Staying in tune/caring for my ukulele

I do not keep my ukulele in it's case because I like to be able to grab it and play when I have five minutes to spare. I do not have a humidifer because I live in a damp climate. However lately I have had to tune it pretty much every time I pick it up where as before it stayed in tune for days. I assume this is because of winter and my house temperature over a 24 your period is anywhere between 55 and 68 degrees. I have stopped leaving my ukulele anywhere near outside walls. I assume the tuning issue is due to changes in temperature, correct? Should I worry, or do something differently? I believe my house, even though the heater is running, is still humid enough. It is drafty old house and a damp climate.
Thanks for you input.
Roxhum

I notice that I have to re-tune more when the seasons/temperature changes. I'm a big fan of room humidifiers these days. Aside from helping with your instruments, it keeps your skin from drying out. I recently bought one (Hunter is the brand name)that has a UV light that is supposed to help purify the air as well.

Seems to me the Flea should be okay living in the house, but I'd be keeping the Bushman in a case, personally.

Aloha Roxhum,
I notice on chilly days all my strings are an octave higher..just need to retune....MM Stan...

mm stan said:

Aloha Roxhum,
I notice on chilly days all my strings are an octave higher..just need to retune....MM Stan...

Click to expand...

..I don't get it..

My hygrometer indicates humidity levels below 40% when the heat runs every day, like these days. This is not good, as I understand it. So I'd keep the Bushman in a case w/a hygrometer. When humidity is <40%, I,d put a humidifier in there, too.

You could do an experiment for the UU community. Keep the status quo, and let us know how the Bushman handles the stress...

Ingrate, where do you live? I live along the coast where it rains a lot and never gets too too cold so the heat doesn't run but for 3 hours in the evenings and an hour in the morning. I guess I need to get a hygrometer to know the humidity level for sure.
RoxHum

roxhum said:

Ingrate, where do you live? I live along the coast where it rains a lot and never gets too too cold so the heat doesn't run but for 3 hours in the evenings and an hour in the morning. I guess I need to get a hygrometer to know the humidity level for sure.
RoxHum

Click to expand...

Sacramento area. I never bothered w/this issue, since the hygrometer indicates that the RH in my home stays around 50%. That is, until winter came (my first with a 'uke). In the case, the hygrometer right now says 55% (with humidifier). I left the case open while playing this morning (the heat is running often), and it fell to 35%. I don't care about my eleuke or Kamoa laminate, but worry about the KoAloha. These are the issues one gets when buying an expensive solid wood instrument, I guess. I'd prefer the simple life w/the Kamoa, but it sucks compared to the KoAloha.

I know it's dirty business, but you can buy an Oasis from Amazon. Use it for a week or two, and if the RH in your environment is in the OK range, return it. For me, it's worth $30 just to know.

..do I own the KoAloha, or does it own me?

hoosierhiver said:

I notice that I have to re-tune more when the seasons/temperature changes.

Click to expand...

Same here, everytime the air temp changes with the seasons, the strings need some adjusting. No problems, also I use a humidifier inside the case.

Ingrate said:

..I don't get it..

Click to expand...

What don't you get???????

The Uke I play the most hangs on the wall next to my computer. It has been there about 3 years and has never been humidified. It's a $30 Koa lam with a solid top. It says
" Hawaiian Ukulele" across the front above the bridge. No cracks and sounds better than when I got it. I've owned many guitars over the years and never used a humidifier
never had a crack. The humidity here ranges from top to bottom. Does anyone else have the same experience as me? Now I have Herco humidifiers in all my cases because I have become paranoid from what I read.