Keeping amps in the garage

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sirvill
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Keeping amps in the garage

Post by sirvill »

Anyone keep or has kept amps in a garage with or without dire consequences?


The thing will finally be cleaned out this weekend, and I'm thinking of not only jamming out in there but also perhaps leaving my amp and cab in there (100w tube head with 4x12 cab).

Stuff doesn't tend to go rusty or mouldy in there, so I'm guessing it'll be ok, but any horror stories out there?

Note: won't be leaving guitars out there.

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by godgrinder »

Just get a small dehumidifier, turn it on when it's raining heavily.
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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by null_pointer »

Depends on the garage I guess. Modern lined/attached ones probably no worse than leaving them in the lounge but external/tin might vary. At least consider chucking a drop cloth over the top when not in use perhaps?

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Delayman »

I would think those sachets of silica in the amp would be a good indicator to start with before going to the expense of dehumidifying the whole garage. Also you said the room doesn't seem damp if nothing else goes mouldy etc.
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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by sirvill »

Yeah I'm thinking of covering the cab and putting the amp in its steel flight case thing anyway. Its more the cab I'm worried about because of that.

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Kris »

most of my gear lives in an alstor garage.carpet on the floor and a bit on the wall but no other fancy treatment.summer winter,same deal.Its fine no rust,no mould.

if you were somewhere humid...well who knows? or by the sea,but you'd get shit rusting anyway no matter if it was in the house or garage!

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by hamo »

I will be doing this too, if my house ever gets built.
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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by StratMatt »

This is what I'm doing now, except I'll be keeping some guitars out there too. Mine is your average detached tin garage. I've installed 3.5R insulation in the ceiling and walls and currently lining it with 12mm ply. Also gonna get a dehumidifier out there to run most of the time. Man-cave on!
Loving it so far

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Molly »

I keep my amps in the garage. It's part of the house (internal access etc.) so is really just like another room I suppose. Even carpeted my corner of it. Only thing is that the temperature varies wildly. Cold at night and just blistering in the afternoon sun. Never keep guitars in there of course.

In the UK I made the mistake of putting a heater in my shed to keep the bike company. All that happened is that the moisture in the air condensed on the bike.

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by StratMatt »

Yeah I suppose I'll need to monitor temperature and humidity closely before I leave any guitars out. I'm hoping the insulation, ply and dehumidifier will keep it reasonably constant. I remember bbrunskill doing his (or was it bender?) shed, so it's obviously do-able.

Not to derail your thread :)
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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Molly »

StratMatt wrote:Yeah I suppose I'll need to monitor temperature and humidity closely before I leave any guitars out. I'm hoping the insulation, ply and dehumidifier will keep it reasonably constant. I remember bbrunskill doing his (or was it bender?) shed, so it's obviously do-able.

Not to derail your thread :)
I'd been wondering about long-term storage of guitars too. Might be that we go overseas for a bit in which case I'm worried about how I'd store guitars. One of those container places might not be ideal as I can see the temperature fluctuating and there being a risk of high humidity.

Not to derail the thread ;-)

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Intronaut »

I kept an amp (diesel vh4) with a cover in all. in a old rural garage once only to find that field mice thought it would be a good place to hang out in winter. Lots of shit n piss. So just be careful. Took it to Clarry and he sorted it out. Needless to say it won't ever be going back out there.

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by sirvill »

Yeah that is something I'm a little worried about... we rarely get the occasional rat in there, but it'd be just my luck that it'd shit all over my stuff

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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Conway »

Molly wrote:
StratMatt wrote:Yeah I suppose I'll need to monitor temperature and humidity closely before I leave any guitars out. I'm hoping the insulation, ply and dehumidifier will keep it reasonably constant. I remember bbrunskill doing his (or was it bender?) shed, so it's obviously do-able.

Not to derail your thread :)
I'd been wondering about long-term storage of guitars too. Might be that we go overseas for a bit in which case I'm worried about how I'd store guitars. One of those container places might not be ideal as I can see the temperature fluctuating and there being a risk of high humidity.

Not to derail the thread ;-)
But you'll just sell them all and buy a new bunch when you come back.
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Re: Keeping amps in the garage

Post by Molly »

Conway wrote: But you'll just sell them all and buy a new bunch when you come back.
No. You're thinking of that other guy.

Well, truthfully I'd probably flick a few but not all.

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