I keep my mandolin in the case all the time, which means that I rarely play it. I'm thinking of buying a stand, the idea being that I'll be more likely to pick up the instrument the odd time during the day.
However, some people seem to think that keeping an instrument in the open air is a bad idea, presumably because of variations in humidity and temperature. The room I use seems to be fairly stable.
I think whether you rarely play it or not has little to do with where you keep it ! As for changes in temp and humidity, this is not a problem in Ireland which according to your bio is where you are, unless you are living in a tent and there would still not be a humidity problem as far as instruments are concerned
If you are leading a busy life and need to take any opportunity to play/practise you get, I think it is really helpful to leave the instrument out, set up and ready to go. It needs to be safe (out of the sun, not next to radiator etc) but accessible. (Starting to sound like a Viz Top Tip here.)
I have five fiddles and two mandolins that hang on the wall and all are perfectly fine. The fiddle I use the most sits in the case with the top of the case open. They are such beautiful instruments why not display them if you can without exposing them to being knocked over......or sat on.
I would have thought that the instrument would be more at risk in the case. I have several fiddles and guitars and sets of pipes on shelves and hooks and stands all over the house, where they are always to hand. Except the highland pipes, which ten to moulder in their case under the bed. I have a dehumidifier which keeps the atmosphere of the house within a reasonable range, and that stops the strings going rusty and the glue dissolving. Take it out and keep it nearby. Put it next to the toilet, or the kettle, or the microwave, or wherever you may have an idle few minutes. At least then it will get played.
If your instrument needs humidifying, that’s more efficiently done in the case (with a humidifier, of course). If it’s going to be exposed to rapid changes in temperature or humidity, it’s better off in a case. Otherwise, I’d rather have it readily available to play.
Leaving a wooden flute assembled for prolonged periods between bouts of playing may not be a good idea - joints tend to swell during playing (where the wood is thinnest) and in my experience, these places also need some time to dry out again afterwards, i.e. disassembled - in the case is also ok. Assembling the flute takes less than a minute - more important to me is that the flute in its case is readily to hand. If I have to fish it out of a cupboard, or out from under thebed then it is less likely to be played.
Note, this does not preclude leaving the flute assembled for several hours, picking it up irregularly for a toot while primarily doing something else. Just that the flute goes back in its case at the end of it all.
Not sure about violins or flutes, but this discussion is about mandolins. If you don't play much, maybe you should keep the mandolin in the case, especially in the winter. Potential problems do not have much to do with the weather in North West Europe. It's the central heating you have to worry about. This will dry out the air and your mandolin, especially if you have the heating on for long periods. A 'dry' mandolin can develop a warped neck and/or soundboard, leading to intonation and playing problems. Also if you keep the mandolin in the open air it will accumulate dust a lot faster. This will reduce the life of your strings.
That's the official advice anyway.
Having said all this I keep my mandolin out of the case nearly all the time because I play it a lot and rarely use the central heating. Never had any major problems!
I would suggest politely excusing yourself and go to the men's room or the nearest exit. If the tunes are particularly loud, or if you are seated next to the box player - sometimes you can sneak one out and no one will hear it.
It's a trick question! "I keep my mandolin in the case all the time" - in which case you never play it (unless you have drilled hand and finger holes through the case).
My mandolin lives out on a violin stand all year round. No problems with swelling etc. I live in Cornwall which probably has a similar climate to where you are (moist).
Pick the instrument up and play whenever I've a spare few minutes/hours.
I have a mandolin hanging in the ceiling of the workshop.
It is a chicken mandolin (it went cheep)
The front is sunk right in like a dish and all the glue joints are gone.
What should I do with it?
I was thinking I could swap it with anyone who leaves their mandolin in its case all the time, and then flog the good one.
Any takers?
"Put it next to the toilet, or the kettle, or the microwave, or wherever you may have an idle few minutes. At least then it will get played."
Thanks for this. I now know what to say when people ask if they can "just borrow my harmonica." I'll tell 'em I keep it on the U-bend, ready to play when I go in there. Next to my toothbrush. I think it's the only place in bathrooms where married men can find a space to put anything.
To air or not
To air or not
I keep my mandolin in the case all the time, which means that I rarely play it. I'm thinking of buying a stand, the idea being that I'll be more likely to pick up the instrument the odd time during the day.
However, some people seem to think that keeping an instrument in the open air is a bad idea, presumably because of variations in humidity and temperature. The room I use seems to be fairly stable.
Any thoughts?
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by amhrán
Re: To air or not
Did you ever hear of anyone being told not to play their instrument too much because exposing it to the open air is a bad idea?
Hang it on the wall where you won't knock it over by mistake.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: To air or not
Probably best not to play it in the stable, but hay.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by maxF
Re: To air or not
breathe,
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by mcknowall
Re: To air or not
I think whether you rarely play it or not has little to do with where you keep it ! As for changes in temp and humidity, this is not a problem in Ireland which according to your bio is where you are, unless you are living in a tent and there would still not be a humidity problem as far as instruments are concerned
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by concertinaplayer
Re: To air or not
Yeah, if yu live in a tent, don't hang it on the wall.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: To air or not
Upstairs In A Tent?
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by concertinaplayer
Re: To air or not
If you are leading a busy life and need to take any opportunity to play/practise you get, I think it is really helpful to leave the instrument out, set up and ready to go. It needs to be safe (out of the sun, not next to radiator etc) but accessible. (Starting to sound like a Viz Top Tip here.)
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by sashiko calico
Re: To air or not
To air is human. To play music is divine.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: To air or not
Ooh spooky ... just finished playing "Upstairs in a Tent" downstairs in a house with fiddle lain open in a fiddle case on a stable table
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by sashiko calico
Re: To air or not
Amhran,
I have five fiddles and two mandolins that hang on the wall and all are perfectly fine. The fiddle I use the most sits in the case with the top of the case open. They are such beautiful instruments why not display them if you can without exposing them to being knocked over......or sat on.
Mary
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Antikhntr
Re: To air or not
I would have thought that the instrument would be more at risk in the case. I have several fiddles and guitars and sets of pipes on shelves and hooks and stands all over the house, where they are always to hand. Except the highland pipes, which ten to moulder in their case under the bed. I have a dehumidifier which keeps the atmosphere of the house within a reasonable range, and that stops the strings going rusty and the glue dissolving. Take it out and keep it nearby. Put it next to the toilet, or the kettle, or the microwave, or wherever you may have an idle few minutes. At least then it will get played.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by gam
Re: To air or not
There was a previous discussion on a similar subject which may be of interest
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19609/comments#comment410338
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by cathycook
Re: To air or not
"......and that stops the strings going rusty and the glue dissolving. " (Gam)
....just out of interest, what kind of glue?
(I'll get my coat ! )
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by domnull
Re: To air or not
'Put it next to the toilet, or the kettle, or the microwave, or wherever you may have an idle few minutes. At least then it will get played.'
You play in the toilet? Wow!
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Beanstalk
Re: To air or not
If your instrument needs humidifying, that’s more efficiently done in the case (with a humidifier, of course). If it’s going to be exposed to rapid changes in temperature or humidity, it’s better off in a case. Otherwise, I’d rather have it readily available to play.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: To air or not
Leaving a wooden flute assembled for prolonged periods between bouts of playing may not be a good idea - joints tend to swell during playing (where the wood is thinnest) and in my experience, these places also need some time to dry out again afterwards, i.e. disassembled - in the case is also ok. Assembling the flute takes less than a minute - more important to me is that the flute in its case is readily to hand. If I have to fish it out of a cupboard, or out from under thebed then it is less likely to be played.
Note, this does not preclude leaving the flute assembled for several hours, picking it up irregularly for a toot while primarily doing something else. Just that the flute goes back in its case at the end of it all.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Crackpot
Re: To air or not
Since you live in damp Dublin, your mando will be fine out of its case.
Anywhere arid though, and you'd be prone to cracks and other problems.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: To air or not
Not sure about violins or flutes, but this discussion is about mandolins. If you don't play much, maybe you should keep the mandolin in the case, especially in the winter. Potential problems do not have much to do with the weather in North West Europe. It's the central heating you have to worry about. This will dry out the air and your mandolin, especially if you have the heating on for long periods. A 'dry' mandolin can develop a warped neck and/or soundboard, leading to intonation and playing problems. Also if you keep the mandolin in the open air it will accumulate dust a lot faster. This will reduce the life of your strings.
That's the official advice anyway.
Having said all this I keep my mandolin out of the case nearly all the time because I play it a lot and rarely use the central heating. Never had any major problems!
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Joel McDermott
Re: To air or not
I would suggest politely excusing yourself and go to the men's room or the nearest exit. If the tunes are particularly loud, or if you are seated next to the box player - sometimes you can sneak one out and no one will hear it.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: To air or not
JNE, if you think that's "air," I've got a great aromatic barbeque "rub" you'll enjoy....
(sniff, sniff, "Say, does anyone else smell barbeque?")
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: To air or not
Smokey mesquite with a hint of Guinness drifting by like the sweet notes of an O'Carolan Planxty.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: To air or not
It's a trick question! "I keep my mandolin in the case all the time" - in which case you never play it (unless you have drilled hand and finger holes through the case).
Yes?
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by maxF
Re: To air or not
My mandolin lives out on a violin stand all year round. No problems with swelling etc. I live in Cornwall which probably has a similar climate to where you are (moist).
Pick the instrument up and play whenever I've a spare few minutes/hours.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by greg n'sheils
Re: To air or not
I have a mandolin hanging in the ceiling of the workshop.
It is a chicken mandolin (it went cheep)
The front is sunk right in like a dish and all the glue joints are gone.
What should I do with it?
I was thinking I could swap it with anyone who leaves their mandolin in its case all the time, and then flog the good one.
Any takers?
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by mcknowall
Re: To air or not
"Put it next to the toilet, or the kettle, or the microwave, or wherever you may have an idle few minutes. At least then it will get played."
Thanks for this. I now know what to say when people ask if they can "just borrow my harmonica." I'll tell 'em I keep it on the U-bend, ready to play when I go in there. Next to my toothbrush. I think it's the only place in bathrooms where married men can find a space to put anything.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Steve Shaw
I leave my keyed hammy flute everywhere, mostly on the bedroom floor where I step on it sometimes in the moring
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by Premierflute