Got a potato chip problem on a braced top

[Dave Bagwill]

I think I know those words too

[peter havriluk]

I think each of us has an inventory of magic words, often used in an ascending order of profundity in sync with the seriousness of the provocation.

[Dave Bagwill]

Well said Peter! lol

[bftobin]

May be it's just me, but 35% humidity sounds very low. I guess it depends on where you live or where the guitar will be going.
I try to stay between 42% and 48%, and maybe a little higher if the guitar is going to an area like the US northeast.

Brent

[peter havriluk]

I live in Connecrticut and I'm running central heat seven months of the year. I don't see a problem building in a generally-stable 35% humidity environment. Makes more intuitive sense to me than grinding away at the magical 40%. Magical for who? And why? I think the righteous arguments are begging the question, not answering it. I think building for the ambient environment makes more sense than quoting some 'rule'. I am also willing to be enlightened to see the error of my ways.

[Herman]

I think that in general terms, you better build on the drier side. Most guitar-crack-problems occur when humidity is low. Not when it is wet.
Herman

[bftobin]

I don't believe there is a magic number for for humidity. Where I am, I'm using a humidifier to stay in the mid-40 range because June through September the humidity can often be 80-90%. Without my humidifier, I'm down to 20% or less in the winter. Staying in the midrange between the extremes has kept things pretty stable. I don't know how high the humidity swings are where you are. It doesn't take more than a 20% shift for a softwood like spruce to expand or contract noticeable. As I said in my earlier post, it really depends on your area.

Brent