Help choosing "Everyday" guitar /Humidity issues.

[acbert]

Here's my issue. I have a 814ce that I love but it spends its life in the case for humidity reasons. I want to have a guitar that I can keep on a stand in the living room to play at a moments notice. Say for 3min. while waiting on the wife to go somewhere. You get the idea.

Currently I have an all laminate 1982 Yamaha acoustic that serves this purpose but the frets are very worn and it's not very easy to play. It's not worth putting $ into (paid $200 in 1982)

I was thinking a GS mini would be perfect but I assume the low winter and high summer humidity will not be good for it (Louisville, KY) 

Would it be OK to put it back in the gig bag for a day or so every week or two to bring up or down the humidity, or is that not enough to prevent damage? 

Your thoughts and suggestions are greatly anticipated.

[azslacker]

I live in the desert, so instruments stay in their cases.  Fact of life in my house, cases are scattered about. I often do just what you mention. Play for very short times, sometimes. The parlor stays behind the couch, 312 by the dining table, GS-Mini and a bariton uke in another room. Takes just a second to open a case. Lucky for me that my wife quilts, a lot, so we each tolerate the others stuff lying about.

[Strumming Fool]

Perhaps you could find a less expensive (probably used) composite material guitar, that is not vulnerable to climate changes - Ovation, Rainsong, Composite brands immediately come to mind. There may be less expensive ones out there - not sure....even laminated back/sides guitars usually have solid tops that are susceptible to temperature/humidity conditions.

[Earl]

GS Mini has a solid top, so is also vulnerable to low humidity issues.  Your laminated top Yamaha is a good candidate.  Some re-fret work and a good setup - part of the same process - might be the best bet, unless you are looking for something different.  You can probably get the first 5-7 frets done for a reasonable price (we cannot discuss pricing here, even for something like that).  If a re-fret it is not worth doing, maybe look for an all laminate replacement such as another Yamaha, Seagull, Recording King or something similar.  The suggestion for an entry level used Ovation is good too, if they work for you.

When I lived in Alaska and struggled to get the indoor RH up to 20% in the winter, our solution was a Rainsong carbon fiber guitar, which has become my favorite in part because it can live on a wall hanger.  Not cheap, but very nice.  BTW, I rarely see any CF instrument even used for less than two GS Mini's.   There are no "inexpensive" CF guitars.

[Frettingflyer]

I have traveled a lot with my 2010 GS Mini and never brought humidipaks on my trips. The house is at roughly 40-45% RH in the winter with a humidifier working, but the airplane is very dry as are some of the "garden spots" I get to visit. With my newer Minis I decided to worry about humidification and have treaveled with humidification.
However, during three years of not keeping the mini humidified while traveling I never had an issue. It was very stable, even going from Buffalo to the Caribbean and back. I could see risking it with the mini, but keep an eye on it for issues. Maybe a couple days in the case during the work week? I am going to try the same idea with a mini to encourage my wife to try playing.
As for the Carbon Fiber, that would be the way to go. I played many models at LA Guitars a while back and am hoping to be able to afford a Rainsong as my ultimate "travel" guitar. Like Earl said though, there don't seem to be any "cheap" CF guitars out there.
Good luck.

[Christhee68]

When I got my 314ce last year I was very concerned with humidity/lack thereof and kept it in the case all the time with the Humidipaks in it. Then I bought a couple of hygrometers and put them in my music room. I learned that the humidity in my house generally ranges from 45-55% so now it sits on a stand where I grab it and play every time I walk by.

[acbert]

Thanks everyone!! 

I might go look at the lower $ Yamaha's. Yes the do have solid tops but for the price it won't be a big risk should I have any problems.

Thanks again!!

[gruuv]

This may be considered blasphemy here, but I bought a Martin LXM on Craigslist earlier this year for $xxx.  It's all laminate and sounds really good for the smaller size and lack o' wood.  I took the thing camping in September and it rained most of the time and got into the low 40's a few nights while being in the mid-70's during the day.  It stayed in a gig bag at night but lived outside most of the day and it's been champ.  Worth considering, in my opinion.


$ pricing

[Stringband Eric]

My 320 sits on a stand next to the couch year round.  In winter will either use an Oasis or Lifeguard humidifier. 

One of the nice things about a hardwood topped guitar is it is slightly less likely to split.  Doesn't mean it can't or won't, just seems to me to be less frequent.  That's another reason why I've thought about getting a GS Mini in all mahogany.

[acbert]

Went to Guitar Center this evening and tried many guitars.

While I want to like the GS mini I just cant.  Maybe I'm just used to the sound of a full sized guitar but they just don't sound good to my ears.

I liked the Yamaha FG720S.  It sounded FULL and for $xxx I seems reasonable  The only catch was the vast difference in the two guitars they had.  One buzzed on many frets, the other didn't buzz but had very high action.  This is a small sample but makes me wonder if its a shot in the dark as far as my chances of getting a good one.  Seems silly to have to pay for a set-up on a $xxx guitar.


 $ Pricing

[azslacker]

At the price of those Yamaha's, the first thing I would think is, it sure will take some setup, to play right.  I didn't take to the sound of GS-Mini's when I first played a couple. Now, mine is my go-to guitar for everyday play.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 acbert, I suggest purchasing a hygrometer. Your 814ce would probably spend less time in it's case if you knew the actual RH% of your living room. My house stays around 45%-60% RH most of the year. Not much to worry about. Winter is the exception. I use Humidipaks for the winter months once the RH drops a bit below 40% inside of my house. YMMV.

[George]

.... I want to have a guitar that I can keep on a stand in the living room to play at a moments notice. Say for 3min. while waiting on the wife to go somewhere....

I have an almost identical requirement, although my 816ce stays in its case because I have two young children and a dog - I won't mention which is worse :-)

I have an old Yamaha APX that I haven't played for a long time.  I decided to blow off the dust and see if it was OK as my "on-demand" guitar.  Even after an overhaul and a new set of strings, it still sounded dreadful - I couldn't wait to put it back in it's case again!  I guess I've been spoiled by my 816.

My solution?  Well I'm waiting for delivery of a lovely new Koa Mini...

[Earl]

As George said, you are probably spoiled by an 814 Taylor and no guitar of this price will sound nearly as good.  You should really investigate fretwork and set up on your old known guitar.  (You've never mentioned pursuing that further but I understand the need for new).

Purely by chance, I stopped into the local GC yesterday for the first time in nearly two years and played a Yamaha FS700, folk size not the FG700 dreadnought.  It played well and had decent tone.  It sounded OK but you could tell that it was an inexpensive small bodied laminate guitar.  The set up was good overall and I would be happy with playability as is.  But if you didn't care for the GS Mini, really enjoying the lesser Yamaha's seems unlikely.

[ctkarslake]

I know you've probably had your fill of the Yamaha...but wasn't $200 a pretty good, meaning higher, price for a guitar back then, in 1981?  What do those guitars go for these days?  Was it considered a decent instrument back in the day?  I would seriously consider getting it worked on.

As far as Taylors and humidity goes, I've never really taken "good" care of my 1992 410 (or any of my Taylors for that matter), lived in Chicago through brutal winters and 104 degree summers.  Never had an issue, never humidified, rarely in it's case etc.  The guitar is a beast!  I had no idea how to properly take care of it but it's still kicking big time despite my neglect.  I think guitars are a lot more forgiving than we give them credit for.