ones, my Les Paul is still in my music room but now I left my guitar in her case 99% of the time.

Is it bad to leave a guitar inside the original Gibson case or not ? I hear some urban legends that a guitar needs to breath to be in top condition, so leaving a guitar for an extended period inside a case is bad.

For the record, even if I don't play as much as I want, I do a setup twice a year around november and may (full setup and a new set of strings)

Thanks for your input

 

[Maybellene]

Good question d2_racing, I'd like to know the answer too.?

[matonanjin]

And I would like to know the answer as well.  Sylvain, good to see you posting.  I had heard just the opposite.  If you're not going to play a guitar for an extended period of time it is a good idea to store it in its case.  But that was from some self-proclaimed expert in a forum (not here) so we can guess the value of that response.  We need to hear from the expert, Mr. Voros.

One thing is for certain.  That is one gorgeous Les Paul, Sylvain.

[Six String]

I anxiously await Greg's response but in the interim, I'm putting forth the thesis that the only thing worse than storing a guitar in the case, is storing it outside of the case. 

Seriously, being in the case will delay environmental changes but sooner of later whatever is going on outside the case in terms of temp and humidity will happen inside the case.  So long as as the external environment is kept in a decent range the guitar should be just as good in the case as out and the risk of impact damage is vastly reduced.

 

 

[matonanjin]

43 minutes ago, Six String said:

I anxiously await Greg's response but in the interim, I'm putting forth the thesis that the only thing worse than storing a guitar in the case, is storing it outside of the case. 

Seriously, being in the case will delay environmental changes but sooner of later whatever is going on outside the case in terms of temp and humidity will happen inside the case.  So long as as the external environment is kept in a decent range the guitar should be just as good in the case as out and the risk of impact damage is vastly reduced.

Six, your thesis is probably a very intelligent way to look at this.  A case is not airtight so the humidity and temperature are going to equilibrate.  So the only difference is the protection the case is providing from that impact damage.  I have heard of guys on some of these forums that always keep all guitars in cases.  The obvious disadvantage is one doesn't have a guitar immediately available to grab for that quick few minutes of practice.

You know how when you get that new car and you announce to the family, "There will be no eating in here!".  How long does that last?  

I just got the new PRS Hollowbody.  Since it has been home it has gone in the case after every practice.  I wonder how long that is going to last! 

[Tony cash]

Seems the outside of the case wears out alot faster than the guitar. But we should be playing the pieces out of our axes. I guess kind of like most bibles.

[Fretless]

7 hours ago, matonanjin said:

A case is not airtight ...

Many cases are plastic moulds or have a vínyl imitation leather wrapping which limit the rate at which relative humidity changes outside the case are reflected inside.

[Plantsman13]

In the case or not...I have multiple guitars (acoustic and electric) that are kept in their cases when not being played.  I have heard and concur with the advice, the case is the safest place to keep a guitar when not being played.  Chicago winters challenge the humidity issue, and even 35% house humidification during 0 - 15 degree weather results in significant window condensation.  A room humidifier is also used in my guitar sanctuary at night to boost humidity levels.  I keep MusicNomad sound hole humidifiers and Dampits (larger model) in the peghead compartment of each acoustic and single Dampit in the electric.  I do use distilled water in these devices, as recommended by MusicNomad, to avoid scale buildup from our hard water.

I do not keep any guitars outside of their cases for the humidity issues and my Brittany Spaniel's rambunctious behavior during various times of the day.  I try to keep regular practice times, then keep them safe when finished.

Extended storage periods does make me think of relieving string tension.  Is there a recommended amount of string relief, such as half-tone, full-tone, or perhaps more?

 

Edited February 12, 2018 by Plantsman13

[Tony cash]

Have a Brittany also. Definitely keep the guitar safe in case if you have a dog.

[Randy120]

Definitely in the case is best. It offers protection from low humidity and physical damage. Acoustic guitars are more vulnerable to humidity changes, but all of my guitars stay in the case. 

[rkl312]

When I bought my guitar my salesman said to always store in in the case with this little humidifier insert I bought.  So I've always done that.  In fact when I've left it out overnight after some late practicing I always feel guilty!

[Greg Voros]

Hey everyone!

My apologies, I missed this question the last few times I was on.

Leaving your instrument in its case is the safest place for any instrument, period. It is an urban legend for sure. Now if you were to not play your acoustic guitar for years on end and leave it strung to pitch in a non climate and humidity controlled environment, that will cause damage for sure.

Best,

-Greg Voros

 

 

[Plantsman13]

Greg,

Thanks for the information.  Is there a recommended amount of relaxing of the string tension from pitch?  I generally shoot for down a full tone, is that enough?

Bryan

[colder]

In my opinion the best place for an instrument is in the case, with in-case humidification devices, in a room with regulated humidity. 

I don't keep them on stands or hangers, it's just additional risk for no reason when I have a perfectly good case ? 

It's probably way more important with acoustics, but I humidify my electrics too.

[Dave White]

The only instruments I leave out of their cases most of the time are my Strat and a carbon fiber guitar.

[Randy120]

The case is the safest place for the guitar. I have seen humidity levels at 18% here in New England during the winter so the humidifier is very important. 

Edited May 24, 2018 by Randy120

[gotto]

I think of all those guitar stores I visit with dozens of guitars hanging on the wall , some with acoustics in humidity controlled rooms hanging, and some not ( including expensive acoustics at Artisans, Cottons and Gruhns), reflect on this issue , and think hmmmm....

For me, expensive acoustics and hollowbody electrics in cases and the rest hang on the walls or guitar tree in my music den. Detune when not in active use.

Greg

[colder]

On 5/24/2018 at 4:31 PM, Randy120 said:

The case is the safest place for the guitar. I have seen humidity levels at 18% here in New England during the winter so the humidifier is very important. 

Yeah, here in Minnesota in the dead of winter it can be just as dry - the humidity can be lower here in the dead of winter than it is in a desert. 

I find the Oasis and Dampit humidifiers to work the best for me. I have to monitor them every day or every other day and refill them with distilled water, but they do the job even in pretty harsh conditions. 

[Dave White]

And don't forget the summer as well. The humidity level in our house often drops below 30% during the summer due to our air conditioning sucking all the moisture out of the air. Can't convince my wife not to run the AC 24/7. ?

[Randy120]

@colder I use the D'Addario "Planet Waves" which also need to have water added every couple days in the winter. I don't think you need to use distilled water. The Sahara Desert has average annual humidity of 25%, but my house is in the low teens during heating season. 

I also use the Humidpak. The system seems to work well, but it is expensive. They recommend changing the paks every couple of months, but they seem to last much longer. The risk being with age they could potentially rupture. 

Edited June 7, 2018 by Randy120

[Randy120]

@Dave White It is interesting that you have low humidity because of using A/C. I have read many recommendations for A/C during summer because of high humidity. Your wife must be keeping it cool, frosty that is. 

Everyone that wants to protect acoustic guitars should have a portable hygrometer and do what is necessary to keep there guitars in the 40%-60% range. Short periods of damp or dry are not a problem, but sustained extremes will damage guitars. Electric guitars are tougher, but they need protection too.   

[Dave White]

Yes Randy, during the summer when I am not in my study (where the AC is turned off), I find the rest of the house to be a bit too frosty for me.

A small price to pay to keep my wife happy. ?

I use an Essick Air humidifier year round and add case humidifiers in the coldest part of the winter. 

[matonanjin]

1 hour ago, Randy120 said:

@Dave White It is interesting that you have low humidity because of using A/C. I have read many recommendations for A/C during summer because of high humidity. Your wife must be keeping it cool, frosty that is.

This was exactly was I was thinking when I read @Dave White's post.  It is damp humid in the summer here (and brutally dry in the winter).  Even with the air conditioner running I still need a dehumidifier in my music room/office in the summer.

[Randy120]

@matonanjin I have read the A/C will remove more moisture if it the fan is run at slower speeds. The slow speed allows more moisture to be removed because the air moves slowly across the condenser. I am not sure how much the difference is, but it seems to make sense.

[colder]

When I lived in Florida, the humidipaks would last a long time and did just fine, but here in the upper midwest, they dried out too fast to be useful.

I need to use two of the refillable humidifiers in the cases to keep the humidity around 40%. This year I bought a couple of Dampits and added those to the case too, and that keeps them happy around 50%. It's amazing how fast things dry out here. 

Part of the issue is probably that I live in a loft downtown which is in a converted building that has all the drafts and radiator heat that come along with those old buildings and their "character" ? It makes for a low humidity recipe, but I've been through several winters here now without any damage to any of my acoustics using the oasis humidifiers and the dampits. Hope that continues! 

Edited June 9, 2018 by colder