Guitar humidifier

[watergunn]

I had a question for the group related to guitar humidifiers.

Is there a recommended model that actually goes into the guitar?

I have seen several on the internet and was wondering if they were useful.

i have seen both the tube models and the sponge models.

The area that the guitars live in is usually 45% RH give or take a couple of points.

Thanks

I'd be real happy if the humidity in my house stayed at 45% plus or minus 5%.
I use Oasis humidifiers and fill them with distilled water. The amount of minerals in our tap water is off the charts.

-tommy

[watergunn]

It stays in that range most of the year.

I am trying to determine if I actually need to use a humidier.

Well, if humidity reaches the 80% - 90% neighborhood and stays there most of the spring/summer
I'd say it wouldn't hurt to humidify in the winter. I average out my typical high and low and try to
keep humidity in the middle using room humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

-tommy

[Tarhead]

The area that the guitars live in is usually 45% RH give or take a couple of points.

Thanks

My conditions are similar to yours. Are you measuring the inside humidity? If so how are you measuring it? There is a big difference between my inside heated space in the winter and outside. I have to run a whole house humidifier and use the Oasis system in the winter. Otherwise I would have ~20% all winter.

[tippie53]

living in Penna we have some serious swings in RH. I use a humdifier and dehumidifier for the house and shop . Guitars and I feel much better.

[Ben-Had]

I, too, live in NC and I run a humidifier in the late fall through early spring (it's running now) in my guitar and wood room. I use a digital hygrometer to measure the room RH and set the machine to it.

[B. Howard]

If you do decide you need an in the case style humidifier I recommend staying away from units that actually get placed in the guitar itself via the soundhole. Constantly installing and removing them can cause cracks and other damage to the top. They also tend to leak water at times causing internal damage. I recommend the planet waves humidipak system to people who need something like this. It uses no water and will de-humidify as well as humidify. Of course that means the guitar will need to stay in the case when not being played, either way. I control the humidity in my home at around 50% so the guitars can be out. I keep the shop a little lower, 45%.

[watergunn]

I do have a digital humidity gauge that I use. I have a finished basement that has the central heat and air.

I was just wondering since I recenty had a back set that had a very fine crack in it. I found it during the final wet sanding stage. No idea if had been there all along or not.

I have had no other issues like that. Have no recognizable signs of wood shrinkage issues on my other guitars. No fret ends sticking out or anything like that.

I will probably go ahead and invest in a system just to be safe.

Any recommendation on a humidifier/dehumidifier?


Thanks for all of the answers.

[Tarhead]

Since you're in a basement you may be ok with adequate humidity depending on how well it's sealed. I firmly believe that most hardware store type hygrometers are not accurate...digital or analog. There are better options. Google "Wet Bulb Hygrometer" and put one together. You'll need small fan, an accurate bulb style thermometer, a piece of cotton shoestring and a little water. Take a dry bulb temp followed by a wet bulb temp. Snip a few inches of cotton shoe string and slip it over the thermometer bulb. Dampen it with water and blow the fan on it until the temp has stabilized. Use a wetbulb chart and plot the humidity. The cooler the wet bulb, the drier the air. That will give you a snapshot of the precise amount of humidity to compare against your digital meter readout. After this you know how much to compensate your digital hygrometer.