Mike's Oud Forums

Going away soon, what to do about humidity?

Lysander - 8-18-2014 at 02:53 AM

I'm going to Turkey in about a week's time, I'll be away for a fortnight. Now I'll be using another oud while I'm out there, and my main one will be staying here. We moved flat recently and the humidity in the new flat is generally about 60%-65%. Will this increase during the two weeks if there's no ventilation or will it stay stable? What can I do to make sure it stays the same? The room where the oud is in is relatively large with wooden flooring, and having a larger room seems to help more with the humidity level.

zakiya_alali - 8-18-2014 at 03:15 AM

Hardcase will be a solution if you have one

Matthias - 8-19-2014 at 02:24 AM

an upraising humidity will never be a problem, especially if you are not playing the instrument during this time. Nothing will happen.

Only if you are doing the travel in winter when the heating is working. Then you should take care that the humidity does not go down too much, I would say not too much below 50%. Below that value cracks can happen, but only under special circumstances. A case is a first good protection. Another one will be to put the instrument with the case into a room which is not heated.

Best regards

Matthias

Lysander - 8-19-2014 at 12:47 PM

Thanks both of you, I thought I was being a big paranoid, but it's good to get these things checked out. I won't worry about it while I'm away.