No Repair Man Required!? The Magical White Bag

This summer was hot.

Live houses filled with heat and outdoor stages were scorching. The studio in the concrete jungle moved. I am sure that guitarists' beloved guitars must have been overworked.

Nowadays, guitars made of non-wood materials that are less affected by temperature and humidity are on the market. Sound House also carries a brand called Aristidis. It is made of an alloy called Allium, and the sound is said to be just as good as wood. There is also this kind of choice. If you are interested, check them out.

ARISTIDES/ O2O Black/Gold

In addition, I know of about 10 other manufacturers that make guitars from materials other than wood, such as metal. One of the most famous is Talbot by Tokai Gakki, a long-established company. The sound was different from that of wood, and the response was unique, as I recall. Among these 10 companies, the guitars made by this maker were used by a famous guitarist who played it and it sounded quite natural, and although the price was at least several hundred thousand yen, I thought I would like to have one in the future.

TOKAI / A-180SH MBL

I also looked up the name of the maker of the metal guitar I had taken a picture of with my smartphone in the past, and found that it was made by James Trussart. The guitar is made of steel and I found it to be a very good guitar, as Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, James Headfield, and many other prominent musicians are listed among its users.

This year has been extremely hot and humid worldwide, and Japan is no exception. It is safe to assume that this climate change trend will not change in the future.

Guitars are sensitive to moisture. If the electrical system gets soaked by rain, there is a big possibility that the guitar will stop working. If water gets into the amp, it could result in a life-threatening situation called electric shock.

Even if the guitar does not get wet from the rain, it is quite possible for moisture to cause problems on the neck. Although the warping of the neck varies from guitar to guitar, it is definitely the most important part of guitar maintenance.

The 1981 Fender Stratocaster Rose neck that I owned in the past did not warp at all, but at the time I was under the impression that it was “high quality and less prone to failure” compared to Japanese-made copy models. However, I now think that the original model might have been better.

Time passed, and 11 years ago I acquired a Fender Custom Shop 1954 Stratocaster. At first, I had little trouble with it, but a few years later, when I had a basic adjustment at a repair store, I always had to have the rod adjusted (neck warping adjustment) done. In principle, twice a year, in the winter and in the summer, the neck warps backwards and forwards, respectively, and the joint plate is removed and the truss rod is turned slightly. This is where punctuality for appointments at the repair store and concern for my beloved machine come into play.

So, for the first time in decades, I went to a repair store and purchased a humidity regulator and put it in my guitar case. At first, I purchased products from whatever manufacturer, but then I started using a well-known and reasonably priced product at a repair shop. I tried this for about 5 years.

As a result, the smell in the case disappeared. However, the neck still warped slightly.
The humidity regulator I bought at a repair store didn't do much for the warped neck. After many years of playing, the paint on the maple neck has peeled off, and moisture may have easily penetrated through the paint.

Still, my baby’s neck warps slightly every season, even though the guitar is many times more expensive than my 1981 Stratocaster…

While searching Sound House's “Guitar Maintenance Goods” section, I found a humidity regulator in a classic package. Its name is

Technos Nakata / Dry Forte Humidity Regulator for String Instruments

I said, “This is a proper note from Sound House!” Then, I clicked on the staff review that said, ”It sells well during the rainy season and is in short supply.”

I was surprised.

The price was almost the same as other companies' products, so I bought a box without hesitation.

After reading the instruction manual, my first impression was that this was a well-run company.

Probably the only selling point of this product is that it comes with a non-woven bag with a seal that can be fixed inside the case.

This is very convenient. Normally, when you are out of the case or when you store the instrument standing up in a room, the regulator collects at the neck joint in the gig bag, but thanks to the seal on the non-woven bag, it stays in place and controls the humidity around the neck for 24 hours, unless you’re being too rough with it. This is a selling point that no other company has. Thank you.

I put a Dry Forte in my guitar case. Normally, one Dry Forte would be enough, but this summer was unusually hot and humid, so I had to put two in the case to keep up with the moisture absorption.

The moisture absorbed can be seen at a glance, and the replacement guideline is also clear at a glance. You can also see at a glance how much moisture it has absorbed, and you know when to replace it. This summer, the product took up moisture so quickly that this product, which normally lasts 3 to 4 months, becomes discolored and absorbs moisture in 2 months.

When Dry Forte absorbs moisture, the color darkens and moisture absorption can be seen at a glance. This year, it took two and a half months to absorb the full amount of moisture.

I used this product for about one year.

The neck didn’t warp. If anything, it moved slightly straight forward. This is the first time in 9 years that I have used it since last year that I have not had to go to a repair store. Amazing!

Of course not all guitars don't warp, but after trying 3 or 4 different humidity regulators, this is the only one that protected my guitar from warping.

I think there are many guitarists who have problems with their necks. Why don't you try Technos Nakata Dry Forte?

If you ask a professional repair store to adjust the neck, you will have to spend at least 1,100 to 2,200 yen. Of course, you can do it yourself, but if you adjust the rod from the back of the neck on models such as Stratocaster and Telecaster, you may damage the paint around the neck joint. This damage can have a surprisingly large impact on the appraisal if you plan to sell it.

It would be nice to have a guitar case that is snugly attached to the back of the neck to protect it.

I really don't want to share this amazing secret because I don't want it to become “out of stock” and unavailable...

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.