Hey gang, Iowa winters are a witch. I keep my guitars in a finished room in my basement. All of them are cased except whatever one or two I am playing. A friend of mine said my Strat CP 60's may be drying out, as I noticed it really has been singing when played unplugged. There aren't any signs on the finish it is cracking, but the fret edges do feel a little sharp. Any hints on how I am supposed to shelve my strats on a regular and long term basis? Is a case enough?

BTW the room is 68 degrees or so, and the humidity was 30-40

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Proud Fender addict! Still looking for perfect amp!
Classic Player 60's, Standard Strat, Highway One Texas Tele, '57 Twin-Amp, '63 Reverb, Blues Deluxe w/ ext cab, Champion 600

These conditions shouldn't hurt the guitar as long as it's kept in the case but if the guitar has a rosewood fretboard it may need an application of fretboard treatment solution.Just about all music stores have it and it keeps the fretboard from drying out.That may be the cause of the frets edges being noticeable when you play.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

It does have a Rosewood FB. Is that treatment something I have to apply then remove or is it just like a furniture wax? I guess I am curious if its an easy application or if it takes a painters hand. I suck at finishing work.

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Proud Fender addict! Still looking for perfect amp!
Classic Player 60's, Standard Strat, Highway One Texas Tele, '57 Twin-Amp, '63 Reverb, Blues Deluxe w/ ext cab, Champion 600

Hey Iowa....
Get a humidifier for your room, try to get the humidity level to 50%
When you change strings apply lemon oil to the rosewood, spread it around, then wipe off the excess with a towel... thats all. you can purchase any brand of "fretboard conditioner", but I have always used lemon oil... and keeping it in the case is a good idea as well.

I grew up in West Des Moines.. moved south to get away from those "Winter Blast of Blues"

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

road worn series!

best in a case, treat rosewood fretboard with lemon oil. for my guitars out on their stands, I leave a pan of water on the radiator, if you have that type of heating system.

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2012 American Vintage Telecaster 1958
09 Fender american deluxe strat.
97 Gibson les paul special P90's double-cut
65 Princeton reverb re-issue
2010 Guild Gad-F40e

I cant tell you how to store the guitar. I live in probably the best climate for keeping guitars so dont have to worry about humidity much.
It's well worth getting that fret sprout sorted out whilst the neck has contracted though. There will be little chance of the neck contracting further over coming years and the problem with the frets will be pretty much sorted for the rest of their lifetime.

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No no and no

Buy one of these:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=420984

Follow the instructions or just leave the guitar closed up in a hardcase for a few days and measure the humidity. If its below 40% then it needs more moisture.

You can to this by getting a small plastic container an place a sponge inside.
Put a couple of teaspoons of water in the sponge and place it inside the case with the guitar in a safe spot where noones going to pick up the case.

Just keep adding every couple of days until your guitar is back to humidity.
You can play it in between storing it.

You don't want the sponge to have direct contact with the guitar or humidify it too fast! Important to keep monitoring it. Remember when you open the case moisture in the air of the case is lost so don't do it constantly.

As there will also be more moisture in the air of the case when the sponge is wet by removing it will give more accurate reading with the Hygro Thermometer.

If this is beyond your skill level get a professional to do it.

All very well guys, but what about that little bag that comes with the guitar?
For as far as i know it is made to absorb.
Or is this just to keep it in good condition in a "normal" invironment?

It is just to absorb extra moisture mostly to prevent rust before you get the guitar. They don't absorb forever but if your guitars over hydrated they are good for drying it out a little. Leaving it in an air conditioned room works well too.

I just checked one of my guitars this afternoon in its case its 49% on a 3 hr test. I'll going to test it overnight to be sure.

It has been hot and humid the last few days and humidity in the room is about 60%. So yeah no problem with it drying out in a hurry.

My New American Standard P-Bass is at the shop right now for fret ends repair, because the guitar is drying out! The fret ends are sticking out and the lacquered finish is chipping off. I have a maple board.

You can also see some ripples, I think that's how they described it on the body, which they can't really do anything about... I thought it was just the grain when I noticed it.

I'm going to get a humidifer. I'm going to get one for our room, where I keep my guitar in a case.


Should I get one for my guitar case?

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2008 Fender American Standard Precision

Fender Bassman 150