If you’re a guitarist, SoCal can be a tough place to live. Sure we’ve got the sunshine, the warm winters, the beautiful sunsets; but try keeping your pride and joy in top playing condition out here. It’s, like, work and stuff!
So, “What’s the big deal,” you ask? Well, that “dry heat” that our region of the country is famous for? It’s murder on acoustic guitars. Humidity is a key ingredient in keeping your axe in top shape, and it’s a commodity that these environs are damned short of.
See, when it dries up outside (as it has today), the pulpy part of the wood in your guitar contracts. Since guitars are made primarily of wood and glue, contracting wood pulp can make all kinds of exciting things happen. Bridges can pop off unexpectedly, bracings can come loose, and the wood itself can crack if you let it go too long. Even with only mild dryness, the tone of your instrument can suffer as the top will sink, altering the acoustic response of the instrument.
And I’d got my prized Gibson J-45 just sitting in the parlor. Drying up like fig. Damned criminal, I tell you.
Continue reading ‘And they say Southern California doesn’t have weather…’
