Humidity and my Mandolin

[michellerenee]

Hello all,
Back in August and September, I was on a mission to purchase an upgrade from my MK Dragonfly (which, by the way, still sounds good). I went to Columbus to look at a "F12". Jeff Parker recommended. It sounded great. Just couldn't give 4000.00 for it.
Then Mike Parker ( Parkers are close family friends. I am originally from Berea, KY) met me at Renfro Valley with a sweet Gibson 2003 Fern. Needless to say the evening was special.
I got to sing a duet with Pete Stamper in the old barn where my mother once performed as a member of the cast in the late '60s. and fell in love with the Gibson and my husband shelled out the cash.
Now...
Here I am in January and still in love with my mandolin. Problem is...
Two weeks ago, it started making a terrible "clacking" sound when I am chopping. This sound only happens periodocally. I don't think it is the pick. If it was, one would reason that sound would have been there from the beginning.
I am suspecting humidity. I have purchased a humidifier as well as a hygrometer. I won't receive this items for another week. Is my instrument in danger?
Does anyone know what might be going on with my mandolin? The clacking is so bad...I am going to have to play the MK.
Could you tell me if you would put a damp sponge in the case without a hygromter? I am so concerned.

[Big Joe]

DO NOT PUT A DAMP SPONGE IN THE CASE with or without a hygrometer!!!!! If you must hydrate you can take a small container (tupperware works good) and put a small sponge that is damp, not wet in that and then poke very small holes in the lid. If you just put a sponge in the case with the instrument you will get a ruined finish. The moisture will seep through the finish and cause it to release from the wood and will finally begin to peel like a potato chip or you will see spots that look like they are kind of pale. This is not a good thing and no body will cover it under warranty.

You can use several things to help. Just a half of a potato in the container will help but slower than a wet sponge. Just be careful not to overhydrate the instrument. Also, do not put the humidity agent in the pocket inside the case. The only thing to get hydrated will be the pocket. Never let anything get the inside of your case wet or damp and then put your instrument into it until it is completely dry. The moisture will seep through the finish and you will have problems.

If the action has dropped due to humidity, and that is not unusual, you can just raise it a bit until things get better and then you may have to adjust it back down. As long as you do not feel sharp fret ends or see other issues develop you are probably allright to wait for you humidifier. You may also need a truss rod tweak. That also is not unusual.

Dealing with humidity changes in the winter and summer can be problematic but the first thing is never to over react. That can cause more damage than doing nothing. Over the years I have seen a LOT of wonderful instruments, usually quite expensive one, that have been damaged because the owners attempted to do the right thing and keep them hydrated/ dry and clean. They usually have a hard time when you tell them it is not a defective instrument, but rather damaged by their "good deeds". The comment is usually something like "I always take excellent care of my stuff!" That is kind of the problem. The attempt to do good can backfire.

In any case, just be careful when dealing with moisture and instruments. It is not good for them to get too dry, but even worse is rapid changes in humidity or "too much of a good thing".

[John Flynn]

I use damp sponges, but I make sure they are thoroughly wrung out and put them inside ziplock bags that have holes punched in them. I also make sure they are situated in the case where they can't come into direct contact with the finish. I have calibrated hygrometers in in all my "good instrument" cases and I try to moderate the humidity within a range. I will say that the sponges are almost too effective at bringing up humidity. I really have to monitor the hygrometers, because like Joe said, you want to avoid big shifts. I would avoid the potato thing. Just personal preference, but I like to keep all varieties of tubers out of my case!

If I were you, I would wait for the humidifier and hygrometer and play the MK in the meantime. A week won't make a difference. Then bring the other instrument back up to humidity slowly.

[man dough nollij]

Clacking sounds ominous. Whether or not it's caused by humidity problems, I'd have it looked at by a competent luthier. I would really want to know what was causing the noise. My hunch is something's going on with the bridge, but I'm far from being an expert. I think it needs a doctor visit.

[allenhopkins]

A good source of humidity-related advice: Taylor Guitars tech sheets. (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/reference/techsheets.html) While they're designed for guitars, much of the information on humidity ("Symptoms of a Dry Guitar," "Humidity's Greatest Hits," etc.) applies to mandolins as well.

Concur with Mandroid that having a good repair shop take a look at it wouldn't hurt. Not quite sure how dryness would produce a "clacking" sound. You could have a loose truss rod that's rattling, even a loose brace. It could also be something relatively minor. Seems you sent away for your humidifier and hygrometer; are you in an area where there's not much service support available?

[fishtownmike]

I use a small film like container that i drilled holes in and placed a piece of sponge in it. Works great. I had this particular mandolin that i keep in work. It was always flat when i took it out of the case. Now after the first week of humidifying it things are ok with it. It comes out of the case tuned like i put it in.

[Horsefarmer]

Hi, I went from a planet waves humidifier, which failed to hold the distilled water, to a Stretto system. soaking the little bag about once a week makes it easy to keep the humidity at the reccomended 40-50%. The stretto bags are a little pricy,but seemto work very well.Sincerely, Horsefarmer

[michellerenee]

Thank you all for all the suggestions. I don't want to go over the top with all of this, and I certainly don't want to ruin my Gibson. I have a great luthier whom I love and trust. I will be taking the mandolin to him asap.
Someone asked why I ordered the hygrometer...I have one music store that is close. I don't go there often because they are more into rock n roll and really don't seem to care for the bluegrass instruments.
Too bad...because we are a community that is heavily indowed with bluegrassers....

[drewgrass]

in my house i have a room humidifer and hygrometer. i also in the last month started using the oasis system with hygrometer in the case of my mandolin and guitar. they are $50.00 each but worth every penny. i couldnt be happier with the oasis it keeps the humidity in the 40-45 percent range its easy to tell when its time to refill and there are various mounting options. my instruments sound open and alive from the first note out of the case. ive owned a few case humidifiers. this thing just kills them. to me its as important as picks and strings for getting the best tone out of my instrument. its about as idiot proof of a way to get proper humidity as one can get.