Humidity, or lack thereof...

[Qvart]

Hey I'm back in the acoustic forum! :lol:

Okay, quick question - I came across a little plastic container similar to a film canister at work and thought it would probably work to humidify my acoustic case if needed. What I'm wondering is if there's a better/worse place to place the canister inside the case. Would it work alright if placed inside the compartment? I know I'll find out by trying it, and I would imagine the hunidified air would permeate throughout the inside of the case, but many of you have experience with this. Also, I know how much you love answering my newbie questions!

Thanks!

 

[stclrob]

I had a little canister in the case for a bit, but the humidity level wasn't quite high enough for a Chicago winter so I switched to a dampit. When I got the DV-72, the seller had the canister in the compartment and the box said it was supposed to be there. I'm sure others will chime in with better advice though.

 

[FNG]

Get a cheap plastic soap dish. Drill some holes in the top. Get a new sponge, trim to fit in the soap dish. Dampen sponge, and you now have a very cheap and effective case humidifier. I always put them in the case under the heel of the neck. If you put them in the case compartment, the humidity won't get to the guitar very well....

http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdf ... ifier.pdf'

Taylor has some good info in their tech section.

 

[chazmo]

I just use a perforated ziploc with sponges and put it up in the headstock portion of the case. This occasionally has led to some mildew on the case lining so I try to wring out the sponges thoroughly. Too much dampness in some cases causes some glue to liquify.

In really dry situations I use an additional dampit in the soundhole (uncovered) too.

This year, I'm trying to keep the room I store the guitars in pretty close to 50%RH through the winter. I'm trying to avoid the case supplements, but when I take my guitars to work I go with what I described. Work is *very* dry in the building!

 

[Frosty]

Hi Qvart, welcome back from the dark side. :wink:

Would it work alright if placed inside the compartment?

If the soundboard doesn't dry out and crack... then yes, it will have worked fine. However, if you don't consider your guitar to be a "crash and burn" test system then I would advise a soundhole humidifier in a closed case. Dampit has work well for me for 20 years (time flies) and now I also use a similar tube-like product sold by Martin. YMMV, but I have never had a soundboard crack while a guitar was in my care.

Living winter life in sub 20% humidity,
Frosty

 

[plaidseason]

I'll also recommend to the Damp-It (or similar design). You can't go wrong. It's simple to use and it won't damage anything if it breaks free.

-Chris

 

[cjd-player]

Damp-Its are definitely the way to go.

If you buy the version for a cello or bass, the price is about half that for a guitar Damp-It.

You want the humidity primarily inside the guitar body, not up at the headstock.

 

[Qvart]

However, if you don't consider your guitar to be a "crash and burn" test system...

I'd rather not use it as a pass/fail test!

Here in my part of the country nothing is quite as extreme as some of you are dealing with where you live. Today we hit 59 degrees (average is 50/29) and the Weather Channel says the humidity is 62%. The electric baseboard heaters in the house seem to really dry out the air though.

Sounds like the consensus leans towards Dampits. Does the guitar/case have to be positioned a certain way - say, laying down rather than standing up? I keep mine stacked upright in a closet. There is space in other rooms of the house, but I keep my room heated more than the others.

EDIT: Well, I'm reading up on them. Looks like sponge is a tube so I guess it won't matter.

I bought an Acu-Rite brand thermometer/hygrometer and put it in the closet about 30 minutes ago. It's reading 41% humidity.

BTW Frosty - I came across the video of you, your Guild, and your dog. Nice playing!

 

[cjd-player]

The orientation of the guitar case does not matter. Just be sure to wring out the Damp-It befiore putting it in so no water droplets come out in the guitar.
For normal humidity maintenance don't use the soundhole cover if you buy a guitar Damp-It.

Here is a great video about how to use Damp-Its:

http://www.taylorguitars.com/see-hear/default.aspx?id=1004

Go to: "Performance Tips/Maintenance" at the right side of the screen.

Then the 4th one down: "Humidity: The Solution"

 

[Qvart]

Here is a great video about how to use Damp-Its:

Thanks!

 

[Pike]

This is my arsenal of wet. Here in the Willamette Valley I seldom need humidity. Only if the guitar room door is left open for a long time, and then only in the dead of winter.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hey I'm back in the acoustic forum! :lol:

You're welcome here anytime, Q'!!

I use Oasis humidifiers and hygrometers in my guitar cases:

http://oasishumidifiers.com/index.html

They work well for me. I also have quite a few house plants in the room where my gits are stored and played. They go along way toward keeping the entire room around 40 to 50 percent humidity.

~nw

 

[Qvart]

They go along way toward keeping the entire room around 40 to 50 percent humidity.

Thanks again!

I'm going to look for something for the entire room. I was planning on that anyway since the heat in here dries everything out.

BTW - the hygrometer has been reading 43-44% since I got it yesterday. Just a tad low, but it's been in the 50's the last couple days and humidity outside 60%+. It'll get worse though...

 

[Dr. Spivey]

I also have quite a few house plants in the room where my gits are stored and played. They go along way toward keeping the entire room around 40 to 50 percent humidity.

~nw

Only if you water them. :lol:

 

[Steelpickin']

PLease consider useing a room humidifier in conjunction with your case humidifiers. 40 - 50% should be fine. For those of you who insist that you dont need a room humidifier I will repeat my long standing advice...
take your guitar and place it in its case....then place it in a bathtub full of water.....NO air bubles??? congrats...you have an air thight case!!
...for the rest of you: get a room humidifier as well as an in case one and
you will never have to worry!

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

[quote="Nigel Wickwire":1xz41575]

I also have quite a few house plants in the room where my gits are stored and played. They go along way toward keeping the entire room around 40 to 50 percent humidity.

~nw

Only if you water them. :lol:[/quote:1xz41575]

True Dat!! :lol: Some irrigation required........

~nw

 

[Road King Cole]

I go the CHEAP and EASY way: zip locks that have been hole punched and a cheap damp sponge in the sound hole held in between the strings.

I never liked fiddling with the damp-it.

 

[killdeer43]

I go the CHEAP and EASY way: zip locks that have been hole punched and a cheap damp sponge in the sound hole held in between the strings.

I never liked fiddling with the damp-it.

Road King Cole......FIRST POST ALERT!!

Welcome Road King. You'll like it here. :?:

Cheers,
Joe

 

[Qvart]

I ended up buying an Oasis soundhole humidifier. John (I think that was his name) at Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain (where I went to check out the D-55) recommended it. Works great!

 

[Road King Cole]

I go the CHEAP and EASY way: zip locks that have been hole punched and a cheap damp sponge in the sound hole held in between the strings.

I never liked fiddling with the damp-it.

Road King Cole......FIRST POST ALERT!!

Welcome Road King. You'll like it here. :?:

Cheers,
Joe

Well, I had joined this forum when it was just starting. Then few years back I forgot my passwords and re-joined but never posted after that. The other day I went to the FDP forum (which I used to frequent years ago) and responded to the question "who is the expert on Guilds" or something close to that. So of course I mentioned Hans and why he got booted. Then they soon deleted that thread and removed my "contributing member status". I agree, this is a great forum but sometimes it just a little to busy for me and I can't "keep up". Always great to see the Guild name still being adored.