How do you know if your archtop is getting too dry ?

[JohnW63]

On a flatop guitar, you should see a slight arch in the top. If it is really flat, it's too dry. What do you look for with an archtop ? What symptoms would you noice while playing ?

[JohnW63]

Hmmm. I sort of expected a bit of response, by now. Perhaps the best idea is " When in doubt, humidify. "

[Steve DeRosa]

When it turns over and goes back to sleep...

[Livingston]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

On a flatop guitar, you should see a slight arch in the top. If it is really flat, it's too dry. What do you look for with an archtop ? What symptoms would you noice while playing ?

Not an expert on this topic, so please take my comment with a grain of salt.

Besides having a top bulge or sink, a "dry" guitar might also have fret ends that lift from the edge of the fretboard.

[guitararmy]

I've been placing my archtops in the same room as my acoustic guitars when I humidify them for the winter with a room humidifier....
I can't tell a difference but figure it can't hurt as they are probably still drier than in the summer.

[DaBoz]

I'm interested in this

[toomuchfun]

I'm assuming your talking a solid carved top archtop. Like Livingston said fret sprout where you can feel the edges of the frets along the side of the neck. Also edge separation and cracks for the body. I just keep a hygrometer in the house and humidify if it gets close to 30% or below.

[wcap]

I guess I'd say to not wait for symptoms, especially as symptoms could potentially involve permanent damage.

If you are in the north in the winter (or in a dry desert area or something) just humidify. Ideally check the humidity in your case, of course.

[StuartDay]

well, the only immediate thing you'd notice is the action might lower as the top sinks. But because of the mass of wood in arch-tops it is more difficult to see symptoms like that until its too late (cracks). So, your best bet is to buy a $15 digital humidity meter on amazon and stick it by your guitars and make sure it always stays around 45%.

[JohnW63]

The guitar in question is a Guild X-175B, that is a few years old. I DO live in a dry climate and the guitar was previously in the east coast. I haven't kept it on it's case, because I'm learning how to play it ! Over time, the guitar was always a little flat, every day, when I would pick it up again, and I had to tune it up. I figured it was getting used to my climate. Now, I get a bit more string buzz than when I purchased it. I figured the bridge has sunk in a little, which is what caused the flat situation. Looking at it, it is still arched, but I guess a tiny bit LESS arched.

SInce it has F-Holes, what is the best way to humidify it ? Can I put something in the hollow in the case where the body cut-a-way would leave a nice opening without messing up the nice clean fuzz in the case ?

[StuartDay]

yes, it sounds like the top has lowered a bit (a little movement up and down with varying moisture is normal for all instruments).

in-case humidifiers are fine for traveling but in your home you should just buy a little humidifier for the room you keep your instruments in, and a gauge to tell you what the ambient humidity is and keep it between 40-50% 45 is ideal.

I'm assuming the bridge is adjustable? You should be able to raise it a bit to fix the string buzz if it doesn't correct it self after a few days of re-humidification.

If it has sunk to the point where the bridge can't be adjusted to fix the problem, you're going to need to take it in to a luthier.

[stephen mills]

Hi strummers and pluckers.

Back to humidity again!. this is becoming a big one but I have not read of any problems with guitars?!
Firstly nobody, can tell you when your archtops 'are too dry or too wet as every guitar is different -- wood type, thickness, style, age etc, every room is different and every time you open a door the humidity changes so the whole thing is a moveable feast and because of that, dangerous.
The problem we all face is that sometimes during the year our rooms are dry, sometimes wetter etc. So what do you do about it?
One thing for sure is , is that if you run around your house with buckets of water or non freezing liquids you can make the whole think worse---WHY.
Humidity is not a problem in its self, its the variation of humidity that is the problem.
There are basically 3 types of guitar
1. those that have cracked
2. those that are cracking
3. those that will crack.
So where are you, 1-3 will tell you .
If you live in an area where the humidity changes quickly and often you might have a problem. If you live in an area where the humidity changes slowly you are likely to be OK.
Remember humidity is a problem when the wood expands and contracts do to excessive humidity. If you are concerned buy a hard case and wrap your guit
ar in fine bubble pack.
My archtops are kept in a room, 48%+ in the summer and 60% +the rest of the year and NO problems-- maybe I am lucky-- what do you all think?

[tabl10s]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

When it turns over and goes back to sleep...

That was good.