acoustic humidifiers - yay or nay?

domforr · March 2020

I'm never quite sure whether to put some of these on my acoustics, or if they are basically unnecessary in the UK? I leave my guitars on stand for easy access, so is there any merit in attaching one in the soundhole to avoid excessive moistures or dryness, or do they only really work when in a case?

I'd say they are stored in reasonably consistent climate, but I have no idea whether it's too moist or too dry. I do have issues with tuning stability though and wondered if this might be a contributor?

Cheers,

Dom

stephen.wood125 · March 2020

I bought some moisture meters that I keep right next to my non-cased Acoustics. The relative humidity in my house is 46-50% and I think this is pretty good. Going much below 40% will dry out and then a decent delta will ruin guitars. Floridians with Air Con can suffer a lot. I think as long as you're monitoring it it should be fine.

For the tuning stability check the nut slots and also temperature in your room, just in case.

domforr · March 2020

Great, thanks. Out of interest, which meter are you using?

drofluf · March 2020

domforr said:

Great, thanks. Out of interest, which meter are you using?

@domforr ;I’ve got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GWL6ZFV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I calibrated it using the method described here https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/06/how-to-calibrate-a-hygrometer-humidity-sensor-using-the-salt-test/ and it came out spot on. But given the cost I may just have been lucky. The way I see it I don’t need spot on accuracy (in fact in the U.K. it’s arguable whether I need one at all but that wasn’t the question

) but can use it to track large changes in humidity. As it also has a thermometer an additional benefit is that I can use it to “prove” to my wife that she has the heating too high.

domforr · March 2020

Great, thanks. Will order one of those and see how I go :-)

westford · March 2020

I’ve got a soundhole humidifier and use it occasionally for a couple of days when I notice any fret sprout starting, it does the trick. It’s only one of my guitars that ever seems to need it. Don’t have issues with tuning stability*, so can’t help you there.

*unless you count my kids messing with the tuning pegs

telehack · March 2020

I have a dehumidifier with a readout in the room where my acoustics are sometimes in, sometimes out of their cases. I also bought one of those cheap temp./humidity ones from amazon. The two don't always agree, but it's always between 45-55%, which is what Martin recommend, so I've not felt the need to do anything else.

GTC · March 2020

drofluf said:

domforr said:

Great, thanks. Out of interest, which meter are you using?

@domforr ;I’ve got one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07GWL6ZFV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I calibrated it using the method described here https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2014/06/how-to-calibrate-a-hygrometer-humidity-sensor-using-the-salt-test/ and it came out spot on. But given the cost I may just have been lucky. The way I see it I don’t need spot on accuracy (in fact in the U.K. it’s arguable whether I need one at all but that wasn’t the question ) but can use it to track large changes in humidity. As it also has a thermometer an additional benefit is that I can use it to “prove” to my wife that she has the heating too high.

I've got one of these too (which I think I learnt about here) which I keep on just for security - but in over a year's use it hasn't been outside of the acceptable range. Like others, I haven't had or felt the need to do anything else.

TimmyO · March 2020

I have one guitar that I keep in its case with those humidity control packs because a meter showed that it was pretty common that I was getting lower humidity than is recommended

if you’re still in 45-55 range in winter when the heating comes on then you’re probably ok

ToneControl · March 2020

better to humidify the room I think

rustneversleeps · April 2020

Keep an eye on things.In a bit of cold snap at the moment.I checked mine today and surprised humidity was in the low thirty’s.So sponges in.

drofluf · April 2020

Slightly OT but perhaps someone can explain? The Met Office website is reporting humidity as 65% or above but my gauges are showing in the mid-forties. They’re cheap ones but I calibrated using salt in a Tupperware box. Get similar results with them outside.

Are the Met Office using a different measurement or are their forecasts just not very accurate?

rustneversleeps · April 2020

drofluf said:

Slightly OT but perhaps someone can explain? The Met Office website is reporting humidity as 65% or above but my gauges are showing in the mid-forties. They’re cheap ones but I calibrated using salt in a Tupperware box. Get similar results with them outside.

Are the Met Office using a different measurement or are their forecasts just not very accurate?

They can’t get the weather right,so there’s not much chance on humidity.

brucegill · April 2020

drofluf said:

Slightly OT but perhaps someone can explain? The Met Office website is reporting humidity as 65% or above but my gauges are showing in the mid-forties. They’re cheap ones but I calibrated using salt in a Tupperware box. Get similar results with them outside.

Are the Met Office using a different measurement or are their forecasts just not very accurate?

Are your gauges outside?

drofluf · April 2020

brucegill said:

drofluf said:

Slightly OT but perhaps someone can explain? The Met Office website is reporting humidity as 65% or above but my gauges are showing in the mid-forties. They’re cheap ones but I calibrated using salt in a Tupperware box. Get similar results with them outside.

Are the Met Office using a different measurement or are their forecasts just not very accurate?

Are your gauges outside?

Yes, that was my first thought so I put one outside for a couple of hours

brucegill · April 2020

Fair play. Interesting they’re so different from the met office.

domforr · April 2020

Also been using a recently purchased humidity gauge and it seems to show it often falling into the mid thirties. So will get one of those Planet Waves humidifiers and try it out.

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acoustic humidifiers - yay or nay?

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