#1
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Do solid body electrics require humidification?
This might be a dumb question...especially on an acoustic guitar forum, but I know that a lot of you here have solid body electric guitars as well. Please humor me!
I am extremely careful to keep my acoustic guitars humidified properly so no damage occurs. But...is it important to keep a solid body electric guitar humidified as well? If so, what is the optimum humidity percentage? |
#2
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The only problem I've personally run into from not humidifying them is pointy fret ends.
That said, I have a Fender and a G&L which I've never humidified, and never had any problem with... the Fender I had with me when I lived in Maine, the G&L I picked up in Milwaukee, and I now live in Syracuse; a veritable tour of the icy (dry) north, and no problems. Just one person's experience.
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"What have I learned but the proper use for several tools" -Gary Snyder Bourgeois DR-A / Bowerman "Working Man's" OM / Martin Custom D-18 (adi & flame) / Martin OM-21 / Northwood M70 MJ / 1970s Sigma DR-7 / Eastman E6D / Flatiron Signature A5 / Silverangel Econo A (Call me Dan) |
#3
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It’s not nearly as important. To be sure, with extreme dryness for an extended period you could conceivably damage the fretboard and perhaps the headstock veneer might start to delaminate. Plus I suppose it could eventually affect a set neck and the guitar’s action.
But relative humidity is not nearly the concern that it is with acoustic instruments. Not in my experience, anyway. whm |
#4
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Fretboards on electrics can shrink in low humidity causing fret end "sprout".
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#5
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Quote:
whm |
#6
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Only negative effect I've ever noted is the aforementioned pointy frets as the humidity decreases - but that's a one-time fix, if done correctly.
As Wade points out, if things get too extreme, all bets are off - but my experience through 25 Minnesota winters is that my electrics are doing just fine.
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Martin 0-16NY Emerald Amicus Emerald X20 Cordoba Stage Some of my tunes: https://youtube.com/user/eatswodo |
#7
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Like others posted, it's not nearly as important to humidify electrics as acoustics but watch for those sharp fret ends. That's a great indication.
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#8
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Now, on guitars with bound necks the frets can neatly disconnect the binding if the fretboard shrinks.
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#9
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Other than having to retune them also.
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#10
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+1. Before I got into acoustics and had a humidified guitar room my electrics were at the mercy of humidity swings. Always had to tune when I picked then up, which was no big deal.
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#11
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Quote:
"especially if it's Ebony." I had a Larrivee acoustic in which I could clearly see that the Ebony board had shrunk and the Big Leaf Maple binding of the neck went with the dry Ebony wood. Leaving sharp fret ends. And a sort of 'corner' where the Maple binding meets the Mahogany neck. No intention to hijack the thread here. When Wade speaks, I listen. He's usually right only because no one always is. Right.?? Ha.!!
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Play it Pretty Last edited by 3notes; 02-19-2020 at 12:13 PM. |
#12
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I have a Music Man that I've owned for about a year. I've lived all around the Midwest so humid in summer and dry in winter. Although I love my MM and believe it's the best electric I've ever owned, it's also the only one I've ever got fret sprout on. It's not that bad 1-15 but above the 15th fret it's a tad worse. It's a maple neck with maple board. I have other maples with no issues. I never humidify my electrics and keep em all out. Not really sure why after 32 years and numerous electrics, this is the first one to have it happen.
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I'm into acoustic guitars, MM & PRS, my kids, Technics decks, Titleist, Reggae music, KY Bourbon, fine rum and chrome pans from Trini. |
#13
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If you humidify an electric you will have to keep humidifying it and the set up is different for a guitar that's humidified versus a dry one. One difference is seen in the above mentioned fret sprout. The action on the neck will require a different set up for one versus the other too. On a humidified guitar allowed to dry the string height from the neck will increase demanding an adjustment by a luthier.
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#14
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Other than stuff with a graphite neck, yes.
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#15
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No. Keep your fretboards conditioned to avoid fret sprout and you’re good.
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Main guitars: Taylor 416ce - 2015 PRS Silver Sky - 2018 PRS SE Custom 24 |