Another Humidity Question

[Cragger]

I was thinking of installing a hygrometer in my travelite case. I live in Alabama and the humidity is generally around 85 to 100% through the summer. I like to take my mandolin outside and play and I was wondering if this would be a good thing. That means I would be taking the instrument from a 30 to 40% humidity level out of the case into a possible 100% humidity environment. Is this a bad thing? What should I do? Should I just leave the case alone and let the instrument adjust naturally to it's surroundings? I have always been confused on this subject no matter how much I read about it.

[Chris Baird]

It is my belief that humidity change causes the damage. I say store the mandolin at the average humidity for your areas climate.

[sunburst]

First of all, and I assume you know this tho your post doesn't express it, a hygrometer doesn't control the humidity in the case. It just tells you what you need to do to control the humidity in the case.

I wont say 'don't play outside in high humidity', but it's not a bad idea to put the instrument back in the case as soon as you can after playing. Like between sets or when you're going to get a beer during a jam session.

I don't think I would keep the case humidity at 30 to 40% in your invironment. 50 to 60% or even slightly higher might be better.

Remember that the wood in the mandolin takes on and releases moisture fairly gradually, so it isn't hard on the instrument to be moved from low to high humidity for short times. If you leave it out in the 100% humidity for a couple of days the wood will move quite a bit. If you let the wood move from too dry to too wet too many times, there is a lot of stress repeatedly applied to the structure and glue joints and problems can show up.

[JGWoods]

My guess is that the instrumnet is more affected by the changes in humidity than it is by either wet air, or dry air. Didn't Bill Monroe drive all around the South in un-air-conditioned cars with his Loar for 20-30 yeas?
Seasonal changes call for adjustments, rapid changes make cracks.
I am guessing the worst thing is the trip back inside- from hot and sticky to cool and dry- without a case to buffer the change.
best
gw

[Cragger]

thanks, for the replies. that is what i needed to know.

[mandroid]

FWIW: there is a cheap alternative[to dial hygrometer] I got from Porters Camera (phone/online) its a card with small bitts of paper of various #sensitivitys , like litmus paper but sensitized to humidity instead of #Ph .
#
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Tom C]

I have a hydrometer/humidifier in my case. It should only be useful when it is dry out. Even then, I take it in and out of the case alot and I'm convinced the humidifier does nothing in the short term. If I were not playing it for a few days
, or for a seciond mando, then it may be useful.