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To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
This applies to all instruments but I raise the question as a result of an earlier discussion where a flute maker instructed that their flutes be kept in their special airtight box to keep them humid. I have seen a flute come out of its case with mould inside the head and it’s not a pleasant sight, the thought of playing a flute that is/was mouldy sends a shiver through me. I always reassemble my Hammy flute when I get home from a session so that it can dry out properly and I leave it out and ready play for when the muse strikes.
Is it a case of doctors differ patients die? I admit that I live in nice humid Ireland and other climates must play havoc with instruments. What do you do? Do any of you players of any instrument leave the instrument out or in the case between plays and why?
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I sometimes keep my harp out of its case - not because of humidity or anything else, but because I'm more likely to practise it when it's "there" and available as opposed to when I have to get it out of its case first.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I keep my flute in the case - that's what the maker suggested. I'm more bothered about changes in temperature from central heating etc. But I'm very particular about cleaning with a 'pull through' every time I put my flute away.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Guitar and mandolin always within reach of the computer sitting on upright stands or wall brackets, but the fiddle stays in its case until I am ready to give it my undivided attention.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
My flute maker admonishes me to keep it in a plastic box and I have faithfully done so until recently. I can see the value in keeping it humid, but I can't see why it can't be kept assembled for a day or two if I'm in a mood to play often. If I play it often, isn't it staying humid?
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I usually pack my smallpipes in the case between plays because first of all, they do not need a whole lot of moisture to play, and secondly, I do not want one of our cats to sleep on it/cover it in cat hair.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Fairly humid Austria: I always keep it in the box, dissasembled, but i often open the box so it can dry a little (as I said, this is not too dangerous). However I was instructed that the most important thing to do concerning taking care is swapping it out whenever I disassemble it, and this seems to be a very sound advice.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I also wonder about this. Luthiers say an atmosphere of about 30% humidity is best for wooden instruments. Used to keep the fiddles in cases, now I hang them out on a wall rack.
Tried shelving them, open, on edge, on a closet shelf. Casing them is the most stable. But the wall rack gives me immediate accessibility for playing and making comparisons, and I enjoy looking at them. Good question !
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Doesn't it all depend on where you live? If I were in Ireland or some such humid land, I would probably leave my flute out, too. But, no, I live in the Mojave Desert. Leaving a wooden instrument out even for an evening has pretty devasting results, so mine are kept in cases religiously. My guitar gets a "dampit" remoistened at least twice a week just to keep from drying out!
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Most of my stuff - pipes, fiddles, guitars and flute - live outside the case. My theory is that they do better with gradually changing conditions as opposed to sudden changes in the environment. It also helps to play them every day. That's just my theory, but it seems to work for me.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Bill, that might work in Indiana, but here in Montana, the relative humidity can swing from 10% to 98% and back again in half a day. A case with consistent humidity is the only way flutes and fiddles can survive intact here.
I'd keep mine in a case anyway, out of harm's way from two teenage boys, a dog, and two cats....
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I keep my good mandolins in their cases mostly, as someone else mentioned, to protect them from being stepped on, knocked into, having something dropped on them or covered with pet fur. I keep my silver lfute in its case from habit. But I have found that out of sight is out of mind. that's how i ended up seriously damaging my bowlback mando -- put it in its case all nice and strung in tune and forgot about it for 20 years. Now that I'm practicing and playing regularly, I don't have that issue, but I can't tell you the last time I took out my flute. I think the case is under the couch.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
When I visited Pat Olwell many years ago, I noticed that he had a humidified wood and glass case where he kept flute barrels and head joints as handy as on the wall. i don't know if that is still his way, but it made sense to me at the time, and it looked nice as well.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
They are those little bugs that like to chew on bow hair. I had a bow that was in a case for a while, when I took it out and used it, the hair was really fragile, breaking alot. I was told that it was bow mites and to open my cases to the sunshine. Mothballs also gets rid of them. While my bows were getting rehaired, I vacuumed out the cases, left them open. Haven't had problems since then.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I always say, A good case is the best insurance you can have for any instrument. But it can't do its job if its not used. My rule of thumb is, when not being played, the instrument should be in the case. if you close the lid, latch it. otherwise leave it open. (I've seen people dump their ax on the floor picking up a closed but unlatched case. I see no problem leaving an instrument out on a sturdy stand if the humidity is between 40% to 70% (and there are no curious animals about.) I'm not a wind player i remember from band class that any wind instrument should be swabbed after every play. (honestly, after reading this and the post about flute mites, I don't know how you people can play those things.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
My fussy Martin stays in the case, with a humidifying noodle thing. Everything else gets exposed to the air of the house which is pretty dry all year around because of gas heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
We have steam heat that destroys instuments in the winter here in Chicago. Relative humidity in the house is at 5% usually.
And during the summer, it can range from 25-30% to close to 100%.
Herself and I and Her St. Bernard are all that live in the house these days with the sweet young things all having fled the nest.
If the weather is decent, I keep it out of the case. But when the humidity goes wild on a front coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, or when the heat goes on, It is in my case just like the guy at Rhomba Brothers accordion school told me in 1957.
Pity my grand piano though. I can have it tuned and within a couple of weeks-sometimes even within a couple of days- it will go out of tune a bit or sometimes worse if the humidity gets really high.
Four tunings per year is not enough on the piano sadly.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
oops. Second paragraph. I play the box. Have a wood action box and a metal action Saltarelle. The wood action box took about a year's worth of service/adjustments before it did not react badly to the humidity changes.
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
The only time my fiddle goes in the case is when I'm taking it somewhere. But, that sbecause I play it constantly throughout the day and it's annoying to keep having to put back in the case. So it mostly sits on top of the case, in the stand or other places in the house, like on my bed, the table, computer desk...
I just got my bodhran, so it doesn't have a case yet. And our guitar is mostly in the case because I only play it every now and then.
To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
This applies to all instruments but I raise the question as a result of an earlier discussion where a flute maker instructed that their flutes be kept in their special airtight box to keep them humid. I have seen a flute come out of its case with mould inside the head and it’s not a pleasant sight, the thought of playing a flute that is/was mouldy sends a shiver through me. I always reassemble my Hammy flute when I get home from a session so that it can dry out properly and I leave it out and ready play for when the muse strikes.
Is it a case of doctors differ patients die? I admit that I live in nice humid Ireland and other climates must play havoc with instruments. What do you do? Do any of you players of any instrument leave the instrument out or in the case between plays and why?
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by gtag
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I sometimes keep my harp out of its case - not because of humidity or anything else, but because I'm more likely to practise it when it's "there" and available as opposed to when I have to get it out of its case first.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I keep my flute in the case - that's what the maker suggested. I'm more bothered about changes in temperature from central heating etc. But I'm very particular about cleaning with a 'pull through' every time I put my flute away.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by mehere
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Guitar and mandolin always within reach of the computer sitting on upright stands or wall brackets, but the fiddle stays in its case until I am ready to give it my undivided attention.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Donough
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
My flute maker admonishes me to keep it in a plastic box and I have faithfully done so until recently. I can see the value in keeping it humid, but I can't see why it can't be kept assembled for a day or two if I'm in a mood to play often. If I play it often, isn't it staying humid?
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I usually pack my smallpipes in the case between plays because first of all, they do not need a whole lot of moisture to play, and secondly, I do not want one of our cats to sleep on it/cover it in cat hair.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by celtpipes
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Fairly humid Austria: I always keep it in the box, dissasembled, but i often open the box so it can dry a little (as I said, this is not too dangerous). However I was instructed that the most important thing to do concerning taking care is swapping it out whenever I disassemble it, and this seems to be a very sound advice.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by TMB
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I also wonder about this. Luthiers say an atmosphere of about 30% humidity is best for wooden instruments. Used to keep the fiddles in cases, now I hang them out on a wall rack.
Tried shelving them, open, on edge, on a closet shelf. Casing them is the most stable. But the wall rack gives me immediate accessibility for playing and making comparisons, and I enjoy looking at them. Good question !
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by hauke
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Keeping one's fiddle case open, or the instrument out, especially the bow, wards off bow mites. So I've heard.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by wyogal
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Doesn't it all depend on where you live? If I were in Ireland or some such humid land, I would probably leave my flute out, too. But, no, I live in the Mojave Desert. Leaving a wooden instrument out even for an evening has pretty devasting results, so mine are kept in cases religiously. My guitar gets a "dampit" remoistened at least twice a week just to keep from drying out!
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Dianeg
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Most of my stuff - pipes, fiddles, guitars and flute - live outside the case. My theory is that they do better with gradually changing conditions as opposed to sudden changes in the environment. It also helps to play them every day. That's just my theory, but it seems to work for me.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Bill Reeder
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Bill, that might work in Indiana, but here in Montana, the relative humidity can swing from 10% to 98% and back again in half a day. A case with consistent humidity is the only way flutes and fiddles can survive intact here.
I'd keep mine in a case anyway, out of harm's way from two teenage boys, a dog, and two cats....
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
You should keep a bodhoran in its case - especially during a session due to danger of increased risk of knife crime.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I keep my good mandolins in their cases mostly, as someone else mentioned, to protect them from being stepped on, knocked into, having something dropped on them or covered with pet fur. I keep my silver lfute in its case from habit. But I have found that out of sight is out of mind. that's how i ended up seriously damaging my bowlback mando -- put it in its case all nice and strung in tune and forgot about it for 20 years. Now that I'm practicing and playing regularly, I don't have that issue, but I can't tell you the last time I took out my flute. I think the case is under the couch.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Mandogal
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
When I visited Pat Olwell many years ago, I noticed that he had a humidified wood and glass case where he kept flute barrels and head joints as handy as on the wall. i don't know if that is still his way, but it made sense to me at the time, and it looked nice as well.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by windybaer
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
OK, what are bow mites?
(I'm good at being the dumb one)
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by Loisen
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
Boehmites? People who believe in the superiority of Boehm flutes, of course.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
They are those little bugs that like to chew on bow hair. I had a bow that was in a case for a while, when I took it out and used it, the hair was really fragile, breaking alot. I was told that it was bow mites and to open my cases to the sunshine. Mothballs also gets rid of them. While my bows were getting rehaired, I vacuumed out the cases, left them open. Haven't had problems since then.
# Posted on August 10th 2008 by wyogal
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
I always say, A good case is the best insurance you can have for any instrument. But it can't do its job if its not used. My rule of thumb is, when not being played, the instrument should be in the case. if you close the lid, latch it. otherwise leave it open. (I've seen people dump their ax on the floor picking up a closed but unlatched case. I see no problem leaving an instrument out on a sturdy stand if the humidity is between 40% to 70% (and there are no curious animals about.) I'm not a wind player i remember from band class that any wind instrument should be swabbed after every play. (honestly, after reading this and the post about flute mites, I don't know how you people can play those things.
# Posted on August 11th 2008 by greybeardd
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
My fussy Martin stays in the case, with a humidifying noodle thing. Everything else gets exposed to the air of the house which is pretty dry all year around because of gas heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.
# Posted on August 11th 2008 by AlBrown
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
We have steam heat that destroys instuments in the winter here in Chicago. Relative humidity in the house is at 5% usually.
And during the summer, it can range from 25-30% to close to 100%.
Herself and I and Her St. Bernard are all that live in the house these days with the sweet young things all having fled the nest.
If the weather is decent, I keep it out of the case. But when the humidity goes wild on a front coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, or when the heat goes on, It is in my case just like the guy at Rhomba Brothers accordion school told me in 1957.
Pity my grand piano though. I can have it tuned and within a couple of weeks-sometimes even within a couple of days- it will go out of tune a bit or sometimes worse if the humidity gets really high.
Four tunings per year is not enough on the piano sadly.
# Posted on August 11th 2008 by zippydw
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
oops. Second paragraph. I play the box. Have a wood action box and a metal action Saltarelle. The wood action box took about a year's worth of service/adjustments before it did not react badly to the humidity changes.
# Posted on August 11th 2008 by zippydw
Re: To keep or not to keep - an instrument in or out of its case between plays.
The only time my fiddle goes in the case is when I'm taking it somewhere. But, that sbecause I play it constantly throughout the day and it's annoying to keep having to put back in the case. So it mostly sits on top of the case, in the stand or other places in the house, like on my bed, the table, computer desk...
I just got my bodhran, so it doesn't have a case yet. And our guitar is mostly in the case because I only play it every now and then.
# Posted on August 15th 2008 by keelin