Moving to Denver

[ago]

As the title indicates, I'll be heading out west soon, and giving up the thick heat of the southeast. Didn't have to concern myself with humidify my instruments before. Looking for recommendations on implements for instrument care. In addition, please feel free to PM me or post here on places to play or watch. I will likely have other off topic things to PM residents about. Thanks much. adam

[Rich Benson]

I'm live in Denver and keep my instruments in their cases with case humidifiers except in the summer, now, when I can reach 45% in my music area (humidifier running). Colorado is tough on instruments

[FrontRangeMando]

I also keep mine in the case with a humidifier when I'm not playing.

Never had any problems so far, but I did have an issue with a guitar top when I (by which i mean my teenage daughter ) didn't keep up with refilling the case humidifier.

[allenhopkins]

Denver's dry -- no big news there. Proper humidification, and watch for signs of drying out.

[ColoradoMando]

We recommend the oasis mandolin case humidifiers at the store I work at in Boulder. Check out the Boulder Pickers
and Denver Pickers Facebook pages for picks and local bluegrass shows. Welcome!

[colorado_al]

Welcome to Colorado! I use 2 dampits in each case. One threaded into the body of the mandolin through the F hole, or into the oval hole and one in the area of the headstock. I wet them every 2-3 days depending on weather. Make sure they are not soaking when you put them in. You want to humidify, not cause water damage.
These are the ones that I use:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009JPR8C/

[stevedenver]

Your instruments, may, in a couple of years, hit what i call equilibrium, ie be ok with colorado humidity. They may not. Bit slowing the change is critical.

I use a cellulose songe, pretty damp but not sopping, in modestly perforated (hole punched) zip locks. They work well, last almost a week or more, and my cases read 45%-+ max, using this method. I put it under the headtock, not in the guitar body. I have had no issues, and the case's gauage is kept near the heel area, fwiw.

I haved used dampits, and they last 2 days, and sometimes drip, even when shaken out.

Imho, it is the transition that is the biggest problem. A very slow, like 2 years, change to our humidity well be advisable.

While our humdity changes a good deal, it seems lately to be close to 40%, from my occasional glances at room hygrometers. Keeping the instrument cased and with dampener will smooth and slow the changes.


Doing this currently with a D41 special i bought from alabama several months ago. No issues.

Get the $10 cigar hygrometer from amazon and a couple of cheap room versions-these willl help a lot.

[mandocrucian]

[Al Trujillo]

Welcome to the mad house!

[Stevo75]

Welcome to Colorado! I live in Lafayette and work in Boulder. Lot's of good picking around here. I can go to a jam any night of the week.

I like to keep my mandolin out of the case on a stand. I have a couple hygrometers around the house and pay attention to humidity. I have a "whole house" humidifier. Not one that hooks to the furnace, but a large evaporative humidifier like this one: https://www.amazon.com/EP9-800-Whole...ive+humidifier

I just watch the humidity and run the humidifier when it gets low (which is pretty much all winter). I don't worry about keeping it perfect. I think of it as "taking the edge off". If it's above 30-35% I'm guessing it's fine. I know some folks say it has to be 45% (or whatever the perfect number is), but I think as long as you can keep it from getting really dry (it'll get down to 10% around here) it'll be fine.

[Mandobart]

FWIW - I grew up in northern NM at 7000' above sea level. Higher drier and colder than Dember. I never thought twice about humidification for my violin or guitar while living there. My Grandpa's 1880's German trade fiddle spent about 140 years there with no humidification. No issues whatsoever. Now that I know better I monitor and adjust the humidity in my Eastern WA home. IMHO this is something that makes a good OCD/neurotic meter - how much an individual obsesses over humdification. There's more voodoo than science in most of the discussions I've read.

[ago]

Thanks for all the welcomes and thoughts. I look forward to getting there, finding a place to live temporarily, and getting better at playing.

[NursingDaBlues]

About four years ago I moved from Louisiana to Colorado. So with respect to changes in environment, you’ll be encountering a situation similar to mine.

Here’s what I found to be helpful:

1. Not all, but many newer homes and condos that have central air/heat may have an integrated humidification system. Some older homes may have upgraded to include a humidification system. Some of these integrated humidification systems are quite good (if you remember to utilize it); others aren’t. So any humidification system needs to be assessed to determine whether it will provide dependable and sufficient humidity for your needs. Apartments usually will not have a humidification system. If you have an integrated humidification system that provides dependable and sufficient humidification, then you won’t really need any ancillary humidification products.

2. Many older homes will have an evaporative cooler (AKA swamp cooler) that can over-humidify your instruments when used continuously during summer months.

3. Should you not have an integrated humidification system or you have an inadequate system, you’ll need some other means to humidify your instruments. The quantity and type of instruments will play a role.
a. If you have three or fewer instruments, then the Oasis in-case humidifier might fit your needs. It does a reasonable job. You’ll need to remember to re-fill these humidifiers probably weekly. Occasionally in extended extremely dry conditions, two (or maybe three) Oasis humidifiers may be necessary for guitar-sized instruments. However, these humidifiers will not last forever. The Oais HumiGel crystals do require occasional replenishing (replacement crystals can be purchased) and the bladder can develop leaks if allowed to dry out completely. The last time I checked, the Oasis humidifiers were around $20; replacement HumiGel crystals were around $8.
b. If you have four or more instruments, you might be better served getting a room or large-area humidifier. I turned a small room off our patio that isn’t hooked into the home humidification system into our music room. I’ve used an AirCare MA0800 Evaporative Humidifier in that area for about two years with good, dependable results. It has a built in hygrometer with automatic on/off to maintain the humidity you desire. The hygrometer is not entirely accurate but with a little trial and error you adjust the setting to maintain an appropriate humidity. I just checked Amazon and they sell for around $80.
c. If you have a piano you’ll need a room humidifier.
d. If you have an accordion or concertina, or just about any instrument with wood components, you’ll need some way of humidifying these instruments.
e. Be sure to humidify your cases. Fabric linings, foam, and wood in instrument cases take a lot of humidification if they’ve been allowed to dry out. If dry, they’ll take it from an instrument during transport.
f. Also, solid wood furniture (especially antique wood furniture) can be susceptible to Colorado’s low humidity. It will shrink, it can crack, joints can separate, and glue can dry out. So be sure to consider humidification for those items.
g. Get a hygrometer. You can find a fairly inexpensive one at Target or Wal-Mart that can proved reasonable approximations for target humidity. Humidor hygrometers that you can get at tobacco/cigar stores are great for in-case use.

4. Be sure to consider your move. If you’re moving yourself and expect the move to take a couple of weeks, then be sure to allow the instruments to acclimate to new temperatures and environment before unpacking and playing. If you’re depending on a moving company with an indefinite time for storage, try to come up with another way to move the instruments with less time in a warehouse or unfriendly conditions.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[NursingDaBlues]

Of course, all this assumes you'll be fortunate enough to find a place to live in Denver. The housing market is currently very, very tight and very, very expensive. Single family home inventory is low and bidding wars are common occurrences on homes that do come up for sale. And, reportedly, apartments usually have long waiting lists. So, good luck.

[roberto]

[BrianWilliam]

Good advice here. Not to be a sour puss but start putting some dollars aside for repairs. The first winter is the toughest.

Micah at the Arvada picking parlor did a great job planing/re-fretting the neck of my #1. At least I did the damage to the frets

CO is awesome! A fine choice

[Stevo75]

[Louise NM]

As a desert-dweller, I'm not a fan of humidification. If your instrument never, ever leaves its humidified case or room, have at it. But, if you're going outside to play on the porch on a day with <10% humidity, or headed to a gig in an overheated room, that carefully humidified instrument won't know what to do with itself when it comes out of the case. I think the constant swings are harder on it than just getting used to the ambient humidity.

Moving from the relatively swampy South, you will, as others have said, want to make sure your instruments have a chance to acclimate slowly. Keep a careful eye on them, and find yourself a friendly neighborhood instrument tech before you actually need one.

Don't get too wound up about hygrometers. Both my violin and viola cases have them built in. They both happily register 60% humidity morning, noon, and night, all year long. (I don't think the humidity in this area ever hits 60%—not even in a rainstorm! As for my mandolin, it was made in town, and seems to have spent all its life here. It wouldn't know what to do with humidity.

[ago]

Thanks for the additional thoughts, and music. Any suggestions on the preferred techs in the area?

Luckily I have a few months to find temp housing, and a little longer to find a place for the family (thankfully my wonderful wife enjoys house hunting). I am accustomed to living outside the big city, but having to be in downtown and bad traffic. Parts of my OW are heading back closer to its birthplace, but I doubt it will remember it

[Stevo75]

They do good work at the Old Town Pickin Parlor in Arvada.

[Steve Sorensen]

The key is to buy instruments built in a similar climate . . . say, for example, the California high desert.

Steve

[NursingDaBlues]

Any suggestions on the preferred techs in the area?

You'll find several luthiers in the Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs/Ft. Collins corridor. And as expected, you'll receive a wide-number of opinions based on individual preferences.

While I don't live in Denver, it's worthwhile for me to make the 2 1/2 hour trek out of the mountains to use Victor Guitar for repairs, set-ups, and general maintenance on ALL of my stringed instruments. Edward, the owner, does all of my work, and does an impeccable job. I tried a few other luthiers in the Denver metro, but none came close to Edward's capabilities. He took the time to understand my and my wife's style of play, our individual preferences, and our instruments. He offers recommendations and the rationale behind those recommendations.

His repairs are immaculate. For example, I had an old bowlback that developed a gaping top crack after moving to Colorado; I don't know how he did it, but you can only see the barest hint that there was a crack and only if you knew where it was. Edward has done quite a few repairs for me on various instruments, and I've always been well pleased with the results. If you give him a deadline, he sticks to it. If he gives you an estimate, he sticks to it. He stays in contact with you if there are any other issues that he might spot. BUT, he doesn't fish for additional business or dollars; he just tells you to be aware of something or if a repair for something needs to be addressed immediately or down the road.

Because, he's very good, he's busy; very busy. But he always manages to give individualized attention. While I consider his prices to be reasonable, others may think he can be pricey. But, for me he's well worth the drive and whatever he may charge. And in some cases, he's thrown in an additional repair without charge. And, as an additional bit of information, he builds some exquisite instruments as well. My wife and I have three of his guitars custom built for us.

I have no financial interest. I just highly recommend his services.
https://www.victorguitar.com/

[Al Trujillo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPpn...FswHi0BBhrrZqd