Need Advice (storage)

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CajunGoo

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So guys, I just found out that I got into the school that I have been hoping to go to, no I am not some 18 year old kid but with how bad the economy is and at the point where I have the money to go back to school, being single, and needing to change what I am doing why not? Well here is the thing. I am planning on only bringing my acoustic and entrusting my custom in the care of my brother who doesn't even play. So besides detuning the guitar a bit and removing any grime before letting set up on the guitar for a few months does anyone have any advice on proper storage of a les paul.... and of course it will stay in its case. Any advice is welcome.
 

Tim Plains

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Anywhere indoors should do.
Rule is, if you're (or your brother is) comfortable, the guitar is comfortable.
Do you really need to detune it? It's only for a few months...
 

BOBBO

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Maybe a new set of strings before you put it away so you don't come back to crusty strings ... I don't think tuning it down is really needed :hmm: Just don't store it near a heat vent and you'll be fine !!! :thumb:
 

dspelman

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Go online to The Rust Store (The Rust Store - Solutions for All Rust Problems) and pick up a VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor). It should run you under $10. Toss that into the case. Don't detune your guitar much (Take it down a step?).

I have some big old fabric laundry bags that i've soaked in a 5% solution of permethrin and then allowed to dry. The case goes in the laundry bag (this takes care of termites and silverfish), the whole mess goes in a black garbage bag and that gets taped up. If your brother can store it where it won't get too humid and won't get too hot it should be just fine when you get back. You may have to re-humdifiy it (get it back to about 45-50% humidity) when you get back, but that will be it.
 

Morphine

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As with my all guitars, I recommend you to put a sheet of paper between the strings and the fretboard so the strings don't rust and start to screw the frets and fretboard. A new set of strings if nice, but pass some string conditioner like fast fret to keep the humidity away for a longer time.

Another thing is some bags of silica gel inside the case ! Maybe 200gr or 300gr do the trick. Just try to put some before the trip and wait because the first ones got "wet" very fast (like 5 days) and when you change these first bags the others may hold for few months.

And lately but not less important ... how's the temperature and humidity level in your area ? Maybe its a good idea to put some higrometer and a dehumidifier to keep the humidity at control.

Other than that ... try to keep the area well ventilated and off from direct sunlight.

Cheers and have a nice trip !

Morphz
 

dspelman

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The problem with humidity and long-term storage is that unless you put your guitar in some humidity and temperature controlled vault, it's just going to change. In Los Angeles, the problem is almost never too much humidity, but too little. It's essentially a desert, and by the time you add air conditioning, with all the moisture that sucks out of the air, you're looking at a dry, crispy climate. Morph has a different problem -- parts of Brazil rarely drop below 100% humidity. If you live in Iowa, you go from weather that's well below zero (F) and completely dry to well above 100 and 100% humidity. No way to prepare for much of anything.
 

CajunGoo

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I live in michigan and the guitar is going to be stored in a closet in house the has ac and heat as well as a humidifier unit (tied into the heating system). I like the idea of the silica gel packets and putting some butchers paper in between the strings and the fretboard. Good advice guys, keep it coming.
 

duane v

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Don't know what type of guitar case you have, but I had my 80 LPC stored away for about 20 years, and it was stored away with the blue lined chainsaw case. When I removed the guitar from its case, the blue lining dye etched itself on the edges of the guitar finish. I couldn't remove it and I had my Luthier re-buff the whole guitar.... He had to use compound is some areas to get it all off.

Knowing what I know now, I would wrap it in something white colored or cellophane and poke breathing holes.
 

dspelman

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Don't know what type of guitar case you have, but I had my 80 LPC stored away for about 20 years, and it was stored away with the blue lined chainsaw case. When I removed the guitar from its case, the blue lining dye etched itself on the edges of the guitar finish. I couldn't remove it and I had my Luthier re-buff the whole guitar.... He had to use compound is some areas to get it all off.

Knowing what I know now, I would wrap it in something white colored or cellophane and poke breathing holes.

This is typical of nitro finishes, actually -- and you can avoid or diminish that if you give the finish a good waxing (carnauba) before storing it. Newer guitars are more prone to that than older ones. And some plastics and glues give off chemicals that cloud and soften nitro finishes as well. One early '80's guitar has a pickguard that, if stored on the guitar in the case for a period of time, gives off a gas that clouds the finish, and collectors have learned to look for evidence of that. Celluloid (made of the same basic stuff as nitrocellulose lacquer) pickguards can really rot impressively. Here's an excerpt from Gary Brawer's blog...

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