Here I am again with the humidity. If you've read my posts recently you'll know why I'm bringing this up.

OK, down to the real procedure. What do we do to insure that our expensive and loved instruments are kept humidified correctly? No one doubts the importance, but are we sure that we're doing the right things to keep them properly humidified?

I think I am... In my house there are three humidifiers - a Holmes, a Slant/Fin and a Venta. I also have a hygrometer that stays in the case. I've tested it and found it to be very accurate. Because of the advice I've had from Taylor and Collings I shoot for 47 or 48%, It usually stays pretty close to that, although it's briefly been as low as 42 and as high as 55 (my hygrometer displays the 'low' and 'high').

Does this seem appropriate? What do you all do to keep humidity under control?

I hang my guitars on the wall using some hangers mounted to an 8' oak beam. There's a Radio Shack hygrometer on the oak beam. I humidify that room with a Bemis console and keep humidity at about 40-50% (I'm in New Mexico). Make sure you're looking at Relative Humidity and not just plain "humidity". RH takes the temperature into consideration.

Periodically, certain guitars will need more humidity for one reason or another and I'll put them in the case with a damp sponge inside a small Ziploc bag with holes punched in it. I drop this right inside the guitar. If the guitar's dry, the sponge will be dry in 2-3 days. This is much, much different from putting a humidifier in the case pocket or even between the neck heel and case. Just for fun I've taped my hygrometer inside the guitar to see what kind of humidity I was getting inside the case.

That's pretty much what I do and my '92 Clarence White, and other guitars, are all crack-free (well, unless they have an impact crack or two). The one exception is my Telecaster which has an Allparts maple neck on it.

Bryan Kimsey
http://www.bryankimsey.com

In my area, Hong Kong. The outside humidity normally goes up to 100!! even in winter time, it will be no less than 85 to 90.. so.. for me, I need to keep the humidity down.

I put some Moisture absorter I bought from Japanese Store. they will keep the humidity inside my case around 50 for a couple of weeks. Than I will change to a new pack.

But when I take the guitar out of the Case, the guitar is facing 100 humidity.. so... its facing very rapid change of humidity everyday.. but so far.. not a crack on my guitar.. just a belly below the bridge... Seems getting bigger and bigger for the first year or so.. then it will become stable... I don't mind the Belly as long as the action is still okay and have enough saddle space for me to adjust.. and the Belly matches with its owner too..

Ed, you can renew your "Moisture absorter" by simply tossing them in an oven at slightly over 200 degrees for an hour or so per bag; seal them up in a tight ziploc bag as soon as they are removed from the oven(unless they are to be used right away), or they will begin absorbing moisture right away again.

[This message was edited by Mario Proulx on May 13, 2002 at 09:23 AM.]

Ocps. sorry for my poor English..:D and thanks for your tips.. I know you are probably talking about those silica Pack you put in the Camera Case etc.

But the one I am using look something like this, I really don't know how to call them...

They are packed in sealed Plastic bag.. I don't think I can put them in oven..

But I find them very effective in lowering the humidity..

Yes, Ed, I was thinking of the silica packs, and also the clay packs. Those are easily renewed.

What you have there is obviously different, so just go ahead and ignore me <g>

Mario

I live in a dry climate so I run a humidifier full time. I keep my guitars out hanging in my music room and I watch the humidity in there very closely. I keep it between 40 % and 50%, 45-50 ideally. The guitars don't leave the room very often, and then usually a solid body electric. The Collings has make it as far as the family room, but has only left the house once in the 18 months I've had it.

If I lived in a humid climate I would try to find a dehumidifier machine to pull some of that moisture out of the air. Of course where I live we don't know about such things.

OK, I've got the opposite problem...I live in Atlanta, GA, and it is *too* humid here most of the year. Should I run a dehumidifier for my D1A (to get RH down to the 45-55% range), or should I just let it go and not worry about it?

thanks,
dave

Dave,

Whats the humidity there in your place?

The place I live in.. the humidity average at 90 to 95... and it is a must to put a dehumifier in order to keep the guitar healthy..

If I don't keep the humidity down.. the top below the bridge will form a belly.... causing higher action... and I have an experience of having the bridge lifting as well... The guitar will also sound mellow and compressed..

I would suggest if at least.. you can keep the humidity level lower than 60...

Dave,

Don't worry about it unless the average humidity in your house is consistently over 65-70%. If you have your AC on during the summer like I do, you're fine.

The only time we usually have to worry about humidity in our part of the country is during the winter when it's down in the 20-30% range when the furnace is on. If you don't use your AC during the summer, the heat combined with our high summer humidity will cause problems for our guitar.

David
Atlanta, GA
www.daviddugas.com