Do you keep your acoustic in a case or leave it out?

[West R Lee]

Here in Northeast Texas we are pretty fortunate. The humidity stays at a constant 44%-50%, except in winter when we run the central heat, when the air can dry out to 30% humidity. In winter, I case and humidify them. Being an old retired couple now, we don't have things like kids and animals to worry about. All are on nitro friendly hangers and stands. Funny though, I just bought an incredible Collings from a guy who lived in Phoenix. Apparently humidity there can run about 10%, and he told me the Collings played best between 30% and 35%, which kind of concerned me as well. Not only that, he shipped when it was 111 degrees in Phoenix. I expressed all of my concerns and he took full responsibility for her condition when she arrived. She (Colleen) looks like she just left the Collings factory. She plays and sounds like a beautiful dream. Different than my favorite DV72, but just as good. Just an incredible instrument. She was my retirement gift to myself. : )

 

[chazmo]

^ West R Lee has a nice set of hangers in his man cave. Congrats on the new Collings, Jim!

 

[F30]

Photo from a couple of years ago, but still doing the music room rotation.
The rest are in cases.

"The Rest"
Wow I'd be happy with half of those. Nice heard....Really Nice

 

[West R Lee]

^ West R Lee has a nice set of hangers in his man cave. Congrats on the new Collings, Jim!

Thank you Charlie. She really is the guitar I've been searching for all of my life. I have her set up bit different, and had a bit of a theory I wanted to try. Ever heard the saying, "A blind hog finds and acorn from time to time"? It happened with Colleen. Conventional wisdom was that one must push an Adirondack top really hard to get the voicing and volume.......not in this case. I've tweaked the action and the neck, and fitted her with light gauge silk and steel. She plays and sounds like a Grand piano. Thank you for the kind words Charlie. I hope all is well with you?

West

 

[walrus]

Here in Northeast Texas we are pretty fortunate. The humidity stays at a constant 44%-50%, except in winter when we run the central heat, when the air can dry out to 30% humidity. In winter, I case and humidify them. Being an old retired couple now, we don't have things like kids and animals to worry about. All are on nitro friendly hangers and stands. Funny though, I just bought an incredible Collings from a guy who lived in Phoenix. Apparently humidity there can run about 10%, and he told me the Collings played best between 30% and 35%, which kind of concerned me as well. Not only that, he shipped when it was 111 degrees in Phoenix. I expressed all of my concerns and he took full responsibility for her condition when she arrived. She (Colleen) looks like she just left the Collings factory. She plays and sounds like a beautiful dream. Different than my favorite DV72, but just as good. Just an incredible instrument. She was my retirement gift to myself. : )

Hey West - nice to hear from you! Congratulations on your retirement! I'm envious!

walrus

 

[West R Lee]

Hey West - nice to hear from you! Congratulations on your retirement! I'm envious!

walrus

Thank you Walrus. It had only been 40 years.......just sounded like a good number for throwing in the towel. We spent last week in Florida on the beach and other than that, tons of yard work and playing a bunch of golf. But now I'm making a serious commitment to step up my guitar playing. I've never had a lesson and have actually considered it (taking lessons) here in retirement, but there are so many good instructional videos now, I kind of question the need for formal lessons. How have you been my friend? And on the retirement, jump on in, the water is fine!

West

 

[walrus]

Thank you Walrus. It had only been 40 years.......just sounded like a good number for throwing in the towel. We spent last week in Florida on the beach and other than that, tons of yard work and playing a bunch of golf. But now I'm making a serious commitment to step up my guitar playing. I've never had a lesson and have actually considered it (taking lessons) here in retirement, but there are so many good instructional videos now, I kind of question the need for formal lessons. How have you been my friend? And on the retirement, jump on in, the water is fine!

West

Doing well, thanks! I'm sure the water's great, but I can't afford to jump in just yet!

walrus

 

[Rambozo96]

If it’s a cheap beater like my Kay arch tops I leave them out. My nicer stuff stays in the case when not in use.

 

[hearth_man]

That's a worse case scenario, in your case.

Ralph

Nice... You are a punny fellow Sir. I also agree with you on keeping the humidity at a proper level in the house is the way to go.

 

[pastelartguy]

I live in the Ocala National Forest in Florida so lack of humidity is not a problem. All ten acoustics are in rolling stands with one exception, my pristine Mark VII classical. And as a result I rarely play it. If there were children and/or bored pets circling the wagons, it would be a different story.

 

[Br1ck]

On further reflection, I have evolved to my current view on the subject, which is to have something I can grab without even getting out of my chair. I like to steal licks from YouTube videos. If I had to get up, open a case, and walk back to my chair, this would happen less often. I proved this to myself when I found myself playing a $300 mandolin 90% of the time instead of getting the nice one out of the case, just because it was on my destk in front of me. The nice one replaced a strat on my wall hanger system, I do have to stand up to get it, but don't have to take a step. Weather your grab and go guitar is your beater or a D 45 is a personal risk judgement. Issues like this are one of the reasons I prefer older guitars or gigged instruments if they are newer. I feel there is not much risk of major damage on a good stand. I do this minute have two out on stands, both my D 35s. Not the norm though.

 

[F312]

Wait a minute, I case, however, I drop it in the stand for much of the playing time of day.

Ralph

 

[NewOM240]

I live in the Ocala National Forest in Florida so lack of humidity is not a problem. All ten acoustics are in rolling stands with one exception, my pristine Mark VII classical. And as a result I rarely play it. If there were children and/or bored pets circling the wagons, it would be a different story.

I'm in Pensacola, FL. Lack of humidity is not an issue here either.

 

[davismanLV]

Hey West, congrats on the Collings. They make some of the best guitars known to exist!! Good to see your post!!

 

[West R Lee]

Hey West, congrats on the Collings. They make some of the best guitars known to exist!! Good to see your post!!

Well thank you Thomas. I'd been dreaming of an Adirondack topped Collings dread for several years now. This thing is just acoustic heaven. She plays much the the Guild DV's, but her voicing.....the depth, the mids, the high notes.....all just so pronounced. I've never played a guitar with mids like this, and the bass.....or Lord. This one is a D2HA.......the rosewood dread with the Adi top. I still like the action on my DV72 just a bit better, but I'm still tweaking this Collings. If you ever find one at a reasonable price......consider it. I've shopped them for quite a while, and this one just bit me. Hope all is well in Vegas my friend.

West

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

 

[GGJaguar]

When not being played, they stay in cases in a nuclear bomb-proof (humidity controlled) secret underground bunker.

 

[F312]

This is a case study of something to look into for sure.

Ralph

 

[awagner]

 

[richardp69]

I do believe you need some more guitars Andrew. I really, truly do.