Humidity and the completed guitar

[ken cierp]

Here's a great cause and effect article --

http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdf ... t_hits.pdf

[hikermike]

Thank you very much for this article particularly as it's a pdf so can print it out and put in my notebook and not hasve to install a computer in my workshop to constantly check on.

[hikermike]

Also, after reading 2 articles quickly, (did I miss the obvious?), why are the fret ends sharpened when it's too dry?

[Bob Matthews]

Also, after reading 2 articles quickly, (did I miss the obvious?), why are the fret ends sharpened when it's too dry?

Because the fretboard shrinks a little width wise when it's dry and the frets don't.

Here's another interesting article from Larrivee http://www.larrivee.com/features/humidity.php excuse me if this has been posted before.

Bob

[davidw]

hello there, I'm new to the forum, great stuff. I live in a low humidity area, high desert west of the rockies, and have been wondering if any kind of sealer or finish applied to the inside of a guitar during construction would help with humidity issues, as well as just make for a stronger instrument. any thoughts?

[ken cierp]

Hi David,

Welcome!

Constructing a guitar in low RH and then moving it to a higher humidity enviroment is usually not a problem except for set-up/playability issues. When a guitar is glued up when there is a lot of excess moisture content in the wood serious problems can occur when the guitar is used in a low RH environment --- the wood shrinks and cracks occur. So from the start, your situation is far better the a person building guitars in say Florida or Louisiana.

As for coating the inside -- I believe the general consensus is that it does not help much in preventing the wood from (I think the term is) attaining equilibrium. Its organic and it going to do the natural thing.

That said I do know at one time, maybe even now the top of the line Alvarez Yari's had the interiors lacquered and one of the claims was exactly in line with your question.

[davidw]

thanks for the input, I may try a coating just for fun.