Does EB have humidification recommendations?

[bkrumme]

A couple weeks ago I put a 12 gallon humidifier in my house. Put a hygrometer by my guitars and have been keeping an eye on the humidity. It's been hovering between 37% and 42% and seems to be doing the trick.

I picked up my 25th today (it had some mild fret sprout) and the sprout is nearly gone. The others have a bit to go, but they are improving slowly. This winter has taught me a lesson I won't soon forget.

 

[browndog]

If you live in a basement like I do, don’t forget to have a dehumidifier for the summer months. I dump gallons of water every couple of days.

It all depends on what my Humidiguide monitor reads.

 

[TheRook]

I live in Montana, and the winters can be brutal. Humidity levels inside my house can easily drop into the teens/low 20s if I'm not careful. I learned a valuable lesson about humidity with my Ibanez Prestige a few years ago. Relative humidity decreases with an increase in temperature, and the frigid outside air may be 35% at 0F, but when the air heats up inside your house, it can drop into the low teens/single digits.
Now I have 4 humidifiers and 3 hygrometers in my house. They are the cheaper humidifiers, and I would like to ditch them in favor of a larger, more expensive single unit. I have gas rad heat, so a central unit is not an option. I try to keep the entire house at about 45%.
I am currently overseas, and I know I'm driving my wife crazy constantly reminding her to check the humidity levels in my guitar room

 

[PaoloGilberto]

so I understood right, the device you use is keeping humidity constant at the value you set it up?

thx.

I do indeed. My house is all radiators, so no central humidifier and why I use those ones. I'd love a bigger one, but that one is digital and easy to get filters for.

I have one in the basement, a few feet from the guitars. There's some airflow there (the boiler draws that air in, so it sucks the humidity out of the room), so it's always going. I fill it every day or two in the winter. I set it at 40%, usually stays around there.

I have no idea how accurate the gauge is, but my guitars usually don't need too much adjustment in the winter anymore so it definitely makes a big difference. Have one upstairs as well, does a great job.

 

[beej]

so I understood right, the device you use is keeping humidity constant at the value you set it up?

thx.

Yes. But it only humidifies- it is not also a dehumidifier (for when it's too moist). It only keeps the moisture constant when it's too dry.

 

[jamminjim]

Someone told me to put a cut potato in a lidded soap dish, and make small holes in it, to carry in the guitar case. Thought I'd pass that idea on.

They actually weren't crazy - when I buy almonds sometimes they are quite dry, and to soften them up just a touch to make it easier on the teeth I put a cut slice of apple in a jar with them and close the lid; in a couple of days the almonds are much softer and delicious. (throw the apple slice away when it looks bad)

So the potato in the pin-holed soap case would probably humidify the case just right for few days or more. I would also think one could put a damp sponge in the pin-holed case which would be even better.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

ooh, I thought it works both ways

thx beej

Yes. But it only humidifies- it is not also a dehumidifier (for when it's too moist). It only keeps the moisture constant when it's too dry.

 

[pearlredburst]

Not to resurrect this old thread, and beat a dead horse, but I recently bought a Taylor Acoustic. I called them and asked what relative humidity level they set their instruments at and they said they build guitars at 47% humidity but when storing guitars they recommend between 45% and 55% with 50% being the perfect recommended number.

I know some of us work better when given an ACTUAL number so this helped.

On side note, their customer service seems to be on par with music man's. They were EXTREMELY helpful and very polite.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thanks for sharing!
would it be the same for electric guitars?

Not to resurrect this old thread, and beat a dead horse, but I recently bought a Taylor Acoustic. I called them and asked what relative humidity level they set their instruments at and they said they build guitars at 47% humidity but when storing guitars they recommend between 45% and 55% with 50% being the perfect recommended number.

I know some of us work better when given an ACTUAL number so this helped.

On side note, their customer service seems to be on par with music man's. They were EXTREMELY helpful and very polite.

 

[Slingy]

Humidity is high here spiking to the high 60's(too high) and lows in the low 50's(just right) right now. So I just try to keep the humidity down by having some air flow in the house or things will get musty and yucky pretty easy.

 

[pearlredburst]

thanks for sharing!
would it be the same for electric guitars?

I've had my guitar room running anywhere between 45 and 50 for a few days now, and not only is it easy to BREATHE in here, but the Petrucci, Strat and Taylor (as well as an old crappy Ibanez acoustic) seem to LOVE it. In fact, some of the old cracks on my ibanez acoustic have started to close a bit even!

 

[A.J.]

Hey guys, we recommend keeping your guitars 40-50% without ever going below 40%. Humidifiers are a good idea. The key is to avoid changing humidity levels quickly. One should slowly change the levels so the wood can lose/take on moisture evenly.

 

[bkrumme]

Hey guys, we recommend keeping your guitars 40-50% without ever going below 40%. Humidifiers are a good idea. The key is to avoid changing humidity levels quickly. One should slowly change the levels so the wood can lose/take on moisture evenly.

Thanks, A.J.! I've been keeping mine right around 50% and they seem to be doing well.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thank you veeery much!
finally an advice from where expected - CS

Hey guys, we recommend keeping your guitars 40-50% without ever going below 40%. Humidifiers are a good idea. The key is to avoid changing humidity levels quickly. One should slowly change the levels so the wood can lose/take on moisture evenly.