Talk to me about guitar cases

shaunf

Hi all,

I find myself in a position where I'm not able to spend as much time playing guitar as I used to, what with a year old son, and another one on the way in a couple of weeks. Often my guitar will sit for months without being taken out of the case.

Now the problem I've noticed is that everytime I do take it out, it's covered in mould. I live in a particularly damp part of Durban, and I'm terrified this mould is going to damage the guitar, not to mention the fact that there's obviously moisture getting into the current case, which is allowing the mould to develop.

I would like to be able to store the guitar better so that mould and damp don't end up damaging it, and am happy to buy a new case or try some alternative way of storing it. The guitar is a 1995 Gibson Les Paul Studio, my pride and joy.

Any assistance you learned guys could give me would be much appreciated.

doc-phil

You know those packs of crystal things that come in shoe boxes that say 'Do not eat'? They almost look like lil salt packets? U coulda maybe chuck some of those in your case to soak up some moisture. That would at best be a temporary solution but its the only thing that I could think of! ?

AlanRatcliffe

The proper moulded ('scuse the pun!) cases from SKB and Hiscox, etc. should do the job.

Before you put the guitar in the new case, remove the strings and wipe down the fingerboard quickly with bleach in water (1:10) to kill off the mould spores. Then leave in the sun for a couple of hours, turning at least once, which will not only remove the water but help kill any remaining spores. Finally oil the fingerboard and polish the guitar thoroughly before putting it in the new case. Keep silica gel packets in the case to keep the air inside dry.

shaunf

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Alan!

vic

doc-phil wrote You know those packs of crystal things that come in shoe boxes that say 'Do not eat'? They almost look like lil salt packets? U coulda maybe chuck some of those in your case to soak up some moisture. That would at best be a temporary solution but its the only thing that I could think of! ?

As Alan says above....the stuff is called silica gel....available at pharmacies. It absorbs water vapour.