I have used humidifiers for many years-Dampits(green tube), a greenish-brown stain appeared on edge of sound hole of Gibson my j250 about a week ago. Looks like it came from tin closer on end. It also looks like it could be mold or something else organic . I am very concerned it might spread-about the size of pencil eraser right now. Looks bad but I am more concerned about structural integrity being compromised. Best guitar I have ever played or owned. This has never happened on any other instruments. I really need advice and any info anyone has. I have been on this forum for many years and have never read anything like this!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scott
Greenish-brown stain
- Thread starter scott
- Start date
Hi Again- Hard to tell if it is getting larger; the spot was right underneath the metal seal on the dampit-I am just assuming the connection. It is actually under the finish and in the wood; I will try a picture have not had much luck. Did wonder if bleach or hydrogen peroxide would help. Thanks for such quick responses-info and ideas are very helpful.
Without seeing any pics my feeling is that the wood reacted with the metal (or vise versa) and is more a stain than just mold. The bleach mix may remove that as well but if the stains too deep I'd leave it alone as it shouldn't progress with the dampit off. It's in the inside of the guitar right?
Los Angeles
Senior Member
Sounds like mold to me. The time of year is exactly right and the moisture situation supports that too.
If it's a stain from the clip, then it's some sort of metallic compound and bleach will do no good. The bleach may even lighten the finish if the top has been stained; I'd be judicious in how you use it.
If it's from the clip, there may not be much you can do, but then, it probably won't get larger or hurt anything.
Do you see anything green on the clip where it would have been in contact with the guitar?
How do you think it got under the finish? Did it soak through from the unfinished side of the wood?
It's hard to diagnose the problem without more information.
If it's from the clip, there may not be much you can do, but then, it probably won't get larger or hurt anything.
Do you see anything green on the clip where it would have been in contact with the guitar?
How do you think it got under the finish? Did it soak through from the unfinished side of the wood?
It's hard to diagnose the problem without more information.
Hi- It is the strangest thing I have ever seen- used dampits for many years. It looks like it is under the finish to me.I feel as though the tin closer is the culprit. I am going to try to contact violin makers and guitar luthiers too. Thank you for your input. Anymore ideas???????????????????
Taylor Martin Guild
Senior Member
I used a Dampit for my Yamaha L-20A until I noticed a reaction from the Dampit to the soundhole.
The guitar now has a small area where the finish has gone darker than the rest of the finish.
I believe this is a reaction between the lacquer and the rubber that the Dampit is made from.
I also have an ugly reaction on the headstock of the Yamaha from using a Kyser Capo.
You can't even read the name Yamaha any more. I contacted Kyser by email several times about the reaction with no response back.
"Caution"
If you have a guitar that has a lacquer finish, don't use either a Dampit or a Kyser Capo with it.
The guitar now has a small area where the finish has gone darker than the rest of the finish.
I believe this is a reaction between the lacquer and the rubber that the Dampit is made from.
I also have an ugly reaction on the headstock of the Yamaha from using a Kyser Capo.
You can't even read the name Yamaha any more. I contacted Kyser by email several times about the reaction with no response back.
"Caution"
If you have a guitar that has a lacquer finish, don't use either a Dampit or a Kyser Capo with it.
Steelpickin'
Senior Member
We need pictures so we can help! 
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Scott: Are you fixing the Dampit with the metal clip to the wood of the soundhole??? That is wrong! It should not at all touch the soundhole but just hang in the middle of the soundhole fixed between the D and G strings, but not touching the edge of the soundhole.scott said:
See: http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdf ... t_hits.pdf
Please post a picture how you mounted the Dampit usually.
Ralf