Your take on humidity control, if you please.

[hojo199]

Connecticut shoreline is guitar hell. Last year my Martin grew (yet) another crack. She came home from the luthiere with one of those Oasis deals -- fill 'er up every freaking two days with "distilled" water (yeah right.) The point was, the dedicated humidifier in the room was not enough.

This year, I spent a pile of money. I now have those Planet Wave packet systems in every case. When I bought my Taylor back in '06, it had come with one of those systems. I loved it and bought more for other guitars. This system not only adds humidity -- it subtracts it too when necessary.

The problem is that the things were banned off the market. I went in mourning.

Now they are back, and, like I said, I invested in them. Reviews say that don't last like they used to (a whole season). We'll see. Right now, I am always taking HAPPY, unaffected guitars out of cases all the time -- not "ummm, let's see what the action will be like TODAY." No. it is working now. Stay tuned....

 

[idealassets]

Version 3, have apparently leaked just like versions 1 and 2

I haven't had any problem, and have 5 guitars with them for over a year. Are you referring to the gel pack version, or the wet sponge version?

Craig

 

[idealassets]

Reviews say that don't last like they used to (a whole season).

Some of mine have lasted over a year. Could it be that's due to keeping the guitar room right at about 47 per cent humidity?

The reason I use them is that I often travel with, and play my guitar out for 4 - 6 hours at a time. Thats when you want your case kept humidified, so the guitar goes right back into ideal humidity.

Craig

 

[cjd-player]

Version 3, have apparently leaked just like versions 1 and 2

I haven't had any problem, and have 5 guitars with them for over a year. Are you referring to the gel pack version, or the wet sponge version?

Craig

Gel Pack version.

 

[deckhand]

Some may find this interesting. I live in New Hampshire where it gets very dry in the winter. I have a set of twin guitars, a D-212 and a D-25, same bodies, same year, same finish, matching cases. The 212 came from Florida and the D-25 came from northern Virginia, both about two years ago. I use the Planet Waves sponge type humidifiers in both and the one in the D-25 dries out much faster than the one in the D-212. My guess is that the 12er from Florida was always very well hydrated and to this day retains a higher moisture content than the six string. I suppose that if I keep them both long enough they will reach some sort of equilibrium but for now the 6er soaks up moisture a lot faster than the 12er. Interesting that the difference would remain so obvious even after a couple of years.

Craig

 

[bek]

This thread scares me. I've never taken any precautions about humidity, live in a mountainous area, been ok so far (35 years in the same location). The 1974 D25 has never reacted at all, and the 1935 Regal dobro hasn't changed since I got it about 10 years ago. I better look into it while I still can, I guess.

 

[killdeer43]

Are you referring to the gel pack version, or the wet sponge version?
Craig

I guess you just have to decide whether or not your guitars are....wait for it.... sponge worthy! 8)

Joe

 

[Geo]

Are you referring to the gel pack version, or the wet sponge version?
Craig

I guess you just have to decide whether or not your guitars are....wait for it.... sponge worthy! 8)

Joe

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Maybe, if your guitar's name is Elaine.

George

 

[adorshki]

This thread scares me. I've never taken any precautions about humidity, live in a mountainous area, been ok so far (35 years in the same location). The 1974 D25 has never reacted at all, and the 1935 Regal dobro hasn't changed since I got it about 10 years ago. I better look into it while I still can, I guess.

From what I've heard most of Cali stays in the ideal 45-55% range. I'd be little nervous in the Mojave/high desert microclimates or high in the Sierras during snow season, but if you're talking the coastal ranges you're probably ok. Also I believe that storing 'em in case helps to insulate against sudden changes, like overnight freezes dropping the rh really low for example.
Even southern Cali's more inland mountains probably stay warm enough to keep a decent amount of relative humidity in the atmosphere for most of the year. San Gabriels? Tehachapis? Boy you got me thinkin' 'bout car trips from my long-lost youth now... 8)

 

[davismanLV]

This thread scares me. I've never taken any precautions about humidity, live in a mountainous area, been ok so far (35 years in the same location). The 1974 D25 has never reacted at all, and the 1935 Regal dobro hasn't changed since I got it about 10 years ago. I better look into it while I still can, I guess.

From what I've heard most of Cali stays in the ideal 45-55% range. I'd be little nervous in the Mojave/high desert microclimates or high in the Sierras during snow season, but if you're talking the coastal ranges you're probably ok. Also I believe that storing 'em in case helps to insulate against sudden changes, like overnight freezes dropping the rh really low for example.
Even southern Cali's more inland mountains probably stay warm enough to keep a decent amount of relative humidity in the atmosphere for most of the year. San Gabriels? Tehachapis? Boy you got me thinkin' 'bout car trips from my long-lost youth now... 8)

Al, while CA in general may stay in a safe range, if you use any heat or cooling (other than a swamp cooler) you're gonna QUICKLY drop the outside relative humidity into a dangerously low level. Better to check it than to just assume that because it's 45% relative humidity outside, that's it's the same in the house. Better safe than sorry.

So are you thinking ROAD TRIP??

 

[adorshki]

Al, while CA in general may stay in a safe range, if you use any heat or cooling (other than a swamp cooler) you're gonna QUICKLY drop the outside relative humidity into a dangerously low level. Better to check it than to just assume that because it's 45% relative humidity outside, that's it's the same in the house. Better safe than sorry.
So are you thinking ROAD TRIP??

Actually I've spent most of my life in apartments, so the heating has been those electric wall or baseboard units, and the air conditioning one of those wall-mounteds, and their impact isn't the same as the centralized type systems. On top of that the whole place gets a pretty good dose of outside air several times a day just from comings and goings, and they stay inside the cases IN A CLOSET (stable temperature) unless I'm playin' 'em, so the net effects of humidity variations aren't that big. But that's just in my case.
Still your poin was good and it's a good opportunity to point out that a lot of parameters come into play, and my situation could be kind of unique on the board here. Most of the guys do seem to be in houses from what I gather, or at least using the centralized heating/cooling systems that "process" large volumes of air.
I HAD a hygrometer a friend gave me once, but it didn't seem to work worth a s--t, was always stuck at 45%.... :lol:
Road trip? Kinda doubt it, I'm kinda married to the job...straight commission, and a couple of times a month the new opportunity pops up that you need to be there to reel in, or it goes away or becomes some other guy's account, and I need to play catch-up from a lot of years of steady but mediocre income.
I just remember some beautiful trips around Cali when I was a kid. 8)

 

[killdeer43]

I just remember some beautiful trips around Cali when I was a kid. 8)

Consider treating yourself to a road trip, Al, even a short one. Rejuvenation will come even if it's just an overnighter. You can squeeze that in sometime. :wink:

I'm a believer in the power of the right road,
Joe

 

[Geo]

There are a lot of great ideas posted here for homemade humidifiers.

Whatever you decide to use for a container, film canister, soap dish, etc,,, an abosorber stored inside it will be better than a spounge. They hold a heck of a lot more water, never leak or drip, release moisture slowly and take much longer to dry out, and last forever. At least I've never worn one out. Not even the one I use to dry my vehicles with.

Sponges work but with the absorber there's much less maintaince and hassle. This is IMHO of course. What's really important is to pay attention to the humidity. Again, IMHO.

I had a guy tell me the drier the wood the better the tone. Anyone else ever hear that or believe it to be true?

If someone just bought their first guitar and wanted advice on maintaining it, I'd tell them the top 3 things to do are:
(1) Humidify,,, (2) Humidify,,, (3) Humidify!!

I like mojo as much as the next guy but I'm talkin' play wear not neglect. :wink:

George

 

[twocorgis]

Here's my whole house solution:

Holds 5+ gallons, and humidifies up to 2900 square feet. Set it to 45% and forget it until you need to fill it up. Humidifies people, too. 8)

We have old-fashioned radiators in our house (still the best), so it never gets too dry. I guess I've just been lucky; I never humidified my D50 for at least 35 years, and the only crack it ever sustained was a small one from the end of the treble side of the fretboard to the sound hole from the neck being torqued. Neck reset fixed that.

 

[adorshki]

I just remember some beautiful trips around Cali when I was a kid. 8)

Consider treating yourself to a road trip, Al, even a short one. Rejuvenation will come even if it's just an overnighter. You can squeeze that in sometime. :wink:
I'm a believer in the power of the right road,
Joe

I started out to go do some shopping last Sunday and when I saw the line at the off-ramp I changed my mind and just turned it into a circuit around the bay. :lol:

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

"I had a guy tell me the drier the wood the better the tone. Anyone else ever hear that or believe it to be true?"
I also believe this to be true.
I like to keep my guitars at 40% and even a little lower isn't that bad.
My guitars sound better to me when they are in that range.

 

[adorshki]

"I had a guy tell me the drier the wood the better the tone. Anyone else ever hear that or believe it to be true?"
I also believe this to be true.
I like to keep my guitars at 40% and even a little lower isn't that bad.
My guitars sound better to me when they are in that range.

I've heard that too. Something to do with the wood being able to vibrate more freely.
Makes sense to me, but I don't think any of my guitars have ever been in a dry enough state to really notice a difference.

 

[Walking Man]

Here's my whole house solution:

Holds 5+ gallons, and humidifies up to 2900 square feet. Set it to 45% and forget it until you need to fill it up. Humidifies people, too. 8)

We have old-fashioned radiators in our house (still the best), so it never gets too dry. I guess I've just been lucky; I never humidified my D50 for at least 35 years, and the only crack it ever sustained was a small one from the end of the treble side of the fretboard to the sound hole from the neck being torqued. Neck reset fixed that.

Sandy,
I've got the same unit at my house. I have to refill the the bottles often in super-cold weather. I have base board heat through out the house. It's a good but dry heat.

 

[valleyguy]

I live in the San Fernando valley area of Los Angeles, typically drier than the coastal areas, and I keep my guitars hangin on the wall or on stands in the house. I keep a hydrometer in the house (cheapie from WalMart). When humidity goes below 30% (typically in Santa Ana wind conditions when desert winds blow into town, it can go to 10%), I put 'em in a case with the sponge and a baggie humidifier for a week or so. Never had a problem. In fact I have my 70's Takamine and my Gad30 hanging on the wall. They never see a case or a humidifier. I like to think they're adapting to my humidity, just like the furniture in my house. Guess I should take better care of my GAD30.

Lot of discussion on the Acoustic Guitar Forum where people swear that TOO MUCH humidity makes a guitar sound muffled. However, YMMV. On that theory, I'm doing all I can to minimize that.