winter weather...to case or not to case

**Roadbike61** · Dec-07-2005, 9:24pm

I live in the north and winter weather can be very drying. Should I leave my mando out on the stand as I play it daily, or put it in a case? Also, what about a humidifier? Which are the best if that is suggested? Thanks!

**250sc** · Dec-08-2005, 11:45am

I always leave my instruments out where I can grab them easily. When the central heat starts up I set up a small floor humidifier from Sears that holds about 4 gallons of water.

**JEStanek** · Dec-08-2005, 11:47am

I do the same. Outta sight, outta mind, outta hand.
Jamie (Philly burbs with Gas forced air heat)

**Douglas McMullin** · Dec-08-2005, 2:06pm

It takes me 10 seconds to get to my guitar when it’s in the case and about 5 seconds to get to my mandolin. I have never even thought of not playing because I had to open the case. Unless I had a very reliable humidity/ temp control and a room I could keep everyone out of I wont even consider leaving my instruments out. I do run a pretty good humidifier, but even with that I get some pretty big humidity changes inside up here in Maine.

That is coming from someone who once came home to find a hole punched through the top of a guitar left in a stand.

**AlanN** · Dec-08-2005, 2:10pm

Being in the case doesn't deter me. What does deter me is work/family/house/bills/sleep

In the case with a little humidifier inside does it for me.

**David M.** · Dec-08-2005, 2:20pm

I'm in Iowa and it's dang cold here right now. minus 10 the other night. I leave all my instruments in the case w/their humidifiers inside the case. Never stops me from pickin', just takes a tad longer.

snowin' right now as I'm typing this, dangit...

**VictorLouis** · Dec-08-2005, 2:23pm

Okay, here's a somewhat related question that I feel you Northerners may have some experience with.

I recently broke my thermostat, and I'm having a hard-time finding a replacement. The interior daytime temp has been hitting about 74-75. At night, it drops to 64-65. The mandos are in cases, and inside a safe with pill-bottle humidity. I bought a space-heater after the first few nights suffering, and I bring it up to 77-78 when I sleep.

Do you think that the temp swing, or the "low"(LOL) temp is harmful in any way?

**otterly2k** · Dec-08-2005, 2:46pm

VL-
I hope not, since our heat swings about the same amount on a daily cycle... however, our house is at 65 with the heat ON, down to 55 at night...can't afford no 75! But my impression from reading is that the humidity issues are more impactful than the temps alone...

what say you folks? is this true?

**GBG** · Dec-08-2005, 3:10pm

Karen, I agree with you. If I kept my house at 75-78, I'd have to get a second job to pay the heating bill.

**Roadbike61** · Dec-08-2005, 4:49pm

thanks for the info....Big Joe, what's your take on this subject??? Other Luthiers out there care to comment on this? I welcome the info.

**Chip Booth** · Dec-08-2005, 9:44pm

Jeez, with the below zero temps we've had n the last few days 78 at night would be outrageous. I couldn't breath air that hot

I keep my guitars out and mandos in the cases for the most part, and a room humidifier going all the time. Still, the heat sucks so much moisture out of the air that I am always fighting to keep it at a reasonable level. No ill effects so far, thank goodness.

Chip

**Bertram Henze** · Dec-09-2005, 5:48am

Beats me - I think if our instruments were that susceptible to moderate non-tropical temp/humidity variations, they'd fall apart on the way to the next gig/session while waiting in the car trunk for a few hours or being played under stage lighting. I keep my OM in the case (does not keep me from playing, unpacking rather raises the pleasure - no offence) and my mandolin hanging from a nail on the wall (very rarely played), and both are in perfectly sound condition under humidity variations 60 thru 95 percent over the year.