mandolin storage

[astroboy]

Greetings. Noob question follows ...

I will need to store a mandolin without use for about a month in the northern hemisphere (latitude 41 N). Things are getting a bit colder and drier here, but nothing too extreme. Temperature will remain steady, around 68 F.

I presume the instrument should be put in its case with a minor water source to minimize humidity effects, but I'd also guess I should ease the string tension somewhat as well. Any recommendations on how much to loosen the strings?

... I realize I'm probably over-thinking this.

Thanks.

[Philphool]

Are you thinking that the strings will pull on the neck more while lying in the case than while being played every day?

I'd put the instrument in the case with minimal humidifier as you described and not worry about the strings, not that it will hurt to tune down a whole step if you wish.

[astroboy]

Well, I've been re-tuning as needed as the humidity changed since it has been being played daily, keeping a fairly constant string tension -- a process that will stop once it's stored. A step or so down would seem to be prudent, as that's how it arrived when originally purchased.

Thanks for the confirmation.

[Narayan Kersak]

I've had guitars and mandolins for a number of years, and often times they've gone six months at a time without me touching them, and I've not detuned them for storage. No harm was done. I can't imagine playing them some how eases the tension from the strings??

[allenhopkins]

While I doubt that a minor (couple of tones) de-tuning of your strings will make any difference in the mandolin's condition in storage, go ahead if it makes you feel better. The mandolin's built to be stable under normal string tension; the only time you will get any damage, is if the tension is significantly increased for a period of time. Any temperature and humidity changes that would occur within a living space (house closet, basement etc.) wouldn't change the geometry of the mandolin's wooden neck or body enough to put that kind of stress on it.

I would caution against slacking the strings too much for an extended period of time. Again, the mandolin's designed to be stable under normal string tension. If you take all the tension off the neck and top, the resistance-to-string-tension built into them may alter the mandolin's geometry: the neck angle may decrease, the top may rise. When you return the strings to normal tension, you may find some fret buzzes etc. If so, leaving the mandolin under normal tension for awhile may restore it to its former adjustment, or you may need a new set-up.

I have instruments that may sit for a year or more unplayed, without any significant change in their condition. If temperature and humidity are within normal parameters (which are about the same parameters within which you're comfortable), should be no risk to your mandolin.

[astroboy]

Yup, no plans to slack the strings more than a tone or two. Though now that I think about it, if anything does happen at latitude 41 this time of year, it would be the instrument drying a bit -- making it smaller and loosening the strings even more, so maybe doing nothing (leaving it tuned from the last play) is the best all around.

Like the OP said: clearly over thinking this.

Thanks folks.

[mandroid]

Its only a month , You turning the heat off?, then I'd wait to open the case for a day after bringing the room back up to your comfort level.

[BSHARP]

I live in NJ where the winter and my home heating system causes low humidity. This afternoon, I just started the yearly ritual of putting my guitars and my mandolin in their cases with their Oasis humidifiers and case humidistats. I suggest keeping the strings tuned to standard pitch for the sole reason that string pitch is a wonderful indicator of how well your humidification systems works. If you find the instrument (as a whole) is flatter than when you stored it, then the instrument has shrunk due to lack of humidity and the strings have lost tension. If the instrument is sharp, then the instrument is swelling due to absorbing moisture thus increasing the tension.

[man dough nollij]

I think the reason for slacking off the strings is that sometimes when a mandolin is left alone, it might go sharp, instead of flat. It's just a way of avoiding that extreme string tension, in case that happens. I've left instruments for a lot longer than that with no problems. If I were going to leave one for a while in an extremely dry environment, I would put a freshly loaded Oasis humidifier with the mandolin, in a trash bag, then in the case. Either tie a knot in the bag, or shut it in the case so that no moisture can get out. This should be good for months and months.

[JeffD]

Originally Posted by astroboy

A step or so down would seem to be prudent, as that's how it arrived when originally purchased.

.

I don't usually drop the string tension unless I am shipping the mandolin somewhere, or driving with it in the car more than sevral hours. Its the bumping I worry about.

But leaving an instrument unplayed in a comfortable house, I put it in the case and don't worry about it.

[EdHanrahan]

Originally Posted by BSHARP

I live in NJ ... the winter and my home heating ... low humidity... yearly ritual of ... in their cases with...

An admission that will horrify some: I used to do that too, here in NJ.

Spent a lot of time adjusting truss rods and saddles, then realized that my wife's many house plants (w/ watering!) keep us moist enough in winter to simply not bother with humidification, even when we're away for a week or two. My most expensive guitar has an add'l climate cover, while all others stay in their normal cases at standard pitch except when being played. For good measure, I sometimes give the soundhole a breath of moist air just before closing the case. But nothing more, other than keeping them where WE are comfortable and out of sunlight. We use minimal A/C in the summer. Has worked well since '93 or so.

Instruments, like people, can adapt to an array of temperature & humidity IF the change is gradual. A friend messed up his Martin by leaving it out on a stand in his bedroom in summer, getting mega-heat during the day and mega-A/C at night. Not a happy camper!

[Tim2723]

Originally Posted by EdHanrahan

...I sometimes give the soundhole a breath of moist air just before closing the case.

Last winter I mentioned doing that and nobody believed me. Honest, I find the best thing is to breath a couple of breaths of moist air right into the sound chamber. That's where most of the raw wood is.