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  • Moving my guitar studio into the basement

    Posted by Cadgirl on April 22, 2021 at 4:42 am

    I am thinking of moving my guitar playing into our finished basement. I’m concerned about the humidity down there. I have a humidifier and I don’t feel dampness. But, is dampness my main concern or is there something else I should be concerned about? Can anyone shed light on this for me?

    Cadgirl replied 3 years, 9 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Mike56

    Member
    April 22, 2021 at 9:57 am

    @Cadgirl, I live in Nebraska with a mid-West climate similar to Michigan and my guitar area has been in the finished basement for years. My experience has been that humidity is more variable in the basement both winter and summer. I have a whole house humidifier but augmented it with a room humidifier in the basement room where I store my guitars. In the summer, even with the air conditioner running, the basement is noticeable damper than upstairs. But my guitars have easily survived in the basement with no problem.

    Having said that, I’m in the process of moving my guitar area upstairs to a spare bedroom. Besides the more stable humidity level, that bedroom is the quietest area in the house (furthest away from the furnace).

    • Cadgirl

      Member
      April 22, 2021 at 12:55 pm

      The furnace is in a enclosed room so I never hear it turning on. Maybe the washer and dryer I can hear, but I can rest assured my husband isn’t going to come downstairs to put in a load of laundry. 😉

  • branman

    Member
    April 22, 2021 at 10:52 am

    Humanity will need to be dealt with in any room – and each will have its own challenges. Recording and the sound of the room could be the biggest challenge depending on how it is built. Have a dedicated basement is awesome and with the right treatment could be a great happy place. Things to look for: Pipes, Air ducts and the ceiling. what can you hear down there? Walking? Flushing? Furnace? neighbors?

    Many of these can’t be controlled but if there are too many issues at once you might have issues making clean recordings (if that is the goal).

    Just curious:

    Wall Material?

    Ceiling Material?

    Floor Material?

    I am not by any means trying to discourage you from moving there, I would do it in a second. Just know you might have to deal with some stuff (all easy) to get the best out of your room.

    :cheers:

    • Cadgirl

      Member
      April 22, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      My move wouldn’t t be a full move just for a playing area. I’m so cramped in my present room. Also being on the main floor I have to be quiet till my husband gets up. I’m an early bird I like to get up by 5:00am my husband more like 9 or so. I’d like to get my daily challenge and practice out of the way early , then work on songs I want to learn to play later in the day. Basement is dry walled and paneled. Full rugs on floor and a dropped ceiling. I’m not in the recording stage, But, It’s quiet as a mouse down there. I’d still have my room upstairs, I am just afraid I might be damaging my guitars if I started leaving them down in the basement. I want to start working on my own melodies and I think it would work out perfect because I can play whenever I want.

      • branman

        Member
        April 22, 2021 at 3:45 pm

        Sounds like a nice space to become the “happy place”

        • This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by  branman.
      • Cadgirl

        Member
        April 23, 2021 at 3:57 am

        “like”

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