| Author | Message | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 362 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hollis - in an effort to avoid completely hijacking Tom's Pele thread in the Skylark Showcase, I'll reply here. First of all, and once again, glad to have you around the club. It's great to hear that you're still enchanted by your Skylark. Mine has a spell over me too. Until this week I haven't really played anything else for the last year - I'm pretty spoiled. On Monday I sent the Ghost Crow back to make the Mothership Connection. Nothing major, it's just in for a 30,000 mile service, so to speak. Mica mentioned that it needed a little counseling. Actually, I believe the dry desert air seems to have caused some shrinking of the wood, particularly the fretboard - perhaps a bit more rapidly than normal. Even after attempting the recommended adjustments myself, we felt the loving hands at Alembic should give her a little TLC. She should be back in Nevada in no time. Can't tell you how much I miss playing that guitar.  Tom | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 745 Registered: 9-2002 |
Tom A friend of mine is moving from Cincinatti to Vegas shortly, and taking a nice half-dozen GOOD acoustics (Taylor 914, D35, Gibson Montana J200, etc.), and I'm REAL concerned that after living all of their lives basking in Great Lakes humidity, they're gonna go NUTS as the Vegas weather dries them out. He's already got a room with a humidifier waiting on them, but . . . am I right in considering this a shock to their equilibriums? J o e y | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 364 Registered: 7-2004 |
Joey - I think as long as your friend keeps humidifiers in the cases there shouldn't really be anything to be alarmed about. I have a Martin D-18 that I bought new in Illinois in the early eighties. It's traveled all around the country with me and has spent the last 19 years in Southern Nevada. It has adapted. The top is flat, the neck is true, and it sounds great. I have other instruments, including an autoharp, violin, and other guitars that have made the transition without a problem. I don't have a humidifier in my house, though I have kept humidifiers in the cases of the instruments requiring it. I have spoken to many guitar players out here and they seem to say the same thing. The instruments adapt with basic care. My Skylark may have been a bit more sensitive, but I'm sure it will be fine. (Message edited by tom_z on April 21, 2006) | ||
| zuperdog
Junior Username: zuperdog Post Number: 41 Registered: 11-2005 |
When I moved from the bay area to the dry Sierras, I was worried about my guitars. I have several very nice acoustics, as well as an archtop. I talked to several luthiers, and the advice I got was to keep them in the cases for a few days after moving them, and keep them humidified and cased when not playing them. Everything made the transition fine, and after a few minor adjustments several months later, all are playing well. The most movement I've noticed was with a new Les Paul I bought last year. With the wood being so freshly cut and worked, I guess it had a more drastic adjustment, but it has since settled in fine. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 747 Registered: 9-2002 |
That's one thing I've learned that I had truly never considered: Older guitars are MUCH less 'finicky' environmnet-wise than new. Those several years for the sap and grain and finish to meld and dry and settle into middle age is not to be underestimated. My basses range from the mid-80s to 1991. I've never experienced big 'fits' with any of them with hot or cold weather, wet or dry. They NEVER spend the night or the day in a hot or cold car, but past that I don't baby them. Well, yeah, I do . . . like Susan told me, you never leave them anywhere YOU wouldn't be comfortable. They've all realized they're not a tree anymore, my favorite Mrs. Wickersham Thomas (NON hyphenated) quote. J o e y | ||
| hollis
Senior Member Username: hollis Post Number: 651 Registered: 11-2003 |
Tom, Thanks for moving me into the right thread. And thanks to everyone else for their humidity insights, I've been spending a great deal of time between Calaveras County, California, and my home in Washington State, so the humidity issues are very relevant. Well here goes.... As some of you are aware, I spent much of last year helping my father take care of my mother. God is nothing if not imbued with a keen sense of irony, and in keeping, my mother began recovering from several strokes and a staph infection in her heart...... when my father unexpectedly passed away on November 1st, last year. The good news was that we had a few days notice, and I was already at their home. My father died at home, in bed, surrounded by his family, all of whom where able to say goodbye to him before he had to go. I was the luckiest of three children, I had the great fortune to have several days when we were both aware of his impending departure, so I got to spend precious hours caring for him, talking with him and singing to him.... I’ll never forget the smile on his face while I sang Box of Rain. My father was a wonderful man who touched all who knew him. I was honored to be one of his sons. Needless to say, my mother is not able to carry on alone, so, over the past several months, my brother and I have been leap frogging between our homes and my mom’s. She’s getting better every day.... and for that and so much more, I am thankful. One word of insight..... Hold dear those loved ones alive. Let them know how much they mean to you, you may not have another chance..... Take care, Hollis | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 366 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hollis - I'm deeply sorry to hear of your loss. Your post was very touching. It's comforting to be able to spend a few precious moments with a loved one prior to their passing. Running over the lyrics to Box of Rain in my mind while reading your post brought a tear to my eye. My prayers are with you and your family. Best of luck as you bounce back and forth between California and Washington. Hope you're able to check in here from time to time. "Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there." Peace, Tom | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3694 Registered: 5-2002 |
Nice post Hollis. As Tom did, I found it quite moving. Thanks. | ||
| hollis
Senior Member Username: hollis Post Number: 653 Registered: 11-2003 |
Tom and Dave, Thanks guys.... |
