my wife and I just purchased a house and I have my guitars out on stands in a closed room because of her cats....

how is an indiana winter going to effect them ?

the house is brick and has gas heat so it stays hotter than hell if i like it or not and the humidity tends to be on the high side. usually around 48%-59% when the outdoor temperature is in the mid to high 80's

should i put them in their cases or use a humidifier ?

I ready somewhere that dry heat is really bad for guitars, so how do i protect them ?

thanks much
Jack

Jack,

As a fellow In. resident I can tell you what I have always done with my guitars in the winter. The solid body electrics may need more tuning than usual due to the fluctuations in temp. but they will not likly become damaged if they are not in the case all the time. I do try to keep them in the cases for the most part, but I always have at least one in a stand ready to play. You should not need a humidifier for those. The acoustic guitars are a different situation. The dry heat can dry out the soundboard very quickly causing warpage or even cracks. I do keep my acoustics in the case during winter with a sound hole humidifier inserted. I check it every 3-4 days to make sure there is still moisture in the humidifier. Make sure you keep them a safe distance away from heating vents and windows. Get a humidity gauge to set in the room and this will help you to know when the air is extremely dry. They can be purchased for $10.00 - $20.00. Avoid hanging them on the walls in the winter. The side nearest the wall will usually be cooler than the other side, which causes problems with the wood. Hope this helps.

Most homes with a gas forced hot air are dry are you sure what the inside percentage is?

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

at the moment its sitting at 53% I have a humidity & temp gauge sitting on my amp next to the guitar stand.

this time of year I've had the central air running up until last week since its cooled off a little my wife likes to open the windows. so we havent run the furnace yet

Thats the open windows I don't think thats to bad. I keep our HVAC humidity level set at 38-40% and 70-72 degrees. Don't open the windows often because of our allergies and the Wife has asthma.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

actually that 53% is with the house closed up, I have asthma emphasima and copd....outside is bad for me, and no I've never smoked.

A lot of arcin' and sparkin' with static electricity that's for sure. I have that problem in Phoenix with the A/C on but now I'm on Evap since the humidity is so low, so no more arcin' and sparkin'.

Keeping your precious guitars out on guitar stands all the time is asking for trouble. I seriously screwed up my Malmsteen Strat by doing that. You may be a little safer where you are at if the humidity is always higher but I would still highly recommend you get into the habit now of returning your guitars to their cases when you are done playing them.

I guess a Gig Bag like I have wouldn't protect the guitar as much as a regular case.

Hi Jack: Randy1's post above is full of good advice. Especially regarding acoustic guitars, and also the serious issue of wall hangers on outside walls.

Here's another suggestion. Your house is hotter than hell? Turn the heating down, why not? Especially in the room where the guitars reside. And remember, it is changes in heat and humidity that are particularly harmful to instruments, even more than the exact numbers. Keep conditions steady.

Good luck - C

well my study is a much sadder place, I have all of my guitars back in their cases until I see how the heat and humidity go. I've had the heating vent closed since we turned the furnace on, my wife tends to freeze to death at 90 degress so she wont let me turn it lower than 72-74 degrees ~sigh~ so the temp is usually around 68-71 in my room.

the breedlove acoustic I just purchased on monday is amazing but finding a case for it is going to be difficult, its a 7/8th travel acoustic made entirely of spruce. it came with a gig bag but not a case so im not sure how putting a humidifier in it will work.