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Double Bass Dampit Question

jaff

jaff

Jun 7, 2006
108
6
Arizona
#1
Where I live the humidity is often below 20% and at such times it seems reasonable to put a dampit in the upper f-holes.
Since I have a dedicated room for the bass, instead of zippping it up each night in the case, I've been covering the f-holes with a piece of soft clingy plastic from the drycleaners. Anyone see any harm in this?
 
#3
Do a search in the Setup section on dampits. IMO, one should just about never use a dampit. Do as Eric says. You'll also find a wealth of information on humidifiers, humidity controls, recommended levels, and on and on. I'll ask the mods to move this thread out of "Basses" to where it belongs.
 
#5
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
I always thought damage was caused by abrupt CHANGES in humidity rather than LOW humidity. Would a constant level of 20% humidity harm a bass? Just throwing the question out there rather than recommending anything.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that both rapid swings and extremes are bad. So, yes, a constant 20% would translate to dry wood and a substantially greater probability of cracking. That's what I've gleaned from the luthiers, anyway.
 
#6
Agree with - don't use dampits, rapid changes are bad, extremes are bad.

My general guideline - if I'm comfortable then so is my bass.
I recommend getting a digital hygrometer from Radio Shack. All analog ones I have used are either very inaccurate or require professional calibration.

For humidification, I use a nasal mist spray bottle and add a few puffs in the winter every other day or so...
 
#9
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
I always thought damage was caused by abrupt CHANGES in humidity rather than LOW humidity. Would a constant level of 20% humidity harm a bass? Just throwing the question out there rather than recommending anything.
Click to expand...

In addition to being more prone to cracking (the water gives it a little more flexibility),
I've noticed that instruments as they get drier tend to sound more harsh and brittle.
 
#10
Greg Clinkingbeard said:
I always thought damage was caused by abrupt CHANGES in humidity rather than LOW humidity. Would a constant level of 20% humidity harm a bass? Just throwing the question out there rather than recommending anything.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Wood remains hygroscopic forever, responding to changes in environmental conditions in an effort to maintain equilibrium with the environment. Rapid changes, high humidity, and construction methods that do not accommodate wood movement are more problematic than sustained relative humidity of 20%.
 
#11
The problem with dampits is that no matter how well you ring them out they drip. You are kind of in a no win situation, if you humidify a room to 40% and the bass never leaves then you're golden, but to have a sudden drop of 20% humidity is no better than leaving it in 20% humidity IMHO. Maybe humidify to 30% as a good compromise, and find a good bass luthier in the area to help advise you and to fix cracks quickly if they occur.
 
#12
Also realize that seams are meant to open up. String instruments are glued with 'just enough' glue to hold them together but to also allow the seam to open rather than being so glued that the top or back cracks. People freak out when a seam opens up but it's such a simple repair and that means a luthier did their job. They're not meant to be slathered with glue and permanently sealed - this is why high quality hyde glue is used. It's a water soluble glue. That also allows luthiers to easily (or somewhat easily) open an instrument up to do work on the inside.

A lesson I've learned the hard way - take all that time worrying about the humidity, and just practice! :)
 

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